I give up. HijackThis is being hijacked.

I'm ready to just go hire someone to get this fixed. Which I cannot afford to do.

For some reason, even though HijackThis is saved in C:\\Program Files\HijackThis, every time I try to run it it creates a temporary folder in C:\Documents and Settings\my name\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory # for Hijackthis.ziHijackThis.exe
The logs I save in Notepad and they are ok. I've deleted the temp folders, have gone back to the Programs file and the same thing happens over and over again.

Back to the original problem. I originally had that awful TVMedia Hijacker. I was able to remove it. But, all is not well.

I have followed your (ChasLang & Major Attitude) instructions to the letter in other posts. The last time ChasLang suspected that something was perhaps corrupt in the Windows XP (IE most likely) which was producing the /?%20 before every URL. But, I can't figure out where or what it is. If I click enough times, I do finally get the correct URL (including Major Geeks). But, slow, and a pain in the butt to say the least.

So many things are going wrong I don't know where to start anymore. Or where I left off. I've been at this for three weeks now. I've scanned in safe mode, with system restore off, etc.. Yes, I have Spybot, Zone Alarm, Ad-Aware, Norton Anti-Virus and Norton Internet Security, SpywearBlaster, HijackThis, A2, PopUpStopper, and CWShredder.

CWShredder Scan Report:
CWShredder v1.59.1 scan only report
Please understand that a CWShredder 'Scan only' report
might not be sufficient to troubleshoot an infected system.
You can use HijackThis for that:
http://www.merijn.org/files/hijackthis.zip
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/files/hijackthis.zip
Windows XP (5.01.2600 SP1)
Windows dir: C:\WINDOWS
Windows system dir: C:\WINDOWS\System32
AppData folder: C:\Documents and Settings\Nancy Coleman\Application Data
Username: Nancy Coleman
Found Hosts file: C:\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\etc\hosts (734 bytes, A)
Shell Registry value: HKLM\..\WinLogon [Shell] Explorer.exe
UserInit Registry value: HKLM\..\WinLogon [UserInit] C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,
Found Win.ini file: C:\WINDOWS\win.ini (765 bytes, A)
Found System.ini file: C:\WINDOWS\system.ini (246 bytes, A)
- END OF REPORT -

Spybot is coming back with five items that refuse to be fixed as DSO Exploit: Data Source object exploit (Registry change, nothing done) items (reported in earlier post this morning).

Programs are running that I cannot shut down or even delete using "Add and Remove Programs," so ignore them for the moment. Some I don't use at all and have no idea how they became active in the Start Up. Others I have tried to delete (uninstall) and they keep coming back. It's like something is embedded in here to make sure I can't fix anything.

Again, anyone who can take a serious peek at this I will be eternally grateful to.
Best regards. Nancy.

