Inaccessible desktop

Over a month ago my desktop items disappeared and I could not right click, most of my programs became inaccessible and if i tried running simple programs like Microsoft word, my computer would freeze. Internet became inaccessible.

I had to create a new user account which works perfectly fine, however, my problem is still in my original user account I’m afraid of using my new one too often until i get rid of whatever is causing this.

I have already run the procedures on "read this before asking for support," however, since i cannot access the internet on the messed up user account I had to run the virus programs on the good user account in normal startup mode. (None of the user accounts will connect to the internet in safe mode).

In my problematic user account, I have access places like My Computer and the Run feature as well as SOME of the anti-spyware programs such as Ad-Aware. I am able to run the HijackThis, ADS Spy, and start up list (but i have no clue what to do with them).


For some reason my wallpaper feature, WebShots, runs perfectly it changes my wallpaper every hour as I programmed it to, and the screensavers work too, they come one when they're supposed to, although the WebShots desktop icon disappeared to and I don't really have access to it the wallpapers continue to work.

Some of the icons that disappeared will reappear when i start the computer in safe mode though some of them remain inaccessible. If i attempt to open certain programs nothing happens or the computer freezes.

The only problem my user accounts seem to share is that they take to long to open, my original user account it used to be much faster, now the user accounts take about 30 seconds to open.

Hope you guys know what's going on and can help.

 

Please follow standard cleanup procedures as given below:

- Run ALL the steps in this Sticky thread READ ME FIRST BEFORE ASKING FOR SUPPORT: Basic Spyware, Trojan And Virus Removal

Make sure you check version numbers and get all updates.

- Very Important: Make sure you tell us the results from running the tutorial...was anything found? Were you unable to complete any of the scans?...Were you unable to download any of the tools?...Did you do the on-line scans as suggested? etc.


After doing ALL of the above and you still have a problem, make sure you have booted to normal mode and run the steps below:



Download HijackThis 1.99.1

Unzip the hijackthis.exe file to a folder you create named C:\Program Files\HJT

Do NOT run Hijack This from the Desktop, a temp folder, or a sub-folder of C:\Documents and Settings, or choose to run it directly from the ZIP file as your backups will not be safely stored.

Before running HijackThis: You must close each of the following:your web browser, e-mail client, instant messenger, and programs like notepad, wordpad, MS Word etc. And any other unnecessary running programs.

Run HijackThis and save your log file.

Post your log as an ATTACHMENT to your next post. (Do NOT copy/paste the log into your post as it will be removed).

Need help with HJT? See this thread: NO HIJACK THIS LOG FILES BEFORE READING THIS: HJT Tutorial & LOG File Posting

 

I ran the steps in "read me first b/f asking" and there were a few viruses found and a few problems running the programs as specified and yes, i still have the problem.

With the two anitivirus programs here's what was found:

Inline logs attached!

Spybot found:

Backweb Lite
Wild Tangent
DSO Tangent

Here are the problems i encountered while trying to follow the instructions:

I had to run the two antivirus programs in normal start up mode on the healthy user account--I could not access internet from the infected user account.

I tried running the other programs on the infected user account in safe mode but had problems with CCleaner, Ad-Aware and CWShredder.

CCleaner I could only run in regular startup mode in the healthy user account.

Ad-Aware kept freezing the computer when it was checking:
Software/Microsoft/Windows/Currentversion/Shared DLLs.
When I ran Ad-Aware on 6-16-05 it found:
CoolWebSearch
Alexa
Istbar.dotcomtoolbar
I re-ran Ad-Aware today and it found nothing.

CWShredder only ran after several tries and no CWS infections came up.

Kill2me didn't find anything infected.

I think it was that Stinger found something, I didn’t save the log so I don’t know what but it had over 200 files and things infected on my computer, it was removed (sorry).

 

sorry about the smily faces it's supposed to say the sybol : followed by the letter p which is also they combination key strokes for that smiley face.

 

and here's the hijack this log.

 

Download the following two files, create a folder on your desktop, call it TSC. Save these 2 files there!

Sysclean Package

Pattern.zip

Once you have these downloaded into the folder you just created, REBOOT INTO SAFE MODE!

Once in Safe Mode double click the file sysclean.com. When the system cleaner loads, click SCAN to start the scanner. After the scan is complete attach the log along with a fresh HJT log from normal mode.

 

here are the sysclean log and the hijack this log.

I was unable to run the Hijack This program in normal startup mode so i ran it safe mode.

 

Download this trial version of Ewido Security Suite

• Install ewido security suite
• Launch ewido, there should be an icon on your desktop double-click it.
• The program will have a window come up. One of the buttons on the left is to Update. Click the Update button.and then Start the Update. The update will start and a progress bar will show the updates being installed.
• After it completes the update, click the Scanner button

Now exit Ewido. Now print the below instructions or save them locally because I want you do have no browsers opened and also have no connection to the internet (unplug your cable) while doing the below.

Okay, reboot into safe mode and follow the steps below. (If you have any problems at all trying to get into safe mode to complete these steps, just run them in normal boot mode and make sure you tell me when you come back.)

