computer running slow and locks up intermittently

[pantera35]

I had originally made a post in the windows xp forum and was referred to this forum.
After reading the before posting post I downloaded and ran all the software that was recommended.
It did find several things and I admit my machine is working better but still takes an ungodly long time to come up on boot and to load up the internet. I use Firefox and it takes about 3 minutes to load. I dont have the best connection speed as I use Quest but even dial up systems load faster than me so I dont think that has much to do with my problems here.
I was going to post the results of the scans I made with the software I was instructed to download but I read that we should only do that when specifically asked to by a professional trying to help me. So please tell me what to do and I will do it. I use my computer to communicate with work and this is making things rather difficult for me. Any help you can suggest would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
T.

[SuperDave]

Hello and welcome to Computer Hope Forum. My name is Dave. I will be helping you out with your particular problem on your computer.

1. I will be working on your Malware issues. This may or may not solve other issues you have with your machine.
2. The fixes are specific to your problem and should only be used for this issue on this machine.
3. If you don't know or understand something, please don't hesitate to ask.
4. Please DO NOT run any other tools or scans while I am helping you.
5. It is important that you reply to this thread. Do not start a new topic.
6. Your security programs may give warnings for some of the tools I will ask you to use. Be assured, any links I give are safe.
7. Absence of symptoms does not mean that everything is clear.

If you can't access the internet with your infected computer you will have to download and transfer any programs to the computer you're using now and transfer them to the infected computer with a CD-RW or a USB storage device. I prefer a CD because a storage device can get infected. If you use a storage device hold the shift key down while inserting the USB storage device for about 10 secs. You will also have to transfer the logs you receive back to the good computer using the same method until we can get the computer back on-line.
*************************************************************************
Please post all the logs you have from the previous scans as well as these two more.

Download DDS from HERE or HERE and save it to your desktop.

Vista users right click on dds and select Run as administrator (you will receive a UAC prompt, please allow it)

* XP users Double click on dds to run it.
* If your antivirus or firewall try to block DDS then please allow it to run.
* When finished DDS will open two (2) logs.
* Save both reports to your desktop.
* The instructions here ask you to attach the Attach.txt.



1) DDS.txt
2) Attach.txt
Instead of attaching, please copy/past both logs into your Thread

Note: DDS will instruct you to post the Attach.txt log as an attachment.
Please just post it as you would any other log by copying and pasting it into the reply.

•Close the program window, and delete the program from your desktop.

Please note: You may have to disable any script protection running if the scan fails to run.
After downloading the tool, disconnect from the internet and disable all antivirus protection.
Run the scan, enable your A/V and reconnect to the internet.
Information on A/V control HERE .Then post your DDS logs. (DDS.txt and Attach.txt )

[pantera35]

I tried running the DDS program as you instructed. I could not get it to work. I disabled my anti virus program, allowed it in my fire wall (I even shut the fire wall down). When i click on the Run button a DOS window pops up for a fraction of a second then disappears and thats all that happens. I tried the program from both links you provided with the same results.
Please advise.

I am attaching the log files from Super AntiSpyware, Malwarebytes', and HiJackThis (Sniper).

Thank you for your help with this. It means the world to me.

T.

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[SuperDave]

Please do not attach your logs unless absolutely necessary. Copy and paste them in your reply(ies)

Re-run MBAM:

Code:
Please re-open Malwarebytes, click the Update tab, and click Check for Updates. Then, click the Scanner tab, select Perform Quick Scan, and press Scan. Remove selected, and post the log in your next reply..
****************************************************
Please download ComboFix from BleepingComputer.com

Alternate link: GeeksToGo.com

and save it to your Desktop.
It would be easiest to download using Internet Explorer.
If you insist on using Firefox, make sure that your download settings are as follows:

* Tools->Options->Main tab
* Set to "Always ask me where to Save the files".

