C: drive read only, can't run MGTools!

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by ithryn, Jun 25, 2011.

  1. ithryn

    ithryn Private E-2

    I'm running Windows XP.

    Recently all of my programs and Start Menu folders/shortcuts disappeared, except for some things pinned to the start menu like Chrome. My wife says she got a message on her desktop about fixing XP, and now her desktop has nothing on it :\

    I was able to figure out that all files on C: had been made hidden and read-only, and "view system/hidden files" had been disabled. I re-enabled it and then saw all the hidden files (all files on C: ), selected them, and changed their properties so they aren't hidden and read-only. In doing so several error messages appeared when certain files were not allowed to be changed - files I don't recognize at all with long names made of strings of random characters, which I'm assuming are not good.

    So now my start menu folders are back, but there are no shortcuts in them (all folders are empty). I'm running everything through windows explorer or the Run prompt.

    I attempted to run System Restore and receive the error message "System Restore is not able to protect your computer. Please reboot and run System Restore again." which of course does nothing. I had System Restore points, including a recent one. I have no idea if they still exist.

    During the MBAM scan, MSSE detected a 'threat' and recommended removing it. I selected to do so. Then I checked the MSSE log and see it's been removed before - I don't remember ever getting a message about it. As far as I knew MSSE never detected anything, but I guess it doesn't alert me? I included a jpeg of the log because I can't figure out how to get a text log out of MSSE.

    I was NOT able to run MGTools. It asks me if I want to run it, I select yes, and then after a pause a window appears and disappears too fast for me to see it. Then nothing. I suspect it's because the drive is read-only? Or I'm disallowed access? The MSSE realtime blocker is turned off.

    But I was able to download and run the new Java and RootRepeal, and update the other programs. So I have some access. Weird.

    So at this point: I assume that I'm still infected. The computer runs alright but my Start Menu icons are all gone and I may be disallowed access to my hard drive.

    I'm making our accounts Limited, which I should've probably done long ago, and starting an administrator account we won't use except to install programs. I probably need to get a better firewall than the default XP firewall, too.

    Any help is appreciated.

    Chris
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Jun 25, 2011
  2. ithryn

    ithryn Private E-2

    Part 2. I can run MGTools and post a log as soon as I'm told how it can be done.
     

    Attached Files:

  3. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Please download and save the below to your Desktop or anywhere else you can find it ( if the Desktop is not showing )

    http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/grinler/unhide.exe

    Now run it. Did that help with the start up/desktop icons/quicklaunch etc?

    Run this:

    I want you to run TDSSKiller so refer to the below for how to do so.

    TDSSkiller - How to run


    Are you now able to run C:\MGTools.exe?
     
    Last edited: Jun 25, 2011
  4. ithryn

    ithryn Private E-2

    Thanks. unhide restored some more menu icons but most of my start menu folders are still empty. It seems like everything under my username is back but the majority under All Users are not. I can deal with that if that's the only loss though.

    Here's the logs. I was able to run MGTools; however, I realized halfway through that MSSE's realtime scanner was back on, so I quickly shut it off. There were no error messages but just in case I ran MGTools a second time. The second run was renamed to MGTools-2.zip.

    Thank you,
    Chris
     

    Attached Files:

  5. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Do not run any temp cleaning software. You can restore the defaults for the Start Menu, Accessories and Administrative Tools as follows:



    * Make sure that combofix.exe that you downloaded while doing the READ & RUN ME is on your Desktop but Do not run it!
    If it is not on your Desktop, the below will not work.
    * Also make sure you have shut down all protection software (antivirus, antispyware...etc) or they may get in the way of allowing ComboFix to run properly.
    * If ComboFix tells you it needs to update to a new version, make sure you allow it to update.
    * Open Notepad and copy/paste the text in the below code box into it (make sure you scroll all the way down in the code box to get all lines selected ):
    Code:
    KILLALL::
    
    File::
    C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\17882916
    C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\~17882916
    C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\~17882916r
    
    
    * Save the above as CFscript.txt and make sure you save it to the same location (should be on your Desktop) as ComboFix.exe
    * At this point, you MUST EXIT ALL BROWSERS NOW before continuing!
    * You should have both the ComboFix.exe and CFScript.txt icons on your Desktop.
    If it asks you to overide the previous file with the same name, click YES.
    * Now use your mouse to drag CFscript.txt on top of ComboFix.exe
    http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v666/sUBs/CFScriptB-4.gif
    * Follow the prompts.
    * When it finishes, a log will be produced named c:\combofix.txt
    * I will ask for this log below

    Note:

    Do not mouseclick combofix's window while it is running. That may cause it to stall.

    Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator).

    Then attach the below log:

    • C:\MGlogs.zip

    Make sure you tell me how things are working now!
     
  6. ithryn

    ithryn Private E-2

    Okay, accessories are back. I suppose I'll rebuild the other shortcuts, no problem.

    Things seem to be a little better and speedier. My wife's desktop environment is still missing icons - should I run unhide on hers?

    How do the logs look? Do I still have anything there?
     

    Attached Files:

  7. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Yes, try unhide on her account as well as the other program I gave you. And yes, you may need to manually rebuild your shortcuts.

    I am not seeing any malware in your logs now. Just be sure to not run any temp cleaning software until after you have run unhide. You can manually remove temp items if you need to.

    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

    Help Support MajorGeeks
    Buy Discounted Software @ Majorgeeks Store. Giveaways Too!

    Majorgeeks Geek Wear. Hats, T-Shirts, Hoodies

    MajorGeeks on FaceBook
     
  8. ithryn

    ithryn Private E-2

    Everything seems to be fine but her desktop is still a blank blue, no icons except the empty folders and what was restored on my start menu, but more worrisomely she is not able to right-click on the desktop background at all, or place shortcuts there.

    Thanks so far!! It's been great.
     
  9. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    You may have to create a new user account for her and delete the old one. If unhide did not work on her account, then that might be the only way to go.
     
  10. ithryn

    ithryn Private E-2

    It still bothers me that she has no right-click access to the desktop, no wallpaper, and her icons (which DO exist in her Documents and Settings\Adrienne\Desktop folder, I discovered!) don't show up - bothers me in that I worry that I'm still infected with something. Can the user account still be corrupted even after I'm fully clean? The computer is operating a little faster which makes me think everything else is fine.

    Thanks,
    Chris
     
  11. ithryn

    ithryn Private E-2

    ETA: disregard that last post. It turns out her desktop is more or less back to normal. Sorry for jumping the gun! And thanks so much for your time.
     
  12. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Not a problem. And good to know. Safe surfing. :)
     

MajorGeeks.Com Menu

Downloads All In One Tweaks \ Android \ Anti-Malware \ Anti-Virus \ Appearance \ Backup \ Browsers \ CD\DVD\Blu-Ray \ Covert Ops \ Drive Utilities \ Drivers \ Graphics \ Internet Tools \ Multimedia \ Networking \ Office Tools \ PC Games \ System Tools \ Mac/Apple/Ipad Downloads

Other News: Top Downloads \ News (Tech) \ Off Base (Other Websites News) \ Way Off Base (Offbeat Stories and Pics)

Social: Facebook \ YouTube \ Twitter \ Tumblr \ Pintrest \ RSS Feeds