Unable to run "Add or Remove Programs" applet

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by SamFrancisco, Sep 26, 2009.

  1. SamFrancisco

    SamFrancisco Private E-2

    After getting malware [spf11.exe+maybe more] I lost the ability to run the Add or Remove programs appplet in CPL. Ran SFC to no avail after MBAM . Add/Remove hangs while populating list of installed programs. Finally ran all malware removal tools as instructed, rebooting after each. Logs attached. Can't tell if cleaning was successful or not, so hesitant to use computer. Please advise. Thanks so much.
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Hi there :)

    You didn't make a mention of SUPERantispyware? Were you able to run and scan with that or not?

    Also you should let MBAM fix what it finds if you haven't already.

    I shall review your other logs in the meantime but as soon as you can, if you can, please attach the log from SAS.

    Thanks
    Kes13!
     
  3. SamFrancisco

    SamFrancisco Private E-2

    Kes 13,

    Thanks for your response, I was beginning to give up hope ! :)
    After doing the removals suggested and rebooting, MBAM and SAS gave me clean results
    [ie, reported no infected files] I can run them again to produce logs that say so if that will help. Please let me know.

    As far as restoring the "ADD/Remove Programs" function, I have discovered Revo uninstaller, which seems better in every way than the Windows version, so I am not worried too much about that loss, except insofar as it may be diagnostic of a continuing infection.

    What worried me was that I ran a scan of HijackThis, and I can't interpret the rather dense listing. I have attached that log.

    I stopped using my computer the instant after I saw the installer for spf11 bypassed Sandboxie, which I had trusted up until then.

    My chief concern at this point is whether it is safe to go back into the water -- that is, whether I can now safely use my computer for financially crucial transactions without risk of compromised security. If you can give me a heads up on that, I would greatly appreciate it.
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    1. Tidy this desktop:

    I strongly advise you to cleanup your Desktop. Remove eveything but links to run programs. Do not download and save programs here and defintely do not use it for long term storage. You need to keep ComboFix.exe here for now as we need it, but we will be removing it when we are finished with your cleanup. A cluttered Desktop is malware's playground and it can also cause performance degradation especially when you start saving large files here

    2. Please go to Add or Remove programs and uninstall the following software:

    • Java(TM) 6 Update 15

    3. 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:

    Not a wise idea to place ANY site into your TZ.

    4. Now reboot your machine and install the most current and up to date version of Java available here at the below link:

    Java Runtime 6


    5. Now we need to use ComboFix
    • 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 quote box. Ensure you scroll down to select ALL the lines:
    Code:
    KILLALL::
    
    Folder::
    c:\documents and settings\LocalService\Local Settings\Application Data\ICS 
    
    File::
    c:\windows\TMP0001.TMP
    
    
    • 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.
    • 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.

    6. You stated that you are concerned about using your computer for financial transactions but you download cracks and keygens like below. You need to decide which is more important to you.

    So attach an MBAM log and let me see that you fixed all that it found.

    FYI: Surfing without anti virus and antispyware protection is going to land you right back in the forums again, where you may be refused help if you are still running without anti virus, so install something from our "how to protect yourself from malware" link. Sandboxie will NOT be sufficient protection ;)


    7. Now run the C:\MGtools\GetLogs.bat file by double clicking on it. Then attach the new C:\MGlogs.zip file that will be created by running this and also attach the log from Combofix.

    8.Let us know of any problems you may have encountered with the above instructions and also let me know how things are running now!
     
  5. SamFrancisco

    SamFrancisco Private E-2

    Kestrel13,

    Thank you so much for your determined patience. After tidying my desktop, cleaning all malware off my hard drives, rebooting, removing/re-installing an updated Java, running ComboFix with the supplied script via drag and drop, Doing a full MBam scan (0 infected), and running MGTools getlogs.bat, I feel fairly confident that my system is clean.

    The first time I ran MGTools it stopped at an

    "unexpected error occurred at procedure: modRegistry_IniGetString(sFile=system.ine, sSection=boot, sValue=Shell) error #5 - Invalid procedure call or argument."

    I clicked through to send an error report and HijackThis continued on and apparently terminated normally, producing MGlogs.zip Which I renamed MGlogs1.zip

    Then I ran MGtools again, producing MGlogs.zip without any error.

    I have uploaded the files you requested (attached) and added AntiVir Personal to ZoneAlarm. I will not go searching for cracks again.

    Add/Remove Programs once again works, although it takes a long time to populate the (long) list of programs.
    In general, the computer seems as speedy as ever, considering that I am stretching its capacity with all the multiple programs I run in foreground and background.

    It took a while to weed out the trash file and garbage, clean up my desktop, and organize my file storage structure, but the effort is worth it. I would love for you to go over the attached logs, but my general impression is that the computer is once again clean and as fast as it ever was.

    Thank you so much.:)
     

    Attached Files:

  6. Kestrel13!

    Kestrel13! Super Malware Fighter - Major Dilemma Staff Member

    Your logs are clean :) Please follow my final steps below.

    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 protection. They do not use any significant amount of resources ( except a little disk space ) until you run a scan.
    2. If we used Pocket Killbox during your cleanup, do the below
      • Run Pocket Killbox and select File, Cleanup, Delete All Backups
    3. 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" /u
        • Notes: The space between the combofix" and the /u, it must be there.
        • This will uninstall ComboFix and also reset hidden files and folders settings back to Windows defaults.
    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 Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below:
      • Refer to the cleaning procedures in step 3 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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