Disable your AntiVirus and AntiSpyware applications, usually via a right click on the System Tray icon. They may otherwise interfere with our tools A guide to do this can be found here
Double click ComboFix.exe & follow the prompts.
As part of it's process, ComboFix will check to see if the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console is installed. With malware infections being as they are today, it's strongly recommended to have this pre-installed on your machine before doing any malware removal. It will allow you to boot up into a special recovery/repair mode that will allow us to more easily help you should your computer have a problem after an attempted removal of malware.
Follow the prompts to allow ComboFix to download and install the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console, and when prompted, agree to the End-User License Agreement to install the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console

Please note: If the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console is already installed, ComboFix will continue it's malware removal procedures.

Once the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console is installed using ComboFix, you should see the following message:


Click on Yes, to continue scanning for malware.
When finished, it shall produce a log for you.  Please include the contents of C:\ComboFix.txt in your next reply.

If you have problems with ComboFix usage, see How to use ComboFix

[pantera35]

I updated and ran Malwarebytes' and attached the log file to this post.

I downloaded Combofix with Internet Explorer as you suggested. After saving it to my desktop I turned off my anti virus protection and ran the program. It installed the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console and continued to run its scan. After completing line 49 of the scan it froze and wouldn't continue. I gave it 5 hours to be sure and it never continued. I tried rebooting and running it again to the same result.
I don't know what else to try to get it to run completely.
What should I do now?

As always, thank you for all your assistance with my problems. It is greatly appreciated.
PS. SuperDave, best screen name ever.
T.

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[pantera35]

By the way. I should note that while it is still running very slow, my computer has stopped locking up on me.
T.

[SuperDave]

The MBAM log still shows that you have not removed the infections. Please do it again.

Delete your copy of ComboFix; download a fresh copy, except before you download it, rename it to blackpudding.bat

Navigate to Start --> Run, and enter the following command exactly as shown:

"%userprofile%\desktop\blackpudding.bat" /killall

See if ComboFix will run now

[pantera35]

I did as requested and had the same results. It runs til it gets to line 49 then freezes. I look in the task manager and it says the program is still running but it never finishes. It says at the beginning that it takes around 10 minutes to complete or double that for seriously infected machines. After 5 hours of waiting it was still running and still stuck on line 49.
I am certain that I followed your instructions exactly. I shut down Norton, and Super Anti Spyware.
I don't know what else I might be doing to make this happen.
Please advise. Whats my next move?
Thanks again,
T.

[SuperDave]

Save these instructions so you can have access to them while in Safe Mode.

Please click here to download AVP Tool by Kaspersky.

• Save it to your desktop.
• Reboot your computer into SafeMode. You can do this by restarting your computer and continually tapping the F8 key until a menu appears. Use your up arrow key to highlight SafeMode then hit enter.
  
• Double click the setup file to run it.
• Click Next to continue.
• Accept the License agreement and click on next.
• It will, by default, install it to your desktop folder. Click Next.
• It will then open a box There will be a tab that says Automatic scan.
• Under Automatic scan make sure these are checked.
• Hidden Startup Objects
  
• System Memory
  
• Disk Boot Sectors.
  
• My Computer.
  
• Also any other drives (Removable that you may have)
  

Leave the rest of the settings as they appear as default.
•Then click on Scan at the to right hand Corner.
•It will automatically Neutralize any objects found.
•If some objects are left un-neutralized then click the button that says Neutralize all
•If it says it cannot be neutralized then choose the delete option when prompted.
•After that is done click on the reports button at the bottom and save it to file name it Kas.
•Save it somewhere convenient like your desktop and just post only the detected Virus\malware in the report it will be at the very top under Detected post those results in your next reply.

Note: This tool will self uninstall when you close it so please save the log before closing it.

[pantera35]

Here is the log file for the virus scan done with the Kaspersky download as you requested.
Thanks.
T.

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[SuperDave]

Could you please try to run ComboFix again?

[pantera35]

Same results. Should i maybe try running it in Safe Mode like i did with Kaspersky?

[SuperDave]

Should i maybe try running it in Safe Mode like i did with Kaspersky?

You can, if you wish.

SysProt Antirootkit

Download
SysProt Antirootkit from the link below (you will find it at the bottom
of the page under attachments, or you can get it from one of the
mirrors).

http://sites.google.com/site/sysprotantirootkit/

Unzip it into a folder on your desktop.

