Unknown MBR code

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by bbpathd1, Dec 31, 2011.

  1. bbpathd1

    bbpathd1 Private First Class

    Happy New Year Malware Fighters! I’ve not visited your site in a long time. I’m glad to see that good is overcoming evil at least somewhere in the world.

    Now that I see all this MBR malware you are dealing with, I’d like to review my old, slow computer with you. When I saw MBRcheck being used, I ran it, and I’ve been puzzled by the unknown code in the MBR. The hard drive was new and had a fresh copy of Windows 98se installed (I did not have the eMachines recovery CD, also Win 98se) and then was upgraded to Win XP with an upgrade CD. So there never was a Win XP OEM MBR on this hard drive. I have been hoping some newer scan would come out and I could figure it out on my own and not have to bother you.

    I want to make sure that the hard drive is safe to use again, either in the old computer or in another one. Am I right that formatting will not do anything to the MBR? I want to make sure this unknown code is nothing that will bother me in the future.

    Attached are the logs this time around—yes, all out of date because all I am going to use to transfer files is a CD. This computer has not been turned on since 2010 and is not going to see the internet again. But the hard drive might.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. bbpathd1

    bbpathd1 Private First Class

    And the other logs.
     

    Attached Files:

  3. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Yes, the MBR can be cleared if you re-partition when you go to re-install an OS. You will need an XP install disc if we are going to try to fix the existing MBR. Do you have one or have access to one?
     
  4. bbpathd1

    bbpathd1 Private First Class

    I don't have a full retail version of Win XP. I have the Win XP upgrade disc I used when I did the upgrade from Win 98se. Will it work?

    I've gone into the BIOS and made sure I can boot from a CD first. So the PC is ready for the next step.
     
  5. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    The upgrade disc will not get you into the recovery console. You will need to try to borrow an XP disc from a friend.

    Check your PM's!!
     
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2012
  6. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Once you have the disc, boot to the recovery console and type:
    fixmbr

    Exit out and boot to normal mode and re-run MBRCheck.
     
  7. bbpathd1

    bbpathd1 Private First Class

    I obtained the disk as you suggested and MBRCheck now says Windows code is in the MBR. The unknown code is gone!

    Log attached.
     

    Attached Files:

  8. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Good to know.

    If you are not having any other malware problems, it is time to do our final steps:

    1. We recommend you keep SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for scanning/removal of malware. Unless you purchase them, they provide no real time protection. They do not use any significant amount of resources ( except a little disk space ) until you run a scan.We recommend them for doing backup scans when you suspect a malware infection.
    2. If we had you use ComboFix, uninstall ComboFix (This uninstall will only work as written if you installed ComboFix on your Desktop like we requested.)
      • Click START then RUN and enter the below into the run box and then click OK. Note the quotes are required
      • "%userprofile%\Desktop\combofix" /uninstall
        • Notes: The space between the combofix" and the /uninstall, it must be there.
        • This will uninstall ComboFix and also reset hidden files and folders settings back to Windows defaults.


    3. Go back to step 6 of the READ ME and renable your Disk Emulation software with Defogger if you had disabled it.
    4. Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.
    5. If we had you download any registry patches like fixme.reg or fixWLK.reg (or any others), you can delete these files now.
    6. If running Vista, it is time to make sure you have reenabled UAC by double clicking on the C:\MGtools\enableUAC.reg file and allowing it to be added to the registry.
    7. Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis.
    8. Goto the C:\MGtools folder and find the MGclean.bat file. Double click on this file to run this cleanup program that will remove files and folders related to MGtools and some other items from our cleaning procedures.
    9. If you are running Win 7, Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below:
      • Refer to the cleaning procedures pointed to by step 7 of the READ ME
        for your Window version and see the instructions to Disable System Restore which will flush your Restore Points.
      • Then reboot and Enable System Restore to create a new clean Restore Point.

    10. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:


    Malware removal from a National Chain = $149
    Malware removal from MajorGeeks = $0
     
  9. bbpathd1

    bbpathd1 Private First Class

    Thanks so much for your help, Tim. I appreciate it more than I can say.
     
  10. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    You are most welcome. Safe surfing!! :)
     

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