System Stopped...

Please read the announcement and sticky threads. HJT logs should only be posted when requested and then they must be attachments to your message. Make sure you install HJT properly and exit browsers before running it. You did not do this. Please run the steps below.

- First look in Add/Remove programs for the below and uninstall if found. Let me know whether you find them:
psguard
SpySheriff

- Run ALL the steps in this Sticky thread READ ME FIRST BEFORE ASKING FOR SUPPORT: Basic Spyware, Trojan And Virus Removal

Make sure you check version numbers and get all updates.

- Very Important: Make sure you tell us the results from running the tutorial...was anything found? Were you unable to complete any of the scans?...Were you unable to download any of the tools?...Did you do the on-line scans as suggested? etc.
Also to get you started and to reduce the size of your HJT log. Do the following:

Also look in Add/Remove programs for Internet2 Optimizer and uninstall if found.


After doing ALL of the above you still have a problem, boot into normal mode and make sure you follow these directions:


- Download HijackThis 1.99.1

- Unzip the hijackthis.exe file to a folder you create named C:\Program Files\HJT

- Do NOT run Hijack This from the Desktop, a temp folder, or a sub-folder of C:\Documents and Settings, or choose to run it directly from the downloaded ZIP file.

- Before running HijackThis: You must close each of the following:your web browser, e-mail client, instant messenger, and programs like notepad, wordpad, MS Word etc. And any other unnecessary running programs.

- Run HijackThis and save your log file.

- Post your log as an ATTACHMENT to your next message. (Do NOT copy/paste the log into your post).

 

Your OS and IE versions are way out of date and represent a major security risk. After we fix your current problems, you must get updated. We will discuss this later.

Some issues with following the directions I gave you for installing and using HijackThis.
- why is the following running - C:\PROGRA~1\WINZIP\winzip32.exe
- the following is a browser and is not supposed to be running - C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
- The following also appears to be a browser. All browsers should be closed - C:\Program Files\Advanced Browser\browser.exe
What browser is this and why are you using it? Is it this one: http://www.advancedbrowser.com/

- you installed HJT exactly where I requested that you not install it - C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\Local Settings\Temp\HijackThis.exe

- Do you know what is the following is for? - C:\WINDOWS\System32\SCUSAPI.exe

- Do you know what the following is for? Is it related to some kind of video adapter? - C:\WINDOWS\vsnpstd.exe
- Did you install Daily Weather Forecast yourself? Do you trust that it is clean?

 

After addressing what was in my previous message, continue with the below steps.

If you are using WinXP or WinMe, make sure you have system restore disabled (per the tutorial).
For all OS types, make sure viewing of hidden files is enabled (per the tutorial).

Run HijackThis 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:
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://hsremove.com/done.htm
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://hsremove.com/done.htm
R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing
O2 - BHO: WinStat - {EE02B99B-1D55-48bc-B8DB-649A42CE45F6} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\WinStat12.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Tsl2] C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\tsa\tsl2.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [bys] C:\WINDOWS\System32\bys.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PSGuard] C:\Program Files\PSGuard\PSGuard.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SNInstall] C:\DOCUME~1\Paul\LOCALS~1\Temp\12671.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Windows installer] C:\winstall.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SpySheriff] C:\Program Files\SpySheriff\SpySheriff.exe
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://www.neededware.com
O16 - DPF: NDWCab - http://www.neededware.com/ndw3.cab

After clicking Fix, exit HJT.
Boot into safe mode and use Windows Explorer to delete:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\WinStat12.dll
C:\WINDOWS\System32\bys.exe
C:\winstall.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\tsa <-- the whole folder
C:\Program Files\PSGuard <-- the whole folder
C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\Local Settings\Temp\12671.exe <--- in fact delete all files in this folder that it allows you to delete.
C:\Program Files\SpySheriff <-- the whole folder

If you get an error when deleting a file. Right click on the file and check to see if the read only attribute is checked. If it is, uncheck it and try again. Other wise open Task Manager and kill the process if running then delete the file.

Now run Ccleaner (installed while running the READ ME FIRST). Now if running Win XP goto c:\windows\Prefetch and delete all files in this folder.

Now we need to Reset Web Settings:
1) If you have an Internet Explorer icon on your Desktop, goto step 2. If not, skip to step 3.
2) Now right click on your desktop Internet Explorer icon and select Properties. Then click the Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK. Then skip step 3.
3) If you do not have an Internet Explorer icon on your Desktop, click Start, Control Panel (for some systems it may be Start, Settings, Control Panel), Internet Options, Programs tab and then click "Reset Web Settings". Now go back to the General tab and set your home page address to something useful like www.majorgeeks.com. Click Apply. Click Delete Cookies, Click Delete Files and select Delete all Offline content too, Click OK. When it finishes Click OK.

Now reboot in normal mode and continue with the below.

Copy the contents of the below Quote Box to Notepad. Then click File and then Save As. Change the Save as Type to All Files. Name the file fixadt.reg and then click save. (make sure you save it somewhere you can find it. Saving it to your Desktop may make that easy.) Then double-click on the fixadt.reg file on your desktop (or locate it with Windows Explorer and double click on it if not saved to the Desktop) and when it prompts to Add in to the registry, say yes.

Now post a new HJT log. And tell us how things are working.

 

FIrst let's see the followup HijackThis log I asked for. It is always a good idea to check after fixing because somethings can come back and sometimes new things may appear. Plus we may want to figure out what those other unknowns are for.

How do you connect to the internet (dial-up, cable, DSL, etc)?

 

You still have not installed HJT properly:
C:\Documents and Settings\Paul\Local Settings\Temp\HijackThis.exe

You did not uninstall Daily Weather Forecast In most case we are removing this because it seems to appear with other malware problems.

Did you choose to not fix the below last time because it is still there:

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [bys] C:\WINDOWS\System32\bys.exe


I would like to get some more info on those two files:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\SCUSAPI.exe
C:\WINDOWS\vsnpstd.exe

Locate them again using Windows Explorer and then right click on them and select Properties. Now see if there is a Version tab in the window. If so, select the Version tab and on the next window select each of the listed Item names (one at a time) to get more info about the file. The most important Item is the company name. If there is no Version tab, tell me that too.

 

Try the below.

Fixing Locked Desktop
Also you should right click on your Desktop and select Properties. Then click the Desktop tab and then the Customize Desktop button. Now in the next window that comes up click the Web tab. Make sure at the bottom that Lock desktop items is unchecked. Then in the Web pages: box delete all items but My Current Home Page and make sure it is unchecked too. Then click OK. Apply. OK.

Let me know if it helps. If not, post a new HJT log attachment.

 

What "browse option" are you referring to? My directions did not say anything about a browse option.

You did not fix one of the items I gave you:
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Windows installer] C:\winstall.exe

and you did not delete the file.

Please go back on run the steps again from message number 5 (some of the items will obviously not exist ).

Note: You are still running Winzip and you still did not install HijackThis properly per my instructions.