Removed Trojan - now can't boot

cheekbones3 · Feb 13, 2012

Hi all,

I'm trying to fix a laptop for a friend. Spec:

Windows Vista Basic, 32 bit.

Initially, the machine wouldn't let me run much at all, but I managed to stick the standard cleaning tools onto the desktop.

Running SuperantiSpyware - nothing.
Running Malwarebytes - Trojan - removed and rebooted.

Since then, I've not been able to reboot at all in any mode. Windows tries Startup Repair, this fails, and sometimes tells me that CI.dll is corrupt, sometimes it find nothing.

a) I don't currently have the Windows disk (I could see if it's available)
b) System Restore doesn't seem to run, or I can't get it to do anything useful, from command prompt or otherwise.
c) The memory doesn't seem corrupted.

Your advice would be gratefully accepted.

cheekbones3 · Feb 13, 2012

Update: I managed to get the System Restore to work. I can now get to the desktop, but it's so slow as to be useless. I assume that means the infection is still present. Help still required!

TimW · Feb 13, 2012

Welcome to Major Geeks!

Please read ALL of this message including the notes before doing anything. Note if you cannot save things in C:\ then just save them to your Desktop. Make sure that you have disable UAC and rebooted first if you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7.

Please 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:

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

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.

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.

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.

cheekbones3 · Feb 13, 2012

Thanks Tim. That's what I'm trying to do, but the aforementioned problems are stopping me.

TimW · Feb 13, 2012

You said that system restore seemed to work. What issues are you having?> Can you get any of the programs to run, esp. MGTools?

cheekbones3 · Feb 13, 2012

I did system restore, and it appeared to sign in to the desktop without problem, but very quickly it became apparent that I was unable to actually do anything - hard to tell whether things were just really slow, or just not (usefully) running as in the first place.

I'm trying again to do a restore, but it's now telling me there are disk errors, and it's trying to fix them - this seems to be a slow process.

TimW · Feb 13, 2012

Let me know what happens.

cheekbones3 · Feb 13, 2012

After going through, checking boot sectors and files and fixing errors, it's failed to restore due to errors. :cry

I've got into safe mode, and am running SASpyware again. One step that caused a crash last time was trying to upload the relevant tools again from the memory stick (aye, I know, another problem maybe caused by doing that), I'll maybe try that again. It seemed to get stuck trying to open explorer.

At least I have SAS, Malwarebytes and rootrepeal already in place. May be a slight issue with them not being the latest versions (not managed to get this laptop online either).

cheekbones3 · Feb 13, 2012

Interestingly, I'm now getting all the messages I would have expected to receive after the first System restore. Maybe it worked after all?

Anyway, all clear from SAS, now onto Malwarebytes.

cheekbones3 · Feb 13, 2012

Touch wood, all seems fine now. Thanks for your attention, hopefully I won't be back!

TimW · Feb 14, 2012

If you were able to run the tools, it might be best to attach the logs so I can check that all is well.

cheekbones3 · Mar 1, 2012

Oops, got distracted. I believe all is well, but I don't have the laptop with me any more. Thanks for looking into this.

TimW · Mar 1, 2012

You're welcome.

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Removed Trojan - now can't boot

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TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

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TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

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