There is a very good chance that you are seeing the effects of a hijackware
infection!
NB: If you had no anti-virus application installed or the subscription had
expired *when the machine first got infected* and/or your subscription has
since expired and/or the machine's not been kept fully-patched at Windows
Update, don't waste your time with any of the below: Format & reinstall
Windows. A Repair Install will NOT help!
1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/ma...e/default.mspx
NB: Run the FULL scan, not the QUICK scan! You may need to download the
MSRT on a non-infected machine, then transfer MRT.EXE to the infected
machine and rename it to SCAN.EXE before running it.
2. [WinXP ONLY!! =>] Run the Windows Live Safety Center's 'Protection' scan
(only!) in Safe Mode with Networking, if need be:
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm
3. Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting the requested
logs in an appropriate forum, not here.
Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=4075
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware
**Chances are you will need to seek expert assistance in
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachi...php?board=10.0,
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/viewforum.php?f=5,
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cleanup,
http://www.bluetack.co.uk/forums/index.php,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30 or other appropriate forums as well.**
If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.
=====================
Start a free Windows Update support incident request:
https://support.microsoft.com/oas/de...spx?gprid=6527
Support for Windows Update:
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/wusupport
For home users, no-charge support is available by calling 1-866-PCSAFETY in
the United States and in Canada or by contacting your local Microsoft
subsidiary. There is no-charge for support calls that are associated with
security updates.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
eric wrote:
> Ok let me tell u whats up. I have a HP compaq home basic SP 1 computer
> with
> norton 360.
> Recently i have been unable to check for new updates for my computer due
> to
> that error code and something about a corrupted file. Now i tried a system
> restore but that didnt work due to a error and it couldnt complete. I know
> u
> can reinstall or upgrade with some vista dvd but i wouldnt know how to
> do
> that reinstall stuff nor would i know where it is... like did it come in
> the
> box with my comp? can i get it somehow? i dont know .. i also didnt make
> any
> recovery disks(I know how stupid). Also ran a SFC scan and it didnt find
> nothin out of place. Anyway i decided to contact windows tech support and
> they gave me steps on how to solve my situtation. I did the renaming of
> the
> software distribution folder and downloaded the system update readiness
> tool
> but it didnt work .. error still there. Did the steps again and now i got
> two renamed folders(of the software distribution file) and a new software
> distribution folder. So i contacted her again about how it didnt work and
> sent my system information thing to her and hopefully they can tell me
> more
> of wat to do. Before renaming and contacting for help i couldnt install
> updates like compatability view for IE 8 but i was able to download this
> one
> update and restart .. but afterwards it said it coudlnt check for new
> updates and still couldnt install these other updates like i said new
> folder now and i dont got older update information sheet)and it says i
> never checked for updates. Helps me.
Linear Mode
