can anyone PLEASE help me?

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by granddad, Oct 21, 2004.

  1. granddad

    granddad Private E-2

    Previous solutions don't work

    Please help me-

    I'm newly arrived in the 21st century (just started using computer). I'm running Windows ME. I'm having lots of spyware and hijack problems. I've read your tutorials and I have downloaded SpybotSD, Hijack This and several other softwares that appear to be useful and recommended by you but whenever I try to use them I get an error message saying they can't be found. This is true if I try to use the shortcut, try to open the files manually or use "run" on the toolbar. I can't seem to gain access to anything that ends in exe. Is there anything I can do? Every time I download software from you it won't run because it says it can't be found. Please help.
    Thank you
    Granddad
     
    granddad, Oct 21, 2004
    #1
  2. granddad

    granddad Private E-2

    I tried posting this problem earlier but I'm new to the forum and not sure how it works so I thought I'd try again.
    I have major virus and spyware problems (t.swapx, etc). Every solution I read tells me to run Spybot or something similar, and I have those but I can't run any file with an exe suffix. I always get an error message saying it can't be found. I search and find where they are, but no matter what method I use to try and open them I get the same message. I've tried all the solutions I have found here but nothing seems to work. If I try to access "add/delete programs" I get a message saying I am not authorized. If I download new spybot or anti-virus software, I get the same "cannot be found" message. I'm an old man and very new at this. Can anyone PLEASE help me?
     
    granddad, Oct 21, 2004
    #2
  3. DaRkKn1qHt

    DaRkKn1qHt Private First Class

    If you downloaded the latest version if should have installed on your desktop and in your start->programs files menu. Did you not see these?
     
    DaRkKn1qHt, Oct 21, 2004
    #3
  4. granddad

    granddad Private E-2

    those are there (desktop, etc.) but I get the same "cannot find" message when I click on the icons and in the start menu. Believe me, I've tried the desktop, the tool bar, the search, the start menu and they won't let me run the software. I also tried (in desparation) to upgrade to XP and AOL9 but nothing will load from discs either. Am I goimg to have to wipe my hard drive or something? Thanks for answering. I'm at my wit's end
     
    granddad, Oct 21, 2004
    #4
  5. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Re: Previous solutions don't work

    You said you downloaded them but did you remember where you downloaded them to and what there filenames are. Use Windows Explorer to locate the files where you downloaded them to and double click on one. To run Windows Explorer, you can right click on your MyComputer icon and select Explore.
     
    chaslang, Oct 21, 2004
    #5
  6. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Please do not post duplicate threads. You already started a thread for this problem. I going to merge that thread in here in a few minutes.


    EDIT: Your older thread is now merged into this thread.
     
    chaslang, Oct 21, 2004
    #6
  7. GunSlinger

    GunSlinger Private E-2

    I can help you get started..I build computers and am way older then you! :)
     
    GunSlinger, Oct 21, 2004
    #7
  8. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Please try running Windows Explorer as I said below. And goto your c:\windows directory and locate notepad.exe. Double click on it and tell me if it runs?

    If not, right click on notepad.exe and select rename. Change the name from notepad.exe to notepad.com

    Now double click on notepad.com and tell me if it runs.

    When done with the above, make sure you rename notepad.com back to notepad.exe
     
    chaslang, Oct 21, 2004
    #8
  9. granddad

    granddad Private E-2

    okay- I tried explorer, located the spybot file, double-clicked and got the same cannot find message. Notepad.exe gave the same message, so i renamed it and got the same cannot find message for notepad.com.exe (I did not add the exe, it came up that way).
     
    granddad, Oct 21, 2004
    #9
  10. granddad

    granddad Private E-2

    any advice would be welcome. I'm going nuts.
     
    granddad, Oct 21, 2004
    #10
  11. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    You need to rename it so that it is called notepad.com not notepad.exe

    Do the following:

    Open My Computer.
    Select the Tools menu and click Folder Options.
    Select the View Tab.
    Under the Hidden files and folders heading select Show hidden files and folders.
    Uncheck the Hide file extensions for known file types
    Uncheck the Hide protected operating system files (recommended) option.
    Click Yes to confirm.
    Click OK.


    Now go back and rename the file to notepad.com and make sure it is notepad.com not notepad.com.exe
     
    chaslang, Oct 21, 2004
    #11
  12. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Try saving the below bold print lines to a file named exe-fix.reg. Then locate the file with Windows Explorer and double click on it. Answer yes at the prompt about merging into the registry.

    REGEDIT4
    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command]
    @="\"%1\" %*"
     
    chaslang, Oct 21, 2004
    #12
  13. granddad

    granddad Private E-2

    i'm sorry, but just how do I save those lines to that file?
     
    granddad, Oct 21, 2004
    #13
  14. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Did you try what I gave in the previous message on renaming notepad.exe again but after allowing Win Explorer to see extensions? You need to do that first so we can see if we can get notepad running. Then you can paste those lines into notepad and save it to a file but use save as and change the save as type to All Files then name it exe-fix.reg.
     
    chaslang, Oct 21, 2004
    #14
  15. granddad

    granddad Private E-2

    yes, I tried it. I succeeded in all the first steps, but when it came to renaming notepad I got exactly the same results
     
    granddad, Oct 21, 2004
    #15
  16. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Open an MS DOS prompt window.

    Type in the following bold print commands each follow by the enter key:
    cd \
    echo notepad.exe > foo.bat
    foo

    Tell me if a notepad window comes up. If so try pasting those lines for the exe-fix.reg into it and create the file.
     
    chaslang, Oct 21, 2004
    #16
  17. granddad

    granddad Private E-2

    sorry i'm so technologically challenged but I can't remember how to open an ms dod prompt window. also i'm having trouble maintaining my internet connection, so if you lose me that's why. if you have the time post whatever you think may help and i'll get back with you as soon as i can. and i appreciate this VERY much
     
    granddad, Oct 21, 2004
    #17
  18. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    There may be an MSDos icon on your desktop. Otherwise you should be able to find it by click Start, and looking in the Program list for an icon. If not there, look in Start, Programs, Accessories for it.
     
    chaslang, Oct 21, 2004
    #18

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