Windows XP Pro - disk defrag will not run!

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by DigitalSwag, Jun 14, 2009.

  1. DigitalSwag

    DigitalSwag Private E-2

    Hi All!

    I am unable to get Windows XP Pro's disk defrag to work. I am given a splash box that states "disk defragmenter could not start". The splash box does not display any further information.

    I also tried to run Lavasoft's Ad-Aware (free version). If I try to update the files - Ad-Aware comes up with a "Error ocurred" box that states the "SSL down load failed" and has a suggested action of running "Webupdate". However, I receive the same error box when I run the "webupdate". I totally uninstalled Ad-Aware and then reinstalled it after restarting my Dell laptop to no avail. I'd bet dollars to donuts this has to do with my teenager downloading bit torrent exe's and or whatever it was that she was trying to use to view a movie a few nights ago - that is when this all started or at least that is when I noticed my pc action out of charector; somewhat slower than normal. Then the inability to defrag or update Ad-Aware was discovered. I have gotten rid of everything I noticed - that my kid dowloaded onto this Dell laptop but, it has not helped.

    I just want a clean laptop. I have a Dell Latitude, D531. It has a AMD Turion X2 processor (it says 64) but I don't really think it is a true 64 bit processor. I am using Windows XP Pro as the OS, and I have 3 gigs of Ram.

    If anyone can tell me how to clean this up - I would be very grateful.... and NO my 17 y.o. daughter will not be playing on my laptop again. This darn thing is only about 7-8 months old and it is running rather slow in addition to the errors/failures.

    Please help if you can.

    Thank you,

    DigitialSwag!:confused
     
    Last edited: Jun 14, 2009
  2. TimW

    TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

    Welcome to Major Geeks!

    This does not sound like a malware issue, however if you want us to check>

    Please follow the instructions in the READ & RUN ME FIRST link given futher down and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions.

    • If you have problems where no tools seem to run, please try following the steps given in the below and then continue on no matter what you find. You only need to try the TDSSserv steps if having problems getting scans in the Read & Run Me First. If TDSSserv is not found, just continue on with the READ & RUN ME.
    READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide

    • 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.
    • 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:

    1. 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:

    2. If you have problems downloading on the problem PC, download the tools and the manual updates for SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes and Spybot ( 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.
    3. 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.
    4. To avoid additional delay in getting a response, it is strongly advised that after completing the READ & RUN ME you also read this sticky:

    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.
     

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