Not sure what I screwed up.

1st. Windows 7 system; Win 7 Antispyware 2012 popups preventing any program from opening.

I followed the "do this first" instructions - done it before, always worked like a charm.

This time I ran the SuperAntiSpyware (from the portable) - it found a trojan and some associated files. Clicked next, let it do it's thing and then rebooted.

That profile no longer boots up. It gets stuck saying it is "Setting up personalized settings for: Web Platform Customizations"

I have one working profile - with the virus/trojan popups still there. It won't let me create another profile.

I cannot get the Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to run - got it to download before the latest.

Stuck. What do I do now?

 

Hi phillik1,

It's very important that we can get as many of our tools to run as possible. Do you have any vital data backed up away from this computer? Have you noticed anything else that's different since this infection occurred?

Can you try to find and attach any log file that may have been created by SuperAntiSpyware?

Please try running Malwarebytes by first renaming the C:\Program Files (x86)\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbam.exe file in Program files\ to explorer.exe and then double-clicking the new explorer.exe. Update it before running a scan, attach the log once it's finished.

 

Thanks for the reply. I got impatient - please forgive me. You guys are always on top of the ball and I didn't give you much to work with.

I found some other advice and did the following.

Click Start. Type in Search field command and press Enter. It will open the command prompt. Type into it notepad and press Enter.
Notepad opens. Copy all the text below into Notepad.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\pezfile]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\open\command]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe]
@="exefile"
"Content Type"="application/x-msdownload"

Save this as fix.reg to your Desktop (remember to select Save as file type: All files in Notepad.)
Double Click fix.reg and click YES for confirm.
Reboot your computer.


I had to do this on each profile on the computer. Then I ran a regular Avast scan and cleaned two files off as suggested. The computer seems to be clean now - always skeptical though.

Do you think I should run any of the other geek suggested tools to be sure?

 

No problem, it looks like you made good progress without causing any damage. Do you have any vital files backed up away from the PC yet?

If you are at all unsure that your PC is clean, it would be best if you worked through the standard procedure below to ensure the computer, and your data, is clean and safe:


Please read ALL of this message including the notes before doing anything.

Pleases follow the instructions in the below link:

READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide


and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions.

• **** If something does not run, write down the info to explain to us later but keep on going. ****
• Do not assume that because one step does not work that they all will not. MGtools will frequently run even when all other tools will not.

• After completing the READ & RUN ME and attaching your logs, make sure that you tell us what problems still remain ( if any still do )!

Helpful Notes:

1. If you run into problems trying to run the READ & RUN ME or any of the scans in normal boot mode, you can run the steps in safe boot mode but make sure you tell us what you did later when you post logs. See the below if you do not know how to boot in safe mode:
   
   • Starting your computer in Safe mode
2. If you have problems downloading on the problem PC, download the tools and the manual updates for SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes ( links are given in the READ & RUN ME) onto another PC and then burn to a CD. Then copy them to the problem PC. You will have to skip getting updates if (and only if) your internet connection does not work. Yes you could use a flash drive too but flash drives are writeable and infections can spread to them.
3. If you cannot seem to login to an infected user account, try using a different user account (if you have one) in either normal or safe boot mode and running only SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes while logged into this other user account. Then reboot and see if you can log into the problem user account. If you can then run SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes, ComboFix and MGtools on the infected account as requested in the instructions.
4. To avoid additional delay in getting a response, it is strongly advised that after completing the READ & RUN ME you also read this sticky:
   • Don't Bump! It Only Hurts You!!!

Any additional post is a bump which will add more delay. Once you attach the logs, your thread will be in the work queue and as stated our system works the oldest threads FIRST.
​

 

K. Will do - thanks for the help and the reply.