Strange Behavior - can't regedit

Hello. I'm having a strange computer problem, and I'm hoping someone here can give me some help. I'm running Win XP on an IBM ThinkCentre computer (2.2 gHz, 256 meg RAM). I am using AntiVir, Spybot, and Ad-Aware.

While using Stinger, I got a message saying I had Qhost.apd.trojan. I googled Qhost and found a web-site with instructions for its removal, which involves running Regedit and changing some values. So I do Start/Run/Regedit, and the Regedit window opens and spontaneously closes again after 1-2 sec. This process will repeat as long as I do Start/Run/Regedit. So, I haven't been able to use Regedit to try and remove Qhost.

Additionally, I noticed another strange behavior. With AntiVir Virus Guard running, there is a taskbar icon in the lower right of the monitor screen. However, the icon spontaneously disappears if I pass the mouse pointer over it (without clicking).

So I have three problems, which may or may not be related: infection with Qhost.apd.trojan, unable to use regedit, and disappearing Virus Guard icon.

Anyone have any experience with this? Thanks jmp

 

prospero,

You may have more than Qhost.apd.trojan. Here is a link that list some that will affect Task Manager, MSCONFIG, or REGEDIT.

http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/ToolsQuit.htm

I hope this helps.

Steve

 

Hey prospero. Why don't you let pest patrol take a look? It's really good at finding stuff and also lists the procedures to remove them.

 

billH, on my version of PestPatrol you have to pay to remove anything. I usually edit my Registry manually to delete the stuff that Pest Patrol finds. Bazza

Pest Patrol (6mb in size if you are on dialup)
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=1187

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Huh, that's odd Bazz. Every time I've used pest patrol's online scanner (the one listed in my post) and it finds something, if you click on the plus sign beside the bug listing, then click on the bug description in the drop down, PP takes you to a page that gives you the history and description of the bug;tells you that "Pest patrol can remove this" then, a little farther down the page, gives you all the instructions for manual removal of the pest.
Bill
Oh wait a minute, I think we're saying the same thing but i thought you meant that you hadn't seen the manual removal instruction when of course that's what you are talking about. Doh Me <slaps forehead>

 

Thanks for your post. I suspect you're right, and that there is more going on than one virus. I'll give it a try jmp

 

billH, I'm talking about PestPatrol installed on my PC, not the on-line scanner. Can't remember if I have used their on-line scanner. Bazza

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Aha, I see Okie Dokie. Yup, I was referring to their online service. It's very helpful. Dunno about the on your computer scanner part of it, but the online site is neat.
Bill.