Windows XP - in Costa Rica & stumped

[kippyieh]

Awesome - thanks again. I will post the hijack log in a couple of hours.

[kippyieh]

Ok - I have been unable to get either of the scans to complete. Both just pause, the timer continues to count down, but the scanning stops.

Also - the Super Anti Spyware does not start when windows starts; it is set to, but it does not.

And - Windows in non-safe mode will not boot, it just re-boots. This seemed to start after Super Anti spyware was installed.

Any suggestions?

[SuperDave]

Please uninstall SAS and see if will reboot normally. Please run MBAM either in safe mode.

[kippyieh]

I was trying to run both of the scans in safe mode.

Now - when I try to boot in non-safe mode, Windows says that the OS needs to be authenticated.

Also - I can only run MBAM one time - if I try to run a second time I get two VBS errors and it stops running. I have to uninstall and then re-install in order to get it to run the scan again.

Nasty piece of work whatever this is.

[SuperDave]

Please try this even though your XP CD is at home. If it finds a bad file it will ask for the CD. At least we'll narrow it down.

•Click on Start > Run and type sfc /scannow then press Enter (note the space between scf and /scannow)
*Let this run undisturbed until the window with the blue  progress bar goes away
SFC - Which stands for System File Checker, retrieves the correct version of the file from %Systemroot%\System32\Dllcache or the Windows installation source files, and then replaces the incorrect file.

[kippyieh]

Hello Dave,

In the interim I downloaded xp via the technet subscription. The file is an iso - do you happen to know off hand how I can get this to usb? Thanks.

[SuperDave]

do you happen to know off hand how I can get this to usb? Thanks.

Please go to Reply #4 and follow the link. It will tell you how to burn an ISO file to CD or USB.

[kippyieh]

I tried using that and it didn't work... I assumed it was because it was a linux boot?

Any additional suggestions?

[kippyieh]

Also - I narrowed the comp freezes down to pressing anything on the keyboard. I cannot run the scan.

[SuperDave]

This sounds more like a problem with the laptop. Is it possible to try another USB keyboard on the laptop?

[kippyieh]

Not at the moment.

But the linux usb boot from reply number 4 worked fine - i.e., I was able to boot, scan, type, etc.

Should I be able to use the linux usb boot for a windows cd?

[SuperDave]

Let's try this.

We are going to be using a Windows Recovery Environment to help disinfect the system so it may boot again.

Download the OTLPE Standard REATOGO Windows Recovery Environment.

• Place a blank CD-R disc in to your CD burning drive.
• Download OTLPEStd.exe and double-click on it to burn to a CD using ISO Burner.
  
• Reboot your system using the boot CD you just created.

Note : If you do not know how to set your computer to boot from CD follow the steps here

• Your system should now display a REATOGO-X-PE desktop.
• Double-click on the OTLPE icon.
  
• When asked "Do you wish to load the remote registry", select Yes
  
• When asked "Do you wish to load remote user profile(s) for scanning", select Yes
  
• Ensure the box "Automatically Load All Remaining Users" is checked and press OK
  
• OTL should now start. Change the following settings
• Change Drivers to Non-Microsoft
  
• Press Run Scan to start the scan.
  
• When finished, the file will be saved  in drive C:\_OTL\MovedFiles
  
• Copy this file to your USB drive if you do not have internet connection on this system
• Please post the contents of the OTL.txt file in your reply.
  

[kippyieh]

Hi Dave,

Given the laptop is a mini, I don't have a cd available.

But - on the last day of the trip here, so will be back home quick enough and I should be able to get things going from home. If not, I will let you know.

Thanks for all the help!