Windows2000 Slow Down

Panda Antivirus 2007 <--- You really ought to ditch this as it is very outdated, install antivir perhaps? (But not yet!)

Java 2 Runtime Environment Standard Edition v1.3.1_02 <--- Uninstall this outdated java.

Running from: c:\documents and settings\Administrator\My Documents\Downloads\ComboFix.exe <--- You need to move combofix directly onto your DESKTOP before we continue.

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::

File::
C:\WINNT\8e2c~1 
C:\WINNT\i
C:\WINNT\p   
C:\WINNT\~p’ 
C:\WINNT\c6af~1       
C:\WINNT\084c~1        
C:\WINNT\27d3~1        
C:\WINNT\7b8f~1       
C:\WINNT\8527~1      
C:\WINNT\0f45~1       
C:\WINNT\t            
C:\WINNT\8516~1        
C:\WINNT\0416~1       
C:\WINNT\8f25~1        
C:\WINNT\0f65~1       
C:\WINNT\07f6~1      
C:\WINNT\_c3ff~1       
C:\WINNT\0827~1        
C:\WINNT\8816~1       
C:\WINNT\81b6~1        
C:\WINNT\0437~1       
C:\WINNT\8eb6~1       
C:\WINNT\8305~1        
C:\WINNT\8337~1        
C:\WINNT\0c47~1
C:\WINNT\0405~1        
C:\WINNT\a             
C:\WINNT\8fb6~1  
C:\WINNT\0573~1    
C:\WINNT\c7ff~1 
C:\WINNT\8c37~1      
C:\WINNT\41f5~1        
C:\WINNT\0f15~1  
C:\WINNT\0ec5~1       
C:\WINNT\8ee5~1 
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator.CIEGA.000\Local Settings\temp\~sho0001.tmp
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator.CIEGA.000\Local Settings\temp\~sho0002.tmp
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator.CIEGA.000\Local Settings\temp\{ac76b~1.ini  
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator.CIEGA.000\Local Settings\temp\{ac76b~2.ini

• 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.

Reboot your machine and install the most current and up to date version of Java available here at the below link:

Java Runtime 6

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.

Tell me how things are running now.

 

Those errors relate to Panda AV, which is out of date anyway. Using out of date AV is leaving yourself wide open to all sorts of crap.

Erm, you mean what I have already removed? (And you did not attach new logs )

Well, I am fully trained in malware removal, do it on a daily basis, so I am hardly an amateur. However if this is a business machine, perhaps you should ask the IT technician to look at it, as that's what they are paid to do, wheras I am a volunteer.

 

Nope. Always better to keep up to date!

I don't know but they all have the same file size and seem suspicious to me. We can take a closer look at one of them.

Could you please get this: 0437~1 into a zipped file and attach it for me in your next post? To do this, see the below:

Please go to start > Run and paste in the following:

log retrievable @ C:\collect.zip

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::

File::
C:\WINNT\~p’ 
C:\WINNT\084c~1       
C:\WINNT\0437~1       
C:\WINNT\p   

• 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.

Also delete all files in the below bold folders except ones from the current date (Windows will not let you delete the files from the current day).

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.

 

Okay I think many of your problems will have to be further discussed in another forum. Let's continue on here for now with the rest of what needs to be done.

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::

C:\WINNT\~p’
C:\WINNT\8527~1       
C:\WINNT\_c3ff~1      
C:\WINNT\0f65~1 
C:\WINNT\p 

• 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.

Now run this

Using ESET's Online Scanner

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.

 

No problem, let's continue.

HijackThis 1.99.1 <--- uninstall this

Now download The Avenger by Swandog469, and save it to your Desktop.

• Extract avenger.exe from the Zip file and save it to your desktop
• Run avenger.exe by double-clicking on it.
• Do not change any check box options!!
• Copy everything in the Quote box below, and paste it into the Input script here: part of the window:

• Now click the Execute button.
• Click Yes to the prompt to confirm you want to execute.
• Click Yes to the Reboot now? question that will appear when Avenger finishes running.
• Your PC should reboot, if not, reboot it yourself.
• A log file from Avenger will be produced at C:\avenger.txt and it will popup for you to view when you login after reboot.

Run this: Running Kaspersky Online Scanner

You really need to get rid of the outdated Panda Antivirus now.
If you had up to date AV at the time perhaps it could have caught something. If you need us in the future and you still have this old 2007 Panda installed you may be refused help.

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.

 

I am trying to consider what would be our next best move. The logs tell me something is creating those strange files even after we delete them but I cannot figure what exactly. I guess we need to dig a little deeper if you do not mind persevering that is. I will also ask Chaslang for his opinion on the matter in the mean time.

Try this

GMER - running with a random name

 

Go to VirusTotal and upload the following file for analysis:

Could you please get this: MSTask.exe into a zipped file and attach it for me in your next post? To do this, see the below:

Please go to start > Run and paste in the following:

Let me know the VT results and attach the C:\collect.zip

 

Hmm, my anti virus did not flag that file as suspicious, GMER is reporting a rootkit, which could be just a false positive, but I am going to ask my colleagues about this. In the mean time I ran it through VirusTotal as well and nothing was found as suspicious.

Run this whilst we figure out the next move.

Using Sophos Anti-Rootkit

 

The "Rootkit" was a false detection by GMER on win2k systems.

Have spoken to Chaslang who says:

I did not seen any real reason to suspect malware. It is an old slow PC with very little memory, perhaps current day applications like Panda are just too much for it to handle. I suggest uninstalling Panda to see if it alleviates your "slow down". Otherwise options like:

• visiting the software forum
• reinstallation of your OS
• new PC with more memory and modern OS

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 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" /uninstall
     • Notes: The space between the combofix" and the /uninstall, it must be there.
     • This will uninstall ComboFix and also reset hidden files and folders settings back to Windows defaults.
3. Go back to step 6 of the READ ME and renable your Disk Emulation software with Defogger if you had disabled it.
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 Win 7, Vista, Windows XP or Windows ME, do the below:
   • Refer to the cleaning procedures pointed to by step 7 of 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:
    • How to Protect yourself from malware!

 

This is hard disk space not memory.