Win Explorer and Internet Explorer and other p

[laughlinwes]

Recently downloaded a file that must have contained some
adware / spyware. Norton 2004 could not remove, and I used
one of my other adware / spyware to remove. I must have
accidentally deleted an important file because:

I cannot use Internet explorer
I cannot get to control panel
I cannot get to even the recycle bin
Applications work fine.

I can get to these in Safe mode but don't know how to find
and restore any files. I tried to do system restore, but I
have no save points to restore to. Is there something I
can do besides re-install Windows? The disk I installed
from is 7 hours away.

Please Help me...
Email: laughlinwes@yahoo.com

Thanks
wes

[Play_The_0dds]

http://www.pandasoftware.com/actives..._principal.htm
try a on-line virus scan firat, see if it finds something your on-board might have missed. and if that does not resolve it do you get any error messages please list what they are.

[laughlinwes]

Just tried and it requires Internet Explorer (cant use) I am using Netscape to access the internet.

any other suggestions?
Thanks

[Play_The_0dds]

http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/
try to download that and scan your system, it is a broad spectrum virus/trojan remover.

[laughlinwes]

I downloaded and it makes my computer freeze (just like every other virus scanner). I have scanned individual folders and files at a time and have found nothing.

At the moment, I am getting massive pop ups, enough to where I had to disconnect my cable modem. I ran disk defrag. and chkdsk. My windows is having a problem even opening the start menu. I click on it and it takes about a minute to respond (same with all operations).

Now my Norton is saying it is missing files and needs to be re-installed. I will do that when I get home.

Any help would be appreciated. I do especially appreciate the quick responces.

Thanks
wes

[njovin]

Have you tried doing a system restore?

Start->Programs->Accesories->System Tools->System Restore.

I would first try to restore to a date before all this madness started happening. It sounds like your system is pretty well buggered. If the system restore doesn't work, even if you get IE up and running you will probably have many other problems. You may want to consider re-installing win xp.

[laughlinwes]

System resotore has been turned off, and I have to dates to restore to.

(advice from another forum)
I will try this and see what happens, I will let you know.



Although it is impossible to tell what win32 file you deleted now, you can try going to Start>Run and typing "sfc /scannow" without the quotes. Note that there is a space between "sfc" and "/scannow". The System File Checker will replace damaged and/or missing system files. However, you will probably need your WinXP cd. If it is "7 hours away" and you can't get it and don't have a friend with a WinXP cd where you are, your best bet is to take the machine to a good local computer repair shop and have them fix it for you. It should not be overly expensive or take very long. If running sfc doesn't work, you are probably looking at a Repair Install, and for that you definitely will need the XP cd.

[laughlinwes]

OK, I ran the safe scan and put back files that were deleted. Now, my windows is sluggish- Click start menu and it takes at least 45 seconds to come up. I have removed all adware that Norton detects and cannot delete. Any suggestions to what may be causing the problem?

Every virus scanner I run, freezes my computer. Always on different files. Maybe my processor is not big enough? HD not fast enough? Any suggestions?

Thanks
wes

[Play_The_0dds]

good point, what size processor, how much ram, what size hard drive do you have?

[laughlinwes]

OK, this is embarrassing-

900Mhz Celeron (100 FSB)

256MB RAM (PC133)

11GB HD

This setup worked fine before I got that nasty adware. Applications work fine (normal responce). It is just trying to switch windows on the task bar and opening the start menu etc... that is very sluggish.

In safe mode, everything seems fine. Maybe I should try a fix install?

For this I have to find a ps2 keyboard (mine is USB). When I get to the screen to choose installation type, I cannot do anything.

Suggestions?

[Play_The_0dds]

try rebooting in safe mode and run the stinger, tap F8 from power on until you get the boot options screen, select safe mode. then if you are clean try the repair/fix install.

[laughlinwes]

Ok, I am all fixed up. This was a lesson learned (almost had to panic for a moment).

Here is what fixed the situation:

ran "sfc /scannow" with an XP disk in to replace missing files.
ran multiple virus scanners / adware removal tools to clean up.

I think the thing that was causing sluggishness in my machine, was adware that I got from a download. Once that was removed, everything seems fine.

Thanks for all the help. I will definitely be back to this forum.

wes