Omega on 8/10/2008 at 19:51
Hm, usually with XP antivirus, it also adds policies to prevent you from changing it back... (hiding the wallpaper and screenshot tabs from the display properties dialog) not quite sure when that happens though... In any case, if it's really XP antivirus, Malware Bytes should have taken care of it. Did you try it yet? Your last post failed to mention it. :)
Phantom0914 on 9/10/2008 at 18:10
I used like True Sword or something to fix it
howie on 9/10/2008 at 20:28
I had the same problem. Norton Anti-virus picked it up and got rid of it. Norton also advised to clean your registry. There are certain items in the registry that Norton can not fix. I used Eusing Free Registry Cleaner from tuocows to fix the registry. There is a prompt at the beginning but just push the "skip" button and continue on. It will pick up all kinds of other crap you don't need as well. If you are worried that it will delete something that you need it also backs up the old registry so I would not worry about it. I've used this program for a couple of years and never had to restore anything from the backup menu.
bikerdude on 2/11/2008 at 23:49
backup your important documents, then do a system restore to before the time when the current issue started happening.
biker
Phantom0914 on 3/11/2008 at 04:07
I did a system restore when I first got the virus and nothing happened
TBE on 3/11/2008 at 04:21
Better advice:
Save any important documents/pictures/music to a CD or DVD, or other external places. Also, write down any important program registration codes if you don't have them elsewhere. Like if your computer doesn't have the Windows sticker attached to it, you can Magical Jellybean Key Finder to find your product ID, and write it down.
Reinstall Windows. Don't do a system restore, as it may sometimes include the precursors of your infection. When you reinstall Windows, and it asks where you want to install it, select "Delete Partition" and then "Create Partition" in the selected space. You can do a quick format of your drive. The format and fresh install is a sure way to get rid of viruses. Install a good Antivirus program when you get Windows installed. THEN, scan your externally saved documents, pictures, movies, and music. Don't put anything back on your PC until you're sure it's virus free, and also make sure you have the antivirus installed.
sNeaksieGarrett on 10/11/2008 at 06:52
That sounds like a last resort solution, TBE.
I'd like to point out that I would be careful about saying yes to any anti-virus offer things. There are some bogus fake anti-virus software out there. Case in point is my father thought he was downloading AVG free edition, but he ended up downloading "Antiviris Protection" or some generic name like that. It was obviously a bogus antivirus, and they even stole one of the logos from AVG.:erg: Then they put their own spyware or whatever on your computer and tell you to buy their software to clean your PC.:tsktsk: Sigh, why must there be people out there who want to #%#&! a person's computer up?
Phantom: I would recommend installing and running hijackthis and posting a log file here. I don't really know much about it, but I bet one of these taffers might. And you might want to use safemode if you haven't been already. (Do the hijackthis log in normal mode though)
:idea:
If you say you have smitfraud, then I've got the information for you.
I had saved an article about smitfraud a long time ago, and have uploaded it for you here: (
http://rapidshare.com/files/162339586/How_To_Remove_The_Smitfraud_-_Psguard_-_Virtualmaid_-_BleepingComputer_com.mht.html) Link
I also checked out bleepingcomputer (the site I got that article from):
(
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=17258&hl=smitfraud) Link
(
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/index.php?act=Search&CODE=show&searchid=f1f7e8840395309adb2ff00eb6675d53&search_in=posts&result_type=topics&highlite=%2Bsmitfraud) Link
Hope you are able to fix this problem without having to reinstall windows. Once your computer is rid of the virus, run SFC (system file checker.) I've done it before in XP, but it appears vista has it too: (
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/2231/vista_run_system_file_checker/) WARNING: As it says, you need a windows DVD, so if you don't have one for vista then forget this....
TBE on 10/11/2008 at 07:34
Ok, you can analyze, scan, restart, analyze, scan, restart for hours on end and still not find the solution to this problem.
The easiest remedy for something this deep into the OS is to totally reinstall the OS. It's a 45 minute or less procedure for reinstalling Windows XP. How much time have you wasted on this problem? More than that I'd venture. Save your important documents, music, pictures, and all the programs registration information before doing so. Write down all the registration numbers for Windows, and any programs you've purchased that require a keycode or a registration number.
Let me know if you don't know how to find this information. I do this regularly as a part-time job, and I know this is way easier than screwing around with all those other utilities.
Word of advice to everyone, store your important things on an external source from your computer. That way if a virus attacks that you can't get rid of, you can reinstall Windows without batting an eyelash at the problem.
There are ways to save your "Windows Activated" status so you don't have to reactivate Windows either. Hit me up if you need some more help at restoring your system the easiest way.
(
http://free.avg.com/download?prd=afe) AVG Free Edition
sNeaksieGarrett on 10/11/2008 at 16:08
Sorry, I disagree with you. Though it's up to phantom in the end, so we'll see what he does....
Yeah, 45 minutes to reinstall windows, and then a few hours perhaps to reinstall all of your software and get everything back to the way you had it. That's more annoying than trying to repair your current install. At least that's my opinion. I don't like having to reinstall unless it's absolutely necessary.
