Msconfig dissappearing

P4, 2.4, 512, XP Home

msconfig is missing.
Even after copying a the file to cd/floppy, it dissapears when inserted into my pc.

i have named a file msconfid.exe which is on my pc and works fine.

running "ren c:\windows\system32\msconfid.exe msconfig.exe" appears to work as there are no error messages and msconfid.exe dissapears.(still no msconfig though)
i am sure the file is there, 'cause if i retry to rename i get a duplicate error.

i have tried to expand it from the cd to ..pchealth/binaries/
- appears to work but no msconfig

i have the same problem with "procexp.zip" dissapearing.
other files don't seem to be affected, be they .exe, .zip, AV tools, ect.

I am trying to install SP2, which isn't happening without msconfig present

having ran all the malware removal tools as per READ ME FIRST...on the spyware forum (x2, and a few extra for good measure)- i'm sure i'm in the right place.(refered here by Sensei Chaslang)

Any Help would be greatly appreciated...

 

Do you have the options for displaying hidden files and windows operating system files enabled? If not, enable them and navigate to the system32 directory and see if you can find the files there.

 

The msconfig.exe should be in this folder C:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\Binaries.

 

Good catch! Ooops.

 

options for displaying hidden files and windows operating system files and file extensions are enabled.
Search function doesn't find it either, more importantly sp2 does't find it!
not in C:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\Binaries either.



Thanks

 

You have to make sure you get the right version msconfig.exe

It should be located here:

C:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\Binaries

But could also be located here:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache

and if you upgraded to Service Pack 1 for Windows XP, it may still be located here:

C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386


If you still can't find it, you may have to expand the file from the Windows XP cdrom, although I don't know what CAB file msconfig.exe is in.

Steve

 

how to delete multiple copies of msconfig ?

i am getting closer - it seems to be process related or a file svchost is starting.

i ran a program called Process Gaurd, for a short time i had msconfigs everywhere. now ive got them in my binaries folder, system,system32, desktop,and several other places where i had copied & renamed them.

Before they dissappeared again - due to PG's Learning mode ??
i managed to successfully install SP2 (for better or worse, until BSOD do us part)

i'll play with PG and see if i can sus out whats happening.

thanks y'all

 

woo hoo, i have a virus!!

not being able do the recomended online scans (stay tuned for my next thread about my connection issues). i tried a few different AV/Trojan scanners/removal tools. (The two i had tried came up clean) and it was a BSD/hacdef, infecting hxdefdrv seems to be related to scvhost/winunins.
i'm not convinced it's gone so i'm off to consult Chaslang.

Thanks for your input

 

Chas will rid you of that bad boy.

Steve