"Windows Care" called me about my freezing up problem!

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Can't find my windows xp

I got to step 3 and it wanted me to insert my windows home xp cd. I can't find it. It sat for years in the same spot and a few weeks ago I pulled it out and now can't find it. I'm going to have to clean my computer room and will get back with you as soon as possible.
 
Giving up

Hi Michele2012 ;)

Do not worry, I'm here. Find your Windows XP cd :bigthumb:


Robybel:
I give up. I cleaned every drawer, stack of paper, behind the bookcase where it used to be, no stone unturned in my computer room and cannot find that Windows disk. Go ahead and close out this thread and when I ever find it I will start a new thread. The only problem I am having now is the mouse is clicking too fast and a single click is acting like a double click. I had this problem before so will move back to another mouse that doesn't plug in the BUS and that takes care of that. Thanks for all your help. I can copy now from websites to Word. Only had an error once with something else that I can't remember. Michele
 
Hi Michele2012 ;)

IT APPEARS THAT YOUR LOGS ARE NOW CLEAN :) SO LETS DO A COUPLE OF THINGS TO WRAP THIS UP!! :)

This infection appears to have been cleaned, but I can not give you any absolute guarantees. As a precaution, I would go ahead and change all of your passwords as this is especially important after an infection.

  • Click START then RUN
  • Now type Combofix /uninstall in the runbox and click OK. Note the space between the X and the /, it needs to be there.

    CF-Uninstall.png

Unistall AdwCleaner

  • Double click on adwcleaner.exe to run the tool.
  • Click on Uninstall.
  • Confirm with yes.

Any of the logs that you created for use in the forums or remaining tools that have not yet been removed can be deleted so they aren't cluttering up your desktop.

Adobe Update to the latest version

On your computer exist an old version of Adobe products:

Adobe reader

  • Please go to this page, http://www.adobe.com/downloads/updates/
  • In Find product updates, scroll down the menu until you find the product you want to update.
  • Select it and click go.
  • At this point you will be directed to the update page, scroll down until you Updates/Programs and select the latest version of the product.
  • It will be 'directed to the download page, and then click proceed to download and follow the instructions.
  • Follow these steps for all products that require upgrade.
MOST IMPORTANT: You Need to Update Windows and IE to get all the Latest Security Patches to protect your computer from the malware that is around on the internet.

Java is very easily exploited these days and it's a good idea to disable Java in the browser


http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f50...ers-683721.html

Here are some tips to reduce the potential for spyware infection in the future:

1. Make your Internet Explorer more secure - This can be done by following these simple instructions:
  • From within Internet Explorer click on the Tools menu and then click on Options.
  • Click once on the Security tab
  • Click once on the Internet icon so it becomes highlighted.
  • Click once on the Custom Level button.
  • Change the Download signed ActiveX controls to Prompt
  • Change the Download unsigned ActiveX controls to Disable
  • Change the Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe to Disable
  • Change the Installation of desktop items to Prompt
  • Change the Launching programs and files in an IFRAME to Prompt
  • Change the Navigate sub-frames across different domains to Prompt
  • When all these settings have been made, click on the OK button.
  • If it prompts you as to whether or not you want to save the settings, press the Yes button.
  • Next press the Apply button and then the OK to exit the Internet Properties page.
Make your Mozilla Firefox more secure - This can be done by adding these add-ons:

2. Enable Protected Mode in Internet Explorer. This helps Windows Vista users stay more protected from attack by running Internet Explorer with restricted privileges as well as reducing the ability to write, alter or destroy data on your system or install malicious code. To make sure this is running follow these steps:
  • Open Internet Explorer
  • Click on Tools > Internet Options
  • Press Security tab
  • Select Internet zone then place check next to Enable Protected Mode if not already done
  • Do the same for Local Intranet, Trusted Sites and Restricted Sites and then press Apply
  • Restart Internet Explorer and in the bottom right corner of your screen you will see Protected Mode: On showing you it is enabled.

3. Use and update an anti-virus software - I can not overemphasize the need for you to use and update your anti-virus application on a regular basis. With the ever increasing number of new variants of malware arriving on the scene daily, you become very susceptible to an attack without updated protection.

4. Firewall
Using a third-party firewall will allow you to give/deny access for applications that want to go online. Without a firewall your computer is susceptible to being hacked and taken over. Simply using a firewall in its default configuration can lower your risk greatly. A tutorial on firewalls can be found here. **There are firewalls listed in this tutorial that could be downloaded and used but I would personally only recommend using one of the following two below:
Online Armor Free
Agnitum Outpost Firewall Free


5.SPYWARE PREVENTION
This is a good time to set up protection against further attacks. In light of your recent problem, I'm sure you'd like to avoid any future infections. Please read these well written articles:
6. Consider a custom hosts file such as MVPS HOSTS. This custom hosts file effectively blocks a wide range of unwanted ads, banners, 3rd party Cookies, 3rd party page counters, web bugs, and many hijackers. For information on how to download and install, please read this tutorial by WinHelp2002
Note: Be sure to follow the instructions to disable the DNS Client service before installing a custom hosts file.

7. WOT (Web of Trust) As "Googling" is such an integral part of internet life, this free browser add on warns you about risky websites that try to scam visitors, deliver malware or send spam. It is especially helpful when browsing or searching in unfamiliar territory. WOT's color-coded icons show you ratings for 21 million websites, helping you avoid the dangerous sites. WOT has an add-on available for Firefox, Internet Explorer as well as Google Chrome.

8.Finally, I strongly recommend that you read TonyKlein's good advice So how did I get infected in the first place?

