All because my Games vanished!

I started a thread following some 'funnies' on my computer (This thread http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=1908834#post1908834)

My computer was running desperately slowly this morning. Truly, 5 minutes or more to open a page, or get en email. I timed it by the clock! Yet the 'disc activity' light wasn't flicking at all - I presume it was all within memory.

I've followed the intructions to get started as best I can.

I hope this makes sense! I've made brief notes, but had to be away ffrom the computer for half the day, in the middle.

I started Rogue Killer. I thought it had hung, it was unmoving for what seemed a very long time, so I started Malwarebytes.

Then RK kicked into life again, so for a while, both ran together. I hope this doesn't invalidate what I've done, but if necessary, I'll have to redo it all, I guess!

Ran TDSKiller. Seems OK. No threats found.

Ran Hitman Pro. No threats reported - I can't locate a log for it (there was no option to save one).

Ran MGtools. It reported SteelWerx stopped. A message about Trend Micro HijackThis came up - so I accepted.

Message re System Info refreshed.

Logs attached.

 

Thanks, Kestrel. The logs are attached. (The problem with the Hitman log is that the 'button' to press to output a log is pretty inconspicuous. Maybe a note in the instructions, telling where to find it?)

(I also had a comment from Eldon (Staff Sgt) 'Also check if the game files are still there. Got to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games.'.

I have checked hese - the files are there.I guess I might be able to activate the .exe from there, but I won't mess around trying, in case!

 

Thanks, Kestrel.

RogueKiller started (seemed slow to start). Got on to 'Checking hidden processes...'), the progress bar under the Scan button on 60% - hung like that with no visible sign of movement for ages. Since I had a similar experience during the initial 'cleaning' run, when RK 'came back to life' after a long while, I waited. I assume I am suposed to wait until the checking of Processes, Registry, Tasks - etc has finished, before tackling the Registry?

..............

Well, RK has been running well over half-hour, and almost all that time, stationary on 'Checking Processes ... 60%', so I'm going to kill it, and start again, assuming it's got stuck, somehow.

Ironically, it says 'Closing, please wait'. As if I haven't done enough waiting already!!

Beginning to look as though I won't be able to do this tonight - closing down is taking ages, too.

(For something to do, I started Task Manager to see what was running. 'AcroRd32.exe *32' {Adobe Reader} is taking 48% or 49% of CPU time. I'm not aware of anything that should be running, using Abobe Reader, so I'm going to End Process it.)

Rogue Killer is now fairly well up towards the top of the list - roughly varying between 2nd and about 10th place. RK itself still not closed, though.

I shall have to leave the computer soon. Normally, I run a scheduled scan (AVG Anti-Virus) at night, after I've gone to bed, with an automatic shutdown when finished. I've just turned off the auto-shutdown, so it can take all night, if it needs - I'll resume trying in the morning. That's the entire evening spent on this. But I'll get to the bottom o it, (with much valued help!) if I can.

 

Back at my computer after about 15 hours. I find that AVG did its usual scan, and found nothing amiss. RogueKiller has finished at some time overnight. I can't find any trace of any report from it.

My home page on Internet Explorer (which I almost never use, BTW) was set to Google. I changed it to 'talktalk.co.uk' (my ISP's home page). It set itself back to Google.

(I was dreading doing anything with the Registry - I've always steered well clear of touching it. When I first got a PC I was given dire warnings about the dangers of screwing up in this area.)

 

Yes, sure. Need to mention a couple of things, first.

I was looking at a folder with a number of scans (of 35mm transparencies) earlier today, when I got a sudden Blue Screen crash. It gave some details which I'll attach as an RTF file. It may be relevant.

After the crash, I restarted in Safe Mode (It came up with the black-and-white screen) and ran a full AVG scan in SM. It said there was a report - AVGREP.TXT but I can't find it. (The 'Search Programs and Files' on the Start menu hardly ever finds anything for me - except occasionally a program.) So far as I know, SVG didn't find anything, but I can't be sure.

With that, over to you, please. What now?

 

I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting you to branch off on another tack.

Long ago (in the 60's!) I used to work on office computers (vastly simpler than todays machines) and latterly used to troubleshoot 'sick' installations. I know how significant, sometimes, apparently irrelevant observations can be. I mentioned the BSOD thing in case it threw any light on the main problem.

So, I still have something - Conduit (? anything else) - on my computer that it would be good to deal with.

If you're still happy to help me, I'd be grateful.

 

Sorry, I thought I had covered that, a couple of posts back :-

I've tried IE again. No matter what I do, the Home Page always reverts to Google, as soon as I come back to it.

So, I can change it, but the change won't stick. I hope that answers the question.