Open up Ewido and do the following:

• Click on Scanner
• Then click Settings
• Under What to Scan? Select Scan every file
• Then click OK
• Click on Complete System Scan and the scan will start.
• Let the program scan the machine

While the scan is in progress you will be prompted to clean files that are infected. Leave the defaults selections (to Remove and backup) and click OK. To save yourself some time, you can select Perform action with all infections and then click OK. With the option to scan every file, a lot of cookies will be removed.

Once the scan has completed, there will be a button located on the bottom of the screen named Save report

• Click Save report
• Save the report to your desktop or anyplace you will be able to find it to upload here.

Reboot into normal mode and reconnect to the internet.

Come back here and post the Ewido Scan Report along with a fresh HJT log.

 

here are the two logs. I was able to run Ewido in safemode. and as usual i was only able to run hijackthis in safemode.

 

Attach a new HJT log from normal mode.

 

hijack this log in normal start up mode.

 

Your Operating System and Internet Explorer versions are WAY out of date and represent a major security risk. After we fix your current problems, you must get updated. You need to install Service Pack 2 for security purposes.

Please look in Add or Remove Programs for the following and Uninstall them if found:

WildTangent


Now scan with HijackThis and Check the Boxes for the following:

Make sure All Browser Windows are Closed when you Click FIX.

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://us5.hpwis.com/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://srch-us5.hpwis.com/
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://hsremove.com/done.htm
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch = http://srch-us5.hpwis.com/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = localhost

F2 - REG:system.ini: Shell=explorer.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DDCM] "C:\Program Files\WildTangent\DDC\DDCManager\DDCMan.exe" -Background
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DDCActiveMenu] "C:\Program Files\WildTangent\DDC\ActiveMenu\DDCActiveMenu.exe" -boot

O9 - Extra button: MktBrowser - {17A27031-71FC-11d4-815C-005004D0F1FA} - C:\Program Files\MarketBrowser\lmt\MarketBrowser_Launch.xpy (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: MarketBrowser - {17A27031-71FC-11d4-815C-005004D0F1FA} - C:\Program Files\MarketBrowser\lmt\MarketBrowser_Launch.xpy (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {85d1f590-48f4-11d9-9669-0800200c9a66} - %windir%\bdoscandel.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Uninstall BitDefender Online Scanner v8 - {85d1f590-48f4-11d9-9669-0800200c9a66} - %windir%\bdoscandel.exe (file missing)

O23 - Service: UPSentry Service (UPSentry_Smart) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\BELKIN SENTRY BULLDOG\upsd.exe (file missing)

Again, make sure All Browser Windows are Closed when you Click FIX.

NOW:
Please boot into Safe Mode with the Viewing of Hidden Files & Folders Enabled and navigate to and DELETE the following if they should remain:

C:\Program Files\WildTangent ←–– Delete this whole folder if it exist!

NEXT:
Run CCleaner to clean up cookies and temp files.

Run full scans with Ad-Aware SE & Spybot S&D and have both programs fix what they find.
Note: Remember to get all updates before doing the scans.

Then, as an added precaution, Go to Start > Run and type: cleanmgr and then click OK. Make sure the boxes for these are checked:
Temporary Files
Temporary Internet Files
Recycle Bin

And Click OK.


Reboot to Normal Windows , Scan with HijackThis and attach the new log.

 

I was unable to find wild tangent in the add/remove programs

I removed all the specified things from hijack this and attached a log. I could not find wild tangent in Program Files.

I was unable to run CCleaner, Ad-aware and spybot in the infected account. I had to run them in the healthy account.

I was unable to run cleanmgr from the infected account.

When i was unable to find wildTangent anywhere I ran regidit and found it in several places, thought i am not sure what to do or how to get to them. I have attached the locations of where I found Wild Tangent.

 

Attach a HJT log from the account with the problems.

 

heres the log

 

Please look in Add or Remove Programs for the following and Uninstall them if found:

Ewido

Now scan with HijackThis and Check the Boxes for the following:

Make sure All Browser Windows are Closed when you Click FIX.

R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://hsremove.com/done.htm

O23 - Service: UPSentry Service (UPSentry_Smart) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\BELKIN SENTRY BULLDOG\upsd.exe (file missing)

Again, make sure All Browser Windows are Closed when you Click FIX.

NEXT:
Run CCleaner to clean up cookies and temp files.

After you complete the above, reboot and let me know exactly what problems remain.

 

I deleted temp. files and temp. internet files.

I was unable to delete Belkin sentry bulldog, it kept coming back. (i had uninstalled this program about 2 years ago, but i found its file still in Program Files, should i delete it?)

I was able to delete the RO-...hs remove BUT when i did, and i tried to log on to the internet from the healthy user account, a sign came up from SpywareBlaster saying that hs remove had been unistalled from my Internet browser and replaced by about:blank. Although my homepage is still google. Also about:blank is listed among my browser pages along with a few other things (attached).

I have attached a the hijack this log. (i'm running HJT from the messed up account from the desktop otherwise i'd have to run HJT from safemode to run it elsewhere, but i'm not saving my logs on the desktop, saving them in documents) Is that ok or am i supposed to be running HJT from another place?

