Re: Still cannot stop Windows "Notebook" from vanishing ... HELP!!

From: Malke (malke_at_nospoonnotreally.com)
Date: 12/22/04 

Date: Wed, 22 Dec 2004 08:21:54 -0800

Michael wrote:

> Ok, not such good news here ...
>
> I did all the scans and anti-virus stuff in Safe Mode; I also copied
> the notepad file from my System32 directory to C:\Windows; and after
> that showed little improvement, I went ahead and obtained the
> appropriate notepad file from my Windows XP install disk and had that
> file run from my CD-ROM drive.
>
> I still have the disappearing notepad problem, not to mention
> incessant pop-up stuff when I enter IE, though I could probably live
> with that ... it's the issue with notepad I really need fixed.
>
> Oh, by the way, the first thing I did was that sfc /scannow
> suggestion.
>
> It's a fairly new computer, so I'd be surprised if I had to overhaul
> something in the hardware. Though, if that's what it takes ...
>
> Is there something you can recommend that I can have done to my
> computer to get it usable again?
>
> I run Windows XP home;
> am on DSL;
> am a subscriber to Norton anti-virus;
> never, positively NEVER open suspicious emails or attachments.
>
If you are still getting popups in IE, that is a sure sign your computer
is not completely clean of malware. Even though you have already done
some scanning, go through the following removal steps. Do all steps
with updated tools in Safe Mode. In one of your posts you mentioned
having a popup stopper. Check Eric Howes' rogue antispyware spyware
warrior site (in the links after the steps) to make sure you haven't
inadvertently invited betrayalware into your computer.

 1) Scan in Safe Mode with current version (not earlier than 2003)
antivirus using updated definitions.

2) Remove spyware with Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-aware. These
programs are free, so use them both since they complement each other.
There is a new version of CWShredder from Intermute. I would not
install the other Intermute programs, however. Alternately, there are
CoolWebSearch malware removal steps at SilentRunners.

Be sure to update these programs before running, and it is a good idea
to do virus/spyware scans in Safe Mode. Make sure you are able to see
all hidden files and extensions (View tab in Folder Options).

HijackThis is an excellent tool to discover and disable hijackers, but
it requires expert skill. See below for HijackThis links. A combination
of HijackThis and About:Buster works well in removing the About:Blank
homepage hijacker. Again, this is an expert tool and novices should get
help with it.

3) If you are running Windows ME or XP, you should disable/enable System
Restore because malware will be in the Restore Points. With ME, you
must disable System Restore completely. With XP, you can delete all but
the most recent (presumably clean) System Restore point from the More
Options section of Disk Cleanup (Run>cleanmgr).

4) Make sure you've visited Windows Update and applied all security
patches. Do not install driver updates from Windows Update.

5) Run a firewall.

Links to help with malware:

Software/Methods:
http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.lavasoftusa.com - Ad-aware
http://www.majorgeeks.com - good download site
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_cwsremoval.html. - SilentRunners

HijackThis:
http://www.aumha.org/a/hjttutor.htm - HijackThis tutorial by Jim
Eshelman
http://spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5 - Spyware Warrior HijackThis
forum
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/

General:
http://forum.aumha.org/ - look under "Security" for various forums
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm - The Parasite Fight
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Malke 

-- 
MS MVP - Windows Shell/User
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
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