Here's the HijackThis Log:
Logfile of HijackThis v1.98.0
Scan saved at 5:53:59 PM, on 7/11/2004
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)
Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell\Support\Alert\bin\DAMon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\LEXMAR~1\ACMonitor_X84-X85.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\Program Files\MUSICMATCH\MUSICMATCH Jukebox\mmtask.exe
C:\WINDOWS\BCMSMMSG.exe
C:\Program Files\Iomega\AutoDisk\ADUserMon.exe
C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\CDAC11BA.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccProxy.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Iomega\System32\AppServices.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\SAVScan.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Iomega\AutoDisk\ADService.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Nancy Coleman\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 2 for hijackthis.zip\HijackThis.exe
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {CFBFAE00-17A6-11D0-99CB-00C04FD64497}_ - (no file)
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.ocx
O2 - BHO: CCHelper - {0CF0B8EE-6596-11D5-A98E-0003470BB48E} - C:\Program Files\Panicware\Pop-Up Stopper\CCHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Web assistant - {9ECB9560-04F9-4bbc-943D-298DDF1699E1} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AdBlocking\NISShExt.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {FDD3B846-8D59-4ffb-8758-209B6AD74ACC} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyviewer.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O3 - Toolbar: Pa&nicware Pop-Up Stopper - {7E82235C-F31E-46CB-AF9F-1ADD94C585FF} - C:\Program Files\Panicware\Pop-Up Stopper\pstopper.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Web assistant - {0B53EAC3-8D69-4b9e-9B19-A37C9A5676A7} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AdBlocking\NISShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIModeChange] Ati2mdxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AdaptecDirectCD] "C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Dell|Alert] C:\Program Files\Dell\Support\Alert\bin\DAMon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Lexmark X84-X85 Button Monitor] C:\PROGRA~1\LEXMAR~1\ACMonitor_X84-X85.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Lexmark X84-X85 Button Manager] C:\PROGRA~1\LEXMAR~1\AcBtnMgr_X84-X85.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PrinTray] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\printray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Ad-aware] "C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-aware 6\Ad-aware.exe" +c
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [URLLSTCK.exe] C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\UrlLstCk.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Picture Easy Download] C:\Program Files\Kodak Digital Science\Picture Easy Software\Program\PezDownload.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MoneyStartUp10.0] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\Activation.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [mmtask] C:\Program Files\MUSICMATCH\MUSICMATCH Jukebox\mmtask.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BCMSMMSG] BCMSMMSG.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ADUserMon] C:\Program Files\Iomega\AutoDisk\ADUserMon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RealTray] C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe SYSTEMBOOTHIDEPLAYER
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Symantec NetDriver Monitor] C:\PROGRA~1\Symantec\LIVEUP~1\SNDMon.EXE
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MoneyAgent] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\Money Express.exe"
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\Shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: MoneySide - {E023F504-0C5A-4750-A1E7-A9046DEA8A21} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyviewer.dll
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\MSMSGS.EXE
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\MSMSGS.EXE
O12 - Plugin for .pdf: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\PLUGINS\nppdf32.dll
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O16 - DPF: {1DF36010-E276-11D4-A7C0-00C04F0453DD} (Stamps.com Secure Postal Account Registration) - http://www.stamps.com/download/us/registration/2_0_0_745/sdcregie.cab
O16 - DPF: {2BC66F54-93A8-11D3-BEB6-00105AA9B6AE} (Symantec AntiVirus scanner) - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/SharedContent/vc/bin/AvSniff.cab
O16 - DPF: {7142BA01-8BDF-11CF-9E23-0000E8A37440} (Surround Video Control Object) - http://www.ireland.travel.ie/seeireland/software/svideo.cab
O16 - DPF: {75565ED2-1560-4F15-B841-20358DE6A0D1} (ImageControl Class) - http://content.ancestry.com/asfiles/files/install/MFImgVwr.cab
O16 - DPF: {861DB4B6-3838-11D2-8E50-002018200E57} (MrSIDI Control) - http://images.myfamily.net/isfiles/downloads/MrSIDI.cab
O16 - DPF: {C2FCEF52-ACE9-11D3-BEBD-00105AA9B6AE} (Symantec RuFSI Registry Information Class) - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/SharedContent/common/bin/cabsa.cab

 

...i know the feeling, when you have to have that many progs on the case and none of it is working, the best thing to do is wipe clean and rebuild... backup, format the hd, rebuild and install a new browser (anything but IE)... these new adwares seem to wreak all kinds of havoc with your registry and other stuff... can't see any other alternative right now

 

You need to extract the Hijack This.exe from the zipped (compressed) file. Put it into its own folder.
The DSO exploits in Spybot are security vulnerabilities in IE. Go into settings and set Spybot to ignore them.
Windows will not delete a file that is in use, that is what safe mode is for, to boot the computer with only the drivers and programs necessary for the OS to work.
Disable system restore while you do this. System restore returns the computer back to a saved setpoint, and if there was spyware or a virus, it will restore it also.

 

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions. Unfortunately, despite installing (and running) everything advised, I am still in the same pickle. Browser does not find target unless I click go about a dozen times, browser will not display embedded pictures (from ebay, let's say), browser locks up or is slow if a connection is finally made. Not even Ctl, Alt, Del will get me out of it (a lock up), I have to pull power.

The redirect URL is: res://C:\WINDOWS\System32\shdoclc.dll/dnserror.htm#http://www.mlb.com/

I cannot stop dozens of programs from running at start up, some I've never even used before or have used very infrequently.

Despite all of these new programs, with their bells and whistles, I received another data miner this morning (Alexa). Nothing picked it up. ???

But, mostly the big problem is with IE.

Programs currently installed and running are:
Zone Alarm
Norton Anti-Virus
Norton Internet Security
Spywear Blaster
A2
Spybot S&D (still shows three DSO Exploits despite DSOStop)-will program to ignore.
Bazooka Spywear Scanner
DSOStop (which elimated three DSO Exploit problems but left 3 others)
Adaware6 (which picked up the Alexa this morning)
All sites were checked for updates this morning.
All were run in safe mode this morning.

I also have used CWShredder and Hijack this of course.

None of the diagnostics with or without the Windows XP disk seem to be picking up anything unusual either. Have reinstalled all MS service packs and critical updates.

At this point I'm wondering if I shouldn't just crash the whole thing and start over. If anyone can point me to a very patient site (that speaks english, not geek) of how to do this safely, how to absolutely back up everything, etc., I'd appreciate it. Especially how to back everything up without missing something. Have heard so many horror stories about people doing this and "forgetting" one critical area (like email files) that they didn't back up properly. Given my luck lately, I'd add to the stories...

