Pointer Seizures, System Freeze-ups

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by ftjr, Dec 16, 2017.

  1. ftjr

    ftjr Private E-2

    Posted this to software and got advice that it's likely a well-hidden rootkit. Ran the recommended scans and they found something, so that probably explains at least part of it. Seeking further guidance.

    Two unrelated issues. Have had intermittent freeze-ups for a long time, but none between January and November 2017, so I thought they were gone. Recurred shortly after running last set of Windows updates. Ran Tweaking and Chkdsk-R last week to get at the freezes. Had another freeze-up on Dec. 9. On Dec. 12, began seeing weird Pointer stutter. Happens when I’m using the PC doing a wide range of activities. It happens when the PC is idle. Sometimes the pointer jumps randomly and selects icons on the desktop or clicks on menus or other items within a program, including Firefox, Chrome, Cortana, Word, Excel, Civ VI, Task Manager, etc. After a while the problem seems to disappear, only to come back later. Increasingly it’s been going into seizures in which the pointer stutters uncontrollably at the top of the screen and can no longer be manipulated, while the current window shakes violently until the seizure subsides, usually in about 30 seconds. The problem still occurs in safe mode or with a clean boot. Occurs with our without touchpad activated and with or without my external wireless mouse plugged in. I've checked mouse and touchpad drivers with both the built-in check and Driver Booster 5 and they (and everything else) appear to be up to date. Tried external Mouse on a different PC and no problem. Tried a different external Mouse on this PC, and the problem occurred again. Had it happen once during a restart, before I had even logged in. Seizures happen whether or not anyone else is using a wireless mouse in the house, as they have been simultaneously at most times since I acquired this computer in 2016. Occurs whether or not the router is plugged in and whether or not I’m connected to the Internet.

    System is a Dell Inspiron 17-7778 laptop with an I7-6500U Core. Purchased in Sept. 2016 and have been using it steadily since then. It came with Windows 10 and is currently running 10.0.16299.

    About the old problem, the freezes: Within a few weeks of purchase, the system occasionally froze, often accompanied by a loud audio buzz. During a freeze, the keyboard and mouse are unresponsive and the only option is to use the power button to reboot. Sometimes the PC fails to reboot at first, but nearly always works on the second attempt. I initially found the problem only with high-graphics game software and thought it was some type of compatibility or settings issue, but then had freezes when I was running only Word if Firefox a few times and they began to come more frequently starting about a year ago. In January 2017, I ran DriverBooster on the system and it found a large number of outdated drivers, which I updated. After this, I did not have another freeze until mid-November 2017, shortly after installing a major Windows update.

    Files requested by MajorGeeks attached.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    I am not finding any malware in your logs. Have you tried using a different user account?

    I would also like to see the log from running ADWCleaner before I let you go.
     
  3. ftjr

    ftjr Private E-2

    This is the only account I've ever used on this PC. Sorry about not including the ADWCleaner log. Attached here.
    Are the items that came up during the RogueKiller and HitManPro scans not Malware then?
     

    Attached Files:

  4. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    No they are not. And ADWCleaner is clean. Your admin account is disabled.

    * First you'll need to open a command prompt in administrator mode by right-clicking and choosing "Run as administrator"
    * Now type the following command:
    net user administrator /active:yes

    I suggest you return to your other thread for further assistance.

    Since you are not having any malware problems, it is time to do our final steps:
    1. We recommend you keep Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for scanning/removal of malware.
    2. Re-enable your Disk Emulation software with Defogger if you had disabled it in step 4 of the READ & RUN ME.
    3. Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis. If you don't see it or it will not uninstall, don't worry about it. Just move on to the next step.
    4. If running Vista, Win 7 or Win 8 or 10, it is time to make sure you have re-enabled UAC by double clicking on the C:\MGtools\enableUAC.reg file and allowing it to be added to the registry.
    5. Now go to the C:\MGtools folder and find the MGclean.bat file. Double click ( if running Vista, Win7, or Win 8 or 10 Right Click and Run As Administrator ) 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.
    6. Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.
    7. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:
     
  5. ftjr

    ftjr Private E-2

    Thanks! Good to rule out MalWare at least.
     
  6. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    You're welcome.
     

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