Please reply to this thread once more if you are satisfied so that we can mark the problem as resolved.
 
Don't close me out yet

Okay, don't close this thread out yet. I'm going to attempt to do all these things. First, I'm going to try to change my password that I use to log on to my computer and if I can't find the answer to that online I will be back with questions.

Thanks.
 
That was scary

Boy that was scary. I changed the Administrator password and the Owner password and when I rebooted the computer froze at a certain point. Then I unplugged it from the wall and started over and now it works. I don't think I am going to try the part where you do it backing it up on a disc.

Okay....now I'm going to continue with your instructions.

Thanks.
 
Question...

I clicked START and RUN and typed Combofix / uninstall and it said:

A critical update is required. ComboFix shall now update itself. I clicked OK.

Then it said Avast is analyzing.... There was some mention of a file: ns7.tmp

Then it said: We didn't find enough evidence to identify the file as malware.

The file is: c:\32788R22FWJF/ieexplore.exe

I backed out of it.

Should I keep going???
 
two problems

Hi Michele2012

Yes, you can continue :bigthumb:

Hello Robybel:
Okay, a couple of problems. I continued with uninstalling Combofix like you layed out here. I had to click the Avast continue button about 100 times. (I wonder why you didn't have me disable Avast.) And then Combofix scanned my computer again and created a log at c:\combofix.txt. Is it supposed to do this. I'm not sure it is uninstalled. There is still an icon on the desktop but I do not see it in add/remove programs. Where can I look to see if it remoed it? I don't see it in c:\programs but I do see the txt log at c:\combofix.txt.

Also, your link to remove Java doesn't work. Can you give me another link? I would really like to get rid of this because it seems to me that a lot of my problems began when I updated Java or installed Java. I kept having something pop up to update Java and I never did for about 6 months because I didn't know what it was. Then I decided to go ahead and it seems I had problems after this.

Thanks. I'll wait for these two answers.
 
continuing...

Hello Robybel,
I'm continuing and doing some more things you said to do.

1. Making your Internet Explorer more secure:
Mine was set as suggested except mine doesn't have Navigate sub-frames across different domains (which you said set to Prompt), but mine says Navigate windows and frames across different domains and that is checked to disable. Is this ok?

2. Enable Protected Mode.
I don't have the line or the box to check for Enable Protected Mode. Looking on the internet it says that XP automatically has these set to Protected Mode.

3. Use and update an anti-virus software.
Is that what Avast is? If not, what would you recommend?

Probably a dumb question....but....Do the IE latest security patches come in the Windows Update?

Thanks.
 
Hi Michele2012 ;)

1. Making your Internet Explorer more secure:
Mine was set as suggested except mine doesn't have Navigate sub-frames across different domains (which you said set to Prompt), but mine says Navigate windows and frames across different domains and that is checked to disable. Is this ok?
Yes this is OK

2. Enable Protected Mode.
I don't have the line or the box to check for Enable Protected Mode. Looking on the internet it says that XP automatically has these set to Protected Mode.
Ok! This is a default functionality of Win XP, very good.

3. Use and update an anti-virus software.Is that what Avast is? If not, what would you recommend?
Avast, is a good Antivirus.


Probably a dumb question....but....Do the IE latest security patches come in the Windows Update?
Yes IE updates when Windows updates.:bigthumb:
 
please refer to my post above "Two problems"

Thanks for the last replies. Did you read my post above that one titled Two Problems? I've got two other questiions in there. Thanks.
 
Hi Michele2012 ;)

Sorry, I did not see your post

Okay, a couple of problems. I continued with uninstalling Combofix like you layed out here. I had to click the Avast continue button about 100 times. (I wonder why you didn't have me disable Avast.) And then Combofix scanned my computer again and created a log at c:\combofix.txt. Is it supposed to do this. I'm not sure it is uninstalled. There is still an icon on the desktop but I do not see it in add/remove programs. Where can I look to see if it remoed it? I don't see it in c:\programs but I do see the txt log at c:\combofix.txt.
OK!

Try this

Disable your AntiVirus and AntiSpyware applications as they will interfere with our tools and the removal. If you are unsure how to do this, please refer to our sticky topic How to disable your security applications

then:

  • Click START then RUN
  • Now type Combofix /uninstall in the runbox and click OK. Note the space between the X and the /, it needs to be there.


    CF-Uninstall.png


Also, your link to remove Java doesn't work. Can you give me another link? I would really like to get rid of this because it seems to me that a lot of my problems began when I updated Java or installed Java. I kept having something pop up to update Java and I never did for about 6 months because I didn't know what it was. Then I decided to go ahead and it seems I had problems after this.
Java is very important. read the following article

http://www.techsupportforum.com/forums/f50/disable-java-in-browsers-683721.html#post4018821


For your mouse problem,

Set the speed

Click start > comtrol panel > mouse . On the Pointer options tab you can set the speed.

For double click/single click:
1.Click Start, and then click My Computer.
2.On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
3.On the General tab, click Single-click to open an item (point to select), to enable or click the box to clear it to restore the double click function.

Then click OK.
 
Done!

Hello Robybel:
I guess I'm done except reading in depth 8. Spyware Prevention.

The Java icon didn't show up in my control panel to disable it so I went to add/remove programs and removed it altogether (I hope) and then deleted the folder in Program Files. If I find I need it for something I will download it again and see if it shows up in there and figure out how to disable it.

I guess I'm done. The computer seems to be working good. Thanks for all your great help.
 
Since this issue appears to be resolved ... this Topic has been closed. Glad we could be of assistance.

If you're the topic starter, and need this topic reopened, please contact a staff member with the address of the thread .
 
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