Thanks everyone. Best regards. Nancy.
For yucks, here's my final HijackThis log:
Logfile of HijackThis v1.98.0
Scan saved at 3:39:42 PM, on 7/13/2004
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)
Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Dell\Support\Alert\bin\DAMon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\LEXMAR~1\ACMonitor_X84-X85.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\WINDOWS\BCMSMMSG.exe
C:\Program Files\Iomega\AutoDisk\ADUserMon.exe
C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe
C:\Program Files\MUSICMATCH\MUSICMATCH Jukebox\mmtask.exe
C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\tbctray.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\drivers\CDAC11BA.EXE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccProxy.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\SAVScan.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\snmp.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\CCPD-LC\symlcsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\hijackthis\HijackThis.exe
R3 - URLSearchHook: (no name) - {CFBFAE00-17A6-11D0-99CB-00C04FD64497}_ - (no file)
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.ocx
O2 - BHO: CCHelper - {0CF0B8EE-6596-11D5-A98E-0003470BB48E} - C:\Program Files\Panicware\Pop-Up Stopper\CCHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Web assistant - {9ECB9560-04F9-4bbc-943D-298DDF1699E1} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AdBlocking\NISShExt.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {FDD3B846-8D59-4ffb-8758-209B6AD74ACC} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyviewer.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Pa&nicware Pop-Up Stopper - {7E82235C-F31E-46CB-AF9F-1ADD94C585FF} - C:\Program Files\Panicware\Pop-Up Stopper\pstopper.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Web assistant - {0B53EAC3-8D69-4b9e-9B19-A37C9A5676A7} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\AdBlocking\NISShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\msdxm.ocx
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIModeChange] Ati2mdxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Dell|Alert] C:\Program Files\Dell\Support\Alert\bin\DAMon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ccApp] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccApp.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Lexmark X84-X85 Button Monitor] C:\PROGRA~1\LEXMAR~1\ACMonitor_X84-X85.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Lexmark X84-X85 Button Manager] C:\PROGRA~1\LEXMAR~1\AcBtnMgr_X84-X85.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PrinTray] C:\WINDOWS\System32\spool\DRIVERS\W32X86\3\printray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Ad-aware] "C:\Program Files\Lavasoft\Ad-aware 6\Ad-aware.exe" +c
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [URLLSTCK.exe] C:\Program Files\Norton Internet Security\UrlLstCk.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Picture Easy Download] C:\Program Files\Kodak Digital Science\Picture Easy Software\Program\PezDownload.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MoneyStartUp10.0] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\Activation.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [BCMSMMSG] BCMSMMSG.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ADUserMon] C:\Program Files\Iomega\AutoDisk\ADUserMon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [RealTray] C:\Program Files\Real\RealPlayer\RealPlay.exe SYSTEMBOOTHIDEPLAYER
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [mmtask] C:\Program Files\MUSICMATCH\MUSICMATCH Jukebox\mmtask.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AdaptecDirectCD] "C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TraySantaCruz] C:\WINDOWS\System32\tbctray.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Symantec NetDriver Monitor] C:\PROGRA~1\SYMNET~1\SNDMon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MoneyAgent] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\Money Express.exe"
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: Real.com - {CD67F990-D8E9-11d2-98FE-00C0F0318AFE} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\Shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: MoneySide - {E023F504-0C5A-4750-A1E7-A9046DEA8A21} - C:\Program Files\Microsoft Money\System\mnyviewer.dll
O12 - Plugin for .pdf: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\PLUGINS\nppdf32.dll
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O16 - DPF: {1DF36010-E276-11D4-A7C0-00C04F0453DD} (Stamps.com Secure Postal Account Registration) - http://www.stamps.com/download/us/registration/2_0_0_745/sdcregie.cab
O16 - DPF: {2BC66F54-93A8-11D3-BEB6-00105AA9B6AE} (Symantec AntiVirus scanner) - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/SharedContent/vc/bin/AvSniff.cab
O16 - DPF: {7142BA01-8BDF-11CF-9E23-0000E8A37440} (Surround Video Control Object) - http://www.ireland.travel.ie/seeireland/software/svideo.cab
O16 - DPF: {75565ED2-1560-4F15-B841-20358DE6A0D1} (ImageControl Class) - http://content.ancestry.com/asfiles/files/install/MFImgVwr.cab
O16 - DPF: {861DB4B6-3838-11D2-8E50-002018200E57} (MrSIDI Control) - http://images.myfamily.net/isfiles/downloads/MrSIDI.cab
O16 - DPF: {C2FCEF52-ACE9-11D3-BEBD-00105AA9B6AE} (Symantec RuFSI Registry Information Class) - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/SharedContent/common/bin/cabsa.cab