Problems with opening system files after Malware Removal

Discussion in 'Malware Help - MG (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by Ryangeek, Apr 18, 2011.

  1. Ryangeek

    Ryangeek Private E-2

    I completed the "Malware Removal Guide" but I think I might have done something wrong. I am no longer infected (I had the XP Total Security Virus) but when I rebooted I can no longer open any regular files (Microsoft Word, .exe, anything I try to open). I keep receiving the pop-up that wants me to "choose the program that you want to use to open this file".

    I first noticed these errors after I completed the Malware Removal and re-booted. I was trying to download a new Anti-Virus (Comodo Antivirus) and I received the prompt to "choose the program...."

    Any help you can provide is appreciated. I have attached the logs I have from completing the Malware Removal (I couldn't find some of my logs {SuperAntiSpyware/RRlog} for some reason).
     

    Attached Files:

  2. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Go here and scroll down to the exe. fix:
    http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

    Now,
    * 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:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\5w16207e05scw72lrf6548x54kg28f07vaw0251
    C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\5w16207e05scw72lrf6548x54kg28f07vaw0251
    C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Templates\5w16207e05scw72lrf6548x54kg28f07vaw0251
    
    
    * 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 previous 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.

    Note: If after running Combofix you discover none of your programs will open up, and you recieve the following error: "Illegal operation attempted on a registry key that has been marked for deletion". Then the answer is to REBOOT the machine, and all will be corrected.

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

    Make sure you tell me how things are working now!
     
  3. Ryangeek

    Ryangeek Private E-2

    Attached are the logs you requested.

    Everything seems to be working fine now. Thank you very much for your help.

    One other question though: When I ran ComboFix it mentioned that AVG 2011 was active, but I uninstalled it yesterday, why would it show as active? Any suggestions?
     

    Attached Files:

  4. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Let's do one more thing:


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

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

    Please disable all anti-virus and anti-spyware programs while we do the following (re-enable when you are finished):

    Run C:\MGtools\analyse.exe by double clicking on it (Note: if using Vista, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator). This is really HijackThis (select Do a system scan only) and select the following lines but DO NOT CLICK FIX until you exit all browser sessions including the one you are reading in right now:
    After clicking Fix, exit HJT.

    * 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 or Win7, don't double click, use right click and select Run As Administrator).Make sure that you watch for the license agreement for TrendMicro HijackThis and click on the Accept button TWICE to accept ( yes twice ).

    Then attach the below logs:

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

    Make sure you tell me how things are working now!
     
  5. Ryangeek

    Ryangeek Private E-2

    Everything seemed to run fine. Thanks.

    I guess I do have one more issue, if you could help me with it that would be great. My Automatic Updates for Windows does not work and when I try to manually download the updates from the Microsoft websitre I receive the following error: [Error number: 0x80070424].

    Thanks in advance.
     
  6. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    I would still like to see the logs I asked for. As to your updating issues, you probably need to post in the software forum for that, but in the meantime, try these:

    There are so many possible causes of problems with Windows Update that it would probably be best to send you to the Software Forum. However, there are a few things we can try first.

    1. Make sure time and date and TimeZone are correct
    2. See if it works in safe boot mode
    3. Reset HOSTS file

    Download HostsXpert and then follow the below steps.

    • Unzip HostsXpert.zip
    • It will create a folder named HostsXpert in whatever folder you extract it to.
    • Run HostsXpert.exe by double clicking on it.
    • Click the Make Writeable? button. (if you only see a Make Read-Only selection, it is already writeable so skip this button).
    • Click Restore Microsoft's Hosts File and then click OK.
    • Click the X to exit the program


    4. flush DNS server

    Right-click on the Command Prompt icon and select
    "Run as administrator". Then type in: ipconfig/flushdns
    and press the Enter key on your keyboard.

    5. add Microsoft URLs to the Trusted Zone (see below)
    6. shutdown firewall and retry
    7. shutdown AntiVirus and try

    MS URLs

    http://*.update.microsoft.com


    http://download.windowsupdate.com


    http://genuine.microsoft.com


    http://go.microsoft.com


    http://support.microsoft.com


    http://update.microsoft.com


    https://*.update.microsoft.com <--Notice the https designation.

    the first thing to always check for Windows Update problems! make sure that Automatic Updates is not turned off. It needs to be on and the service status needs to be Started and the Service type needs to be Automatic.
     
  7. Ryangeek

    Ryangeek Private E-2

    Sorry, I attached the logs but forgot to press "upload".

    Here they are.

    Thanks for the information, I'll probably give it a shot tomorrow. If it doesn't work then I'll create a post on the software page as you suggested.

    Thanks for your help with everything else.
     

    Attached Files:

  8. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Your logs are clean.

    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 do not use any significant amount of resources ( except a little disk space ) until you run a scan.We recommend them for doing backup scans when you suspect a malware infection.
    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" /uninstall
        • Notes: The space between the combofix" and the /uninstall, it must be there.
        • This will uninstall ComboFix and also reset hidden files and folders settings back to Windows defaults.


    3. Go back to step 6 of the READ ME and renable your Disk Emulation software with Defogger if you had disabled it.
    4. Any other miscellaneous tools we may have had you install or download can be uninstalled and deleted.
    5. If we had you download any registry patches like fixme.reg or fixWLK.reg (or any others), you can delete these files now.
    6. 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.
    7. Go to add/remove programs and uninstall HijackThis.
    8. 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.
    9. If you are running Win 7, Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below:
      • Refer to the cleaning procedures pointed to by step 7 of 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.

    10. After doing the above, you should work thru the below link:


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