Screen dims and system becomes non-responsive

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by jetster, Jan 1, 2014.

  1. jetster

    jetster Private E-2

    Hi, this is my first post to this forum. It would appear that I've been infected with some sort of malware that has basically disabled my system. I'm including some background information in this post in the event that it may be of some use to you (otherwise you can ignore it). Most importantly I've followed all of the recommended steps for trouble Malware noted in the "Please Read These Important Notes for the Malware Removal Guide:" post. I've attached the results of that activity to this post.

    I basically can't use my system at this point unless I'm in Safe Mode. Hoping someone can help me fix the problem so I can resume my life as this is my only PC. If any more data is required I'd be happy to provide whatever is needed.

    Thanks in advance,
    Jetster


    Background Information:

    Basic System info:

    I'm current running Windows Vista (latest version). Use Chrome as my browser and run BitDefender Internet Suite. I have 4GB of memory.

    Summary of activity when the problem occured:
    While on the CoveredCa.com (Affordable Healthcare App for California) website I was attempting to check on the status of my healthcare and chose to use the chat capability on the website..to do so I had to enable something (i think it was popups) in my browser...once I found out it would be 1 hour+ before someone would be available to chat with me I just minimized the chat window and then continued searching other websites (nothing really dicey) and then at some point my system became completely unresponsive...I had a lot of files open and a lot of chrome tabs open so I figured I probably ran out of memory...so I had to do a hard reboot of the system. Ever since that event the system can be booted but whenever I try and do anything the screen will dim, I get the system is busy spinner and the system never responds again...so I have to perform a hard boot.

    What have I done to try and correct the system?
    First of all I've had to do everything from safe mode with networking enabled. I've followed all of the steps outlined in this forum listed on the "Please Read These Important Notes for the Malware Removal Guide:". Unfortunately the problem still persist so I'm posting the requested logs.
     

    Attached Files:

    jetster, Jan 1, 2014
    #1
  2. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    I am not finding any malware in your logs. You can rerun Hitman and remove the PUP's. Otherwise, I suggest you post in the software forum 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. Renable 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, 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.
    5. Now goto the C:\MGtools folder and find the MGclean.bat file. Double click ( if running Vista, Win7, or Win 8 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.


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

     
    TimW, Jan 1, 2014
    #2
  3. jetster

    jetster Private E-2

    Ok thanks for checking...but I am puzzled as to why all of a sudden my Virus protection software reported an issue and my system has simultaneously become unusuable? I didn't explicitly download any new software???

    What are PUPs...nothing in hitman is labeled specifically as "Pup"...remember you aren't speaking to a security expert here. Should I delete everything that hitman has identified?

    When you say post to the software group...is there a method to simply transfer my post to another category without copying and pasting? I'm new to the forum so I'm not an expert on using it.
     
    jetster, Jan 1, 2014
    #3
  4. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    The cause of your problem was what you did where you said the below
    You corrupted your file system. You could try doing a System Restore to a point in time before this but it may not help.

    Reported as Potentially Unwanted Programs. You can remove these as TimW stated but this will not fix your problems because they have nothing to do with it.

    We could move this thread to the Software Forum but it would be better for you to start a new thread in the Software Forum rather than continuing with this one. All of Major Geeks forums are seen on the main forum page >> http://forums.majorgeeks.com/index.php
     
    chaslang, Jan 1, 2014
    #4
  5. jetster

    jetster Private E-2

    What evidence do you have that my file system is corrupted? The behavior of the system doesn't seem to be consistent with that problem. Why am I able to run the system in protected mode if the system is corrupted. For example I have not problem running Chrome browser in the protected mode. If the file system was corrupted wouldn't it be corrupted in protected mode as well? BTW it now appears that when i boot into regular mode my Antivirus no longer is loaded automatically into system tray. Coincidence that the Antivirus has now been disabled?
     
    jetster, Jan 1, 2014
    #5
  6. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    The fact that you cannot run in normal mode but you can run in safe mode along with two other facts:
    1. your logs are basically clean so it is not malware
    2. the fact the you powered down your PC with lots of things running ( by your own admission ). This can corrupt any files, drivers, applications....etc that are open at that time.
    I assume that you mean safe boot mode. When in safe boot mode many drivers, services and files do not load that would normally load in normal bootmode.

    Not necessarily a coincidence. It could be one of the items that got corrupted. In fact you should look into totally disabling it via MSConfig or possibly uninstalling it and then try booting in normal mode with it disabled/uninstalled. You need to disable all processes and services if you do not use the uninstall route. It could be the reason that you cannot run in normal mode.
     
    chaslang, Jan 2, 2014
    #6

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