Cannot run Regedit

Welcome to Majorgeeks!

Please follow our standard cleaning procedures which are necessary for us to provide you support. Also there are steps included for installing, running, and posting HijackThis logs as attachments.

- Run ALL the steps in this Sticky thread READ & RUN ME FIRST Before Asking for Support

Make sure you check version numbers and get all updates.

- Very Important: Make sure you tell us the results from running the tutorial...was anything found? Were you unable to complete any of the scans?...Were you unable to download any of the tools?...Did you do the on-line scans as suggested? etc.


After doing ALL of the above you still have a problem make sure you have booted to normal mode and run the steps in the below link to properly use HijackThis and attach a log:

Downloading, Installing, and Running HijackThis

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Note: You may have a bunch of bad/missing EXE files in your system32 folder. regedit.exe is just one of them. You more than likely have a very small regedit.com file which is not valid. Look in your c:\windows\system32 folder (I'm assuming you have WinXP and it is installed on drive C) and list all files that have the .com extension and also tell me the file size.

 

You must ATTACH (not post inline) the full log from BitDefender. A log summary is of no use to us at all. Follow the directions exactly as written in step 6 or you will not get the proper log. Also you must attach the PandaActiveScan log .

 

Delete the below files (only delete exactly what I list):

cmd.com – 0 bytes
netstat.com – 0 bytes
ping.com – 0 bytes
regedit.com – 0 bytes
taskkill.com – 0 bytes
tasklist.com – 0 bytes
tracert.com – 0 bytes

Now you need to look to see if the below files exist and also tell me their sizes:
cmd.exe
netstat.exe
ping.exe
regedit.exe
taskkill.exe
tasklist.exe
tracert.exe

 

Which SP level are you running?

Click Start and select Search.
Select "All files and folders"
Enter the regedit (yes without the .exe) in the "Search for files or folders named:" box

Then click the Search Now button. Tell me all the matches you get (sizes and locations).

 

No, the capital letters do not matter?

Why do you have a C:\Windows folder and also a C:\Winnt folder?
Is C:\Windows left over from an older OS like Win98?

Copy the regedit.exe in C:\WINNT to the C:\Winnt\System32 folder.

By the way, can you now run all the programs you were having a problem with?

You never completed what I requested in message # 5.

Make sure viewing of hidden files is enabled (per the tutorial).

Please run HijackThis and click on the Open the Misc Tools Section button on the open page. Then select Open process manager on the left-hand side. Look for the following process (or processes) and one at a time kill them by selecting it and then click Kill process. Then click yes.
C:\WINNT\system32\winlog.exe

After killing all the above processes, click Back.
Then please click Scan and select the following lines but DO NOT CLICK FIX until you exit all browser sessions including the one you are reading in right now:
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [winlog] winlog.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [winlog] winlog.exe

After clicking Fix, exit HJT.
Boot into safe mode and use Windows Explorer to delete:
C:\WINNT\system32\winlog.exe
If you get an error when deleting a file. Right click on the file and check to see if the read only attribute is checked. If it is, uncheck it and try again. Other wise open Task Manager and kill the process if running then delete the file.

Now run Ccleaner (installed while running the READ ME FIRST).

Now reboot in normal mode and post a new HJT log.

Make sure you tell me how things are working now.

Reminder Note: Once we have determined you are malware free you will need to disable System Restore, reboot, and re-enable system restore per step 1 of the READ & RUN ME. This only applies to if using WinXP or WinMe.

 

You should attach the followupi HJT log I requested in my previous message. I see some other problems in your Panda log that may have appeared on your system now.

 

Okay, your HJT log is fine! Just locate the below and delete them (use safe mode if normal boot mode does not work):

C:\WINNT\SYSTEM32\a.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\VCClient <-- the whole VCClient folder

If you are not having any other malware problems, it is time to go back to step 1 of the READ & RUN ME to Disable System Restore which will flush your Restore Points. Then reboot and enable System Restore to create a new clean Restore Point.

After that, you should work thru the below link:

How to Protect yourself from malware!

 

You're welcome. Surf safely!