XP-sp3 OK in Safe mode/locks up in Normal

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by scottie916, Jan 23, 2011.

  1. scottie916

    scottie916 Private E-2

    01/22/11, Hello everyone ;o(

    All of a sudden, my XP PC has just become horribly sick!

    Specifics:
    - ASUS MB M3N78-VM, SocketAM2/AM2+/AM3
    - VGA Card Model: NVIDIA GeForce 8200
    - VGA Card Driver: 6.14.12.5896 (07/09/2010)
    - CPU Vendor: AMD
    - CPU Speed: 2.0 GHz
    - Memory Vendor: Crucial
    - Memory Model: PC2-4200
    - Memory Total: 2.5GB

    As of 01/21/11, in NORMAL mode, clicking anything would lock up the PC. Click the [start] locked up, a folder locked up, anything on the toolbar, same.

    I uninstalled a couple of the most recent things installed and NORMAL mode would AT LEAST boot up "OK", by loading all startup items. But still, could not RUN anything.

    In Safe Mode / Safe Mode with Networking, everything is just wonderful. I performed the following to no avail:

    - AVG 2010 FREE scan, no items found
    - Super Anti-Spyware (latest), no items found
    - Anti Malware Bytes (latest), no items found

    So, guessing (but I leave the diagnosis to you all), "something" changed the registry and its run settings or something similar.

    I did, recently, uninstall & install PCTools Firewall+ FREE v7.0. Had a couple of hickups due to v6.x not cleanly being uninstalled by v7.0. After uninstalling v6.x completely, v7.0 installed and has been running fine.

    I also, before these issues, performed a Windows "Cleanup" process, which did clean something like 22GB of files?!?

    At this point, I am at my whits end.

    You all have helped me before (a few years back) and would appreciate assistance again.

    I will D/L the hijack this, and run it to be prepared for a request of the run report.

    Thanks!
     
    scottie916, Jan 23, 2011
    #1
  2. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Please read ALL of this message including the notes before doing anything.

    Please follow the instructions in the below link:

    READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide


    and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions.
    • **** If something does not run, write down the info to explain to us later but keep on going. ****
    • Do not assume that because one step does not work that they all will not. MGtools will frequently run even when all other tools will not.

    • After completing the READ & RUN ME and attaching your logs, make sure that you tell us what problems still remain ( if any still do )!
    Helpful Notes:
    1. If you run into problems trying to run the READ & RUN ME or any of the scans in normal boot mode, you can run the steps in safe boot mode but make sure you tell us what you did later when you post logs. See the below if you do not know how to boot in safe mode:
    2. If you have problems downloading on the problem PC, download the tools and the manual updates for SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes ( links are given in the READ & RUN ME) onto another PC and then burn to a CD. Then copy them to the problem PC. You will have to skip getting updates if (and only if) your internet connection does not work. Yes you could use a flash drive too but flash drives are writeable and infections can spread to them.
    3. If you cannot seem to login to an infected user account, try using a different user account (if you have one) in either normal or safe boot mode and running only SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes while logged into this other user account. Then reboot and see if you can log into the problem user account. If you can then run SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes, ComboFix and MGtools on the infected account as requested in the instructions.
    4. To avoid additional delay in getting a response, it is strongly advised that after completing the READ & RUN ME you also read this sticky:
    Any additional post is a bump which will add more delay. Once you attach the logs, your thread will be in the work queue and as stated our system works the oldest threads FIRST.
    ​
     
    chaslang, Jan 23, 2011
    #2
  3. scottie916

    scottie916 Private E-2

    Chaslang,

    Thanks for the reply, but I solved it...

    It was a combination of a leftover Skype (toolbar) and that new version of PCTool v7.0 FREE.

    Once I uninstalled these both, in Safe Mode, using Revo Uninstaller @ its deepest level (to find/remove all registry items), I booted up in normal mode and all is working again.

    I have since deleted some left-over folders from installs that were uninstalled (like all of those driver updaters), and some downloaded images/movies from the past couple of days.

    I have also decided to install ZoneAlarm Free as my firewall.

    Everything seems to be motoring along well, now.

    Thanks!
     
    scottie916, Jan 23, 2011
    #3
  4. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    You're welcome. Happy to hear you have it worked out.
     
    chaslang, Jan 23, 2011
    #4

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