Problems with Catalyst & Mozilla

I had originally posted in the malware forum and they advised me to repost here if the solution they provided did not work. I will paste from those posts below:


Original Post:
My husband's laptop has been having problems, but we aren't sure the origin. It keeps saying that Catalyst (don't know the whole name, that's all he remembers) won't run, and despite uninstalling and reinstalling Mozilla Firefox, it won't open. It just says that Firefox is already running, but is not responding, and I must close the process. I can't find the process actually running and this comes up even after restarting the machine.



Advise Provided by Malware Forum:
I am not finding any malware in your logs. You should pursue this in the software forum.

Just to be sure you are uninstalling and re-installing correctly, do this:

We are going to be uninstalling your old version of FireFox and installing the new version. So do the below to save bookmarks:
Run FireFox and click Bookmarks.
Then select Organize Bootmarks.
Then on the next window click File and then select Export. Save the bookmarks.html file to your Desktop for later use in importing.
Now download and save the installer for the current version of FireFox but DO NOT install it yet. Get it here: Mozilla Firefox 15.0.1 Final

You will need exit FireFox now and use Internet Explorer to continue with the below until we reinstall FireFox.

Start by uninstalling FireFox and then reboot. Do not skip the reboot.
After reboot, delete the below folders:
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox
C:\documents and settings\UserAccount\Application Data\Mozilla

where UserAccount is the actual user account name being used.

Now reinstall FireFox from the file previously downloaded.
Import your bookmarks file. (similar process to exporting).

If that doesn't work, post in the software forum.

Since you are not having any malware problems, it is time to do our final steps:
We recommend you keep Malwarebytes Anti-Malware for scanning/removal of malware. You can uninstall RogueKiller and HitManPro.
Go back to step 4 of the READ ME and renable your Disk Emulation software with Defogger if you had disabled it.
Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.
If running Vista or Win 7, 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.
Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis.
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.
After doing the above, you should work thru the below link
How to Protect yourself from malware!



What Happened When I Tried the Above:
I attempted to follow the steps above for uninstalling and reinstalling Mozilla, however, I was not able to access (so therefore could not delete)
C:\documents and settings\UserAccount\Application Data\Mozilla

I tried to access both through Documents and Settings in the C drive and also through Application Data within the User Account. Both times I got an access is denied message. I also noticed that the folders were "shortcut" folders rather than the actual folder icon they should have been.

Of note, we had a blue screen of death issue last night that resulted in Windows not starting. Some windows repair function came up and fixed it (I think it said it was system restoring) and now it works, but I think there must be some underlying problem despite the lack of malware.

Thanks.

 

The computer is a Dell Inspiron 1521

There is currently no version of Firefox as I was uninstalling per directions of Malware forum when I couldn't complete the tasks (malware folks had said to post here if their solution didn't work).

I think the version is Windows Home Premium.

I completely uninstalled firefox at the direction of the malware forum (see original post). The problem is that is refuses to completely uninstall. The last instruction for ensuring a complete uninstall was to delete
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox
C:\documents and settings\UserAccount\Application Data\Mozilla
I was able to delete the Program Files, but the computer denies me access to the Application Data or Documents and Settings depending on how I try to get to the file. I can't delete what I can't access and I have a feeling that my inability to access is related to the problem. I had tried to do reinstalls before asking for help with the Firefox problem and uninstalling and reinstalling never worked. I suspect it is because there is something hiding in the Application Data Folder.

 

Vista Home Premium

 

Can anyone else help with this one?

 

From you logs:

C:\Users\Winton\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla <--- Delete this folder

AppData is system protected and you will need to unhide it.

Windows explorer> Organize> Folders options> View tab> Show hidden files and folders.

Have you have backed up your Bookmarks as advised by TimW? Please do so before deleting the folder.

Have you updated to SP2 it was released 4yrs ago! When you posted the logs in November 2012- your system was on SP1!

Could you please be precise.

Cheers..

 

Okay, so I got the Mozilla folder deleted. I will now try to reinstall.

The message box says: Catalyst Control Centre: Host application has stopped working
A problem cause the program to stop working correctly. Windows will close the program and notify you is a solution is available.

 

Lets see if a repair of the Catalyst Control Manager helps. I do doubt it though.
Control Panel> Uninstall a program> ATI Catalyst Control Manager> Repair.

CCC is a startup on your machine.

1)We can disable this, to remove the error message on boot... but not an elegant resolution.
2)Uninstall Catalyst Control Center (not Manager) altogether. The drivers remain intact and functional.

Please stand by for other MGs to respond on this issue.
In the mean while, have you updated Windows to Service Pack 2? Your machine has not been updated in years as per your logs!

Cheers..