 

one more concern i had two things keep appearing all over my files:
Thumbs.db (a hidden data base file) and desktop.ini (a hidden configuration setting)

They appear in the my pictures files, music, my documents.

i'm not sure what they are, but they keep appearing on my healthy user account and infected one

 

Those are legit files, its normal to have those. They are hidden configuration settings, you should not remove them.

 

Your HJT log is clean!

Do this for every account!

Reset Web Settings & Default Security Settings:


To Reset Web Settings:
Right click on your desktop Internet Explorer icon and select Properties. Then click the Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK.

If you do not have an Internet Explorer icon on your Desktop, click Start, Control Panel (for some systems it may be Start, Settings, Control Panel), Internet Options, Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK


To Default Security Settings:
Right click on your desktop Internet Explorer icon and select Properties. Then click the Security Tab and click Default Level for Internet, Local Intranet, Trusted Sites, and Restricted Sites.

After you complete the above, reboot and let me know if any problems remain.

 

Same problems as my first postings remain. All of my desktop icons are gone in normal mode.

I can't access my usual programs- internet, or any other major things- My computer freezes if i do try to access most things. In safe mode my icons reappear and i am able to access more things but the computer still freezes when i access major settings or it just ignores the commands as if i hadn't clicked on anything.

 

Copy the contents of the below Quote Box to Notepad. Then click File and then Save As. Change the Save as Type to All Files. Name the file fix.reg and then click save. (make sure you save it somewhere you can find it. Saving it to your Desktop may make that easy.) Then double-click on the fix.reg file on your desktop (or locate it with Windows Explorer and double click on it if not saved to the Desktop) and when it prompts to Add in to the registry, say yes.

After you complete the above REBOOT your computer and then let me know if problem remains.

 

Problem remains, how do i remove this registry entry from my computer, since it didn't work?

 

Download the attached .zip file and save to your desktop. It contains 2 registry files, double click to merge both. Click YES when it prompts to merge.

After you complete this step, reboot and see if problem remains.

 

hi

i tried this and when i rebooted my wallpaper was gone and there was just a dark blue screen with no icons just the regular start toolbar. I rebooted again and ran hijackthis and after a few seconds my wallpaper returned. So my problem remains.

 

First, do a search for the following files, delete any that are found!

wp.exe
wp.bmp
desktop.html
screen.html
winnook.exe
hookdump.exe


After you do the above run the registry fixes again and see if that takes care of it.

 

none of those files were found

 

Copy the contents of the Quote Box below to Notepad. Then click File and then Save As. Change the Save as Type to All Files. Name the file desktopfix.reg and then click save. (make sure you save it somewhere you can find it. Saving it to your Desktop may make that easy.)

Double-click on the desktopfix.reg file on your desktop (or locate it with Windows Explorer and double click on it if not saved to the Desktop) and when it prompts to merge, click YES!


Click Start > Run > type regedit

Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Look for a DWORD value called "NoViewContextMenu"

When located right click and delete it!


Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Look for a DWORD value called "NoViewContextMenu"

When located right click and delete it!


Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop

Look for a DWORD value called "NoChangingWallPaper"

When located right click and delete it!



Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

Only Should have "NoDriveTypeAutoRun"

Remove This Value "NoActiveDesktop"
Remove This Value "ForceActiveDesktopOn"

Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\ActiveDesktop

There should on be the (default) string here

Remove This Value NoComponents
Remove This Value NoAddingComponents
Remove This Value NoDeletingComponents
Remove This Value NoEditingComponents
Remove This Value NoHTMLWallpaper


Now, Navigate to and delete the following file:

C:\WINDOWS\Web\wallpaper.html


Final Step:

Right Click on your desktop, click properties, click the Desktop Tab, click Customize Desktop, click the Web Tab. Now, uncheck everything in this tab.

After you have completed ALL of the above, reboot and see if problem remains!

 

none of the DWORDs or values were on my computer.

for:
"HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policie s\Explorer

Only Should have "NoDriveTypeAutoRun"

Remove This Value "NoActiveDesktop"
Remove This Value "ForceActiveDesktopOn" "


The "NoDriveTypeAutoRun" value was there along with "NoSaveSettings," "ClassicShell," and "NoThemeTab" but not the ones you asked me to remove.


For the - C:\WINDOWS\Web\wallpaper.html - there was no html document only a folder with wallpapers the computer came with.

The wallpapers on the messed up user account were some images i've used for a long time, i don't use the ones that came with the computer. I haven't got access to the wallpapers so I can't change to other wallpapers but the ones that i had selected before it became messed up keep circulating every hour.


for the final step:

"Right Click on your desktop, click properties, click the Desktop
Tab, click Customize Desktop, click the Web Tab. Now
uncheck everything in this tab."

i was unable to uncheck anything or delete. When i unchecked something and clicked apply, i would re-open the web tab and everything was back to what it was originally.

same problem remains.

 

oh for corrupt user account i used the wallpaper program i use Webshots. I've had it for several years.