SUMMARY - Thanks!

From: Viper (Viper_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 12/07/04 

Date: Mon, 6 Dec 2004 15:09:02 -0800

Thanks to everyone who provided their help.
You guys didn't have to offer assistance, but you did and I appreciate it.

Unfortunately, whatever I contracted (malware, spyware, worm, trojan, etc)
was NOT listed in any database on Microsoft or Symantec's Website. In fact,
here's Symantec's formal reply to my problem....

Hello Greg,

Thank you for using Symantec's online technical support.
The situation you have described sounds like your machines have been
infected by a Malicious Threat. You may search our web site to try to
find a solution yourself.

DUH!!!!!!!!!!!

Fortunately, I had a recent BACKUP of both systems (8/4/04) so I was able to
RESTORE most of the information.

I have saved all of your advice (links, etc) and burned an EMERGENCY kit for
the next recurrence.

BTW, Max..the link you sent me was helpful but there are other links in that
document to XXX websites.

http://www.xs4all.nl/~laar2002/tweak/file-association-fixes.html

Greg

"Viper" wrote:

> I have 2 XP PRO Laptops with identical problems (Different Laptop Mfrs):
>
> Here's the scenario:
> XP Pro; AdAware Pro; Symantec Antivirus Corporate Addition.
>
> The AdAware "Ad-Watch" program POPS UP with the note that a program is
> trying to change the REGISTRY. I tell it to BLOCK IT. I then see about 7 or 8
> hits at the Ad-Watch of something trying to change the REGISTRY.
>
> I shut down and REBOOT as a protection measure but when the computer boots
> back up all the ICONS / FILE ASSOCIATIONS are lost. I can't get into any
> program to fix anything. When you click on an ICON for an app (for example
> Internet Explorer or Windows Explorer) it opens up a NOTEPAD file with a
> bunch of characters inside the Notepad doc.
>
> I tried to perform a SYSTEM RESTORE from the COMMAND PROMPT (since
> performing it in Windows XP fails) and at first it appears to work because
> the ICONs are restored to normal. But within a few minutes it all goes back
> to chaos. BTW, Symantec Antivirus has been DISABLED and I cannot ENABLE it.
>
> What can this be?? Please HELP!!

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