Dell Dimension E520 Crashing Randomly

Let's do this as it looks like you have a MBR infection.
Please disable all anti-virus and anti-spyware programs while we do the following (re-enable when you are finished):

* 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:\WINDOWS\system32\53743E52A4.sys
C:\WINDOWS\Temp\$$$dq3e       
C:\WINDOWS\Temp\$$yt7.$$      
C:\WINDOWS\Temp\$67we.$ 

* 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 prvevious 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.

GMER's MBR.exe

• Double click on the MBR.exe file to run it.
• A log will be produced & saved to the desktop, called MBR.log.
• Attach this log to your next message.

Now delete the current mbr.log file and then run the below instructions.
Click Start > Run and copy & paste the following text in the code box into the Run box and then click OK. You must copy and paste or type in this exactly. The quotes must be exactly as shown and there is a space before the -f

Code:

     "%userprofile%\desktop\mbr.exe" -f

Now double click on the mbr.exe file and attach the new mbr.log

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 also attach the below logs:

* C:\ComboFix.txt
* C:\MGlogs.zip

 

You are going to have to boot into the recovery console. If it is not installed, then you will need to use your xp cd to get to the recovery console.

But first download The Avenger by Swandog469, and save it to your Desktop.

* Extract+ avenger.exe from the Zip file and save it to your desktop

Now boot to the recovery console and once there just type in this:
fixmbr
hit enter then you can exit it and reboot.

After the reboot, * Run avenger.exe by double-clicking on it.
* -Do not change any check box options!!
* Copy everything in the Quote box below, and paste it into the Input script here: part of the window:

* Now click the Execute button.
* Click Yes to the prompt to confirm you want to execute.
* Click Yes to the Reboot now? question that will appear when Avenger finishes running.
* Your PC should reboot, if not, reboot it yourself.
* A log file from Avenger will be produced at C:\avenger.txt and it will popup for you to view when you login after reboot.
-
Now run Ccleaner to clean out only temp files and nothing else!

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 logs:

* C:\Avenger.txt
* C:\MGlogs.zip

 

That did it. Your MBR infection is gone. The only thing I don't like the looks of is this --> C:\WINDOWS\Temp\xsw2. Just delete it.

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 are useful as backup scanners.They do not use any significant amount of resources ( except a little disk space ) until you run a scan.
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" /u
     
     • Notes: The space between the combofix" and the /u, it must be there.
     • This will uninstall ComboFix and also reset hidden files and folders settings back to Windows defaults.
3. Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.
4. If we had you download any registry patches like fixme.reg or fixWLK.reg (or any others), you can delete these files now.
5. 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.
6. Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis.
7. 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.
8. If you are running Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below:
   
   • Refer to the cleaning procedures in step 3 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.
9. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:
   
   • How to Protect yourself from malware!

 

Yes. It is always a possibility when you get infected. Not all infections will result in data theft. But it is always safer to assume the worse. You should always use a different computer to change all your passwords. I hope that he does not suffer additional financial distress.

 

First off, you should have started a new thread to deal with this second computer. However, after doing the other one, I would have thought you would have know better that to:
1) Run ComboFix from here --> I:\ComboFix.exe ( and I sure hope that this is not a thumb drive that you were using with the other computer before it was cleaned!! You may have just infected this one with the thumb drive). Put Combo on the desktop!
2) You should also know that MGTools.exe belongs on the root drive as in C:\MGTools.exe not on your desktop!

You have an mbr infection.


You are going to have to boot into the recovery console. If it is not installed, then you will need to use your xp cd to get to the recovery console.

But first download The Avenger by Swandog469, and save it to your Desktop.

* Extract+ avenger.exe from the Zip file and save it to your desktop

Now boot to the recovery console and once there just type in this:
fixmbr
hit enter then you can exit it and reboot.

After the reboot,
* Run avenger.exe by double-clicking on it.
* -Do not change any check box options!!
* Copy everything in the Quote box below, and paste it into the Input script here: part of the window:

* Now click the Execute button.
* Click Yes to the prompt to confirm you want to execute.
* Click Yes to the Reboot now? question that will appear when Avenger finishes running.
* Your PC should reboot, if not, reboot it yourself.
* A log file from Avenger will be produced at C:\avenger.txt and it will popup for you to view when you login after reboot.

Now run Ccleaner to clean out only temp files and nothing else!

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 logs:
* C:\Avenger.txt
* C:\MGlogs.zip

 

If this is the same computer, then you are either being re-infected by an infected computer on your network or from some removable media such as a thumb drive.

The files are gone. Please just use windows explorer to find and delete:
C:\Documents and Settings\Michael Chester\Local Settings\temp\imt3a.xml
C:\Documents and Settings\Michael Chester\Local Settings\temp\imt3b.xml
C:\Documents and Settings\Michael Chester\Local Settings\temp\imt3c.xml

Run this: Disable/Remove Windows Messenger to remove Windows Messenger. Do not confuse Windows Messenger with MSN Messenger because they are not the same. Windows Messenger is a frequent cause of popups.

Now please do the final cleanup instructions I gave you when we had you clean the last time.