• Double click Sysprot.exe to start the program.
• Click on the Log tab.
• In the Write to log box select the following items.
• Process << Selected
  
• Kernel Modules << Selected
  
• SSDT << Selected
  
• Kernel Hooks << Selected
  
• IRP Hooks << NOT Selected
  
• Ports << NOT Selected
  
• Hidden Files << Selected
  
• At the bottom of the page
• Hidden Objects Only << Selected
  
• Click on the Create Log button on the bottom right.
• After a few seconds a new window should appear.
• Select Scan Root Drive. Click on the Start button.
• When it is complete a new window will appear to indicate that the scan is finished.
• The log will be saved automatically in the same folder Sysprot.exe was extracted to. Open the text file and copy/paste the log here.

[pantera35]

Ok I ran the SysProt Antirootkit as you said. I attached the log file.
I also tried to run ComboFix again in Safe Mode with the same results.
Whats next?

[SuperDave]

Ok I ran the SysProt Antirootkit as you said. I attached the log file.

I don't see the log??

[pantera35]

I swear I attached it.
Lets try this again.
T.

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[SuperDave]

I'd like to scan your machine with ESET OnlineScan

•Hold down Control and click on the following link to open ESET OnlineScan in a new window.
ESET OnlineScan
•Click the button.
•For alternate browsers only: (Microsoft Internet Explorer users can skip these steps)

• Click on to download the ESET Smart Installer. Save it to your desktop.
  
• Double click on the icon on your desktop.
  

•Check
•Click the button.
•Accept any security warnings from your browser.
•Check
•Push the Start button.
•ESET will then download updates for itself, install itself, and begin scanning your computer. Please be patient as this can take some time.
•When the scan completes, push
•Push , and save the file to your desktop using a unique name, such as ESETScan. Include the contents of this report in your next reply.
•Push the button.
•Push
A log file will be saved here: C:\Program Files\ESET\ESET Online Scanner\log.txt

[pantera35]

ok. I ran ESET and attached the log file.
My god, every different program you have me use seems to find more things. Am I that infected? WOW
As always, thank you for your time and help.
T.

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[SuperDave]

I would say your computer is now clean. If there are no other issues, let's do some cleanup.

To turn off Windows XP System Restore:

NOTE: These instructions assume that you are using the default Windows XP Start Menu and have not changed to the Classic Start menu. To re-enable the default menu, right-click Start, click Properties, click Start menu (not Classic) and then click OK.

1. Click Start.
2. Right-click the My Computer icon, and then click Properties.
3. Click the System Restore tab.
4. Check "Turn off System Restore" or "Turn off System Restore on all drives"
5. Click Apply.
6.  When turning off System Restore, the existing restore points will be deleted. Click Yes to do this.
7. Click OK.
8. Restart the computer and follow the instructions in the next section to turn on System Restore.

To turn on Windows XP System Restore:

1. Click Start.
2. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
3. Click the System Restore tab.
4. Uncheck "Turn off System Restore" or "Turn off System Restore on all drives."
5. Click Apply, and then click OK.
**************************************************
Clean out your temporary internet files and temp files.

Download TFC by OldTimer to your desktop.

Double-click TFC.exe to run it.

Note: If you are running on Vista, right-click on the file and choose Run As Administrator

TFC will close all programs when run, so make sure you have saved all your work before you begin.

* Click the Start button to begin the cleaning process.
* Depending on how often you clean temp files, execution time should be anywhere from a few seconds to a minute or two.
* Please let TFC run uninterrupted until it is finished.

Once TFC is finished it should restart your computer. If it does not, please manually restart the computer yourself to ensure a complete cleaning.
***************************************************
Use the Secunia Software Inspector to check for out of date software.

•Click Start Now

•Check the box next to Enable thorough system inspection.

•Click Start

•Allow the scan to finish and scroll down to see if any updates are needed.
•Update anything listed.
.
----------

Go to Microsoft Windows Update and get all critical updates.

----------

I suggest using WOT - Web of Trust. WOT is a free Internet security addon for your browser. It will keep you safe from online scams, identity theft, spyware, spam, viruses and unreliable shopping sites. WOT warns you before you interact with a risky website. It's easy and it's free.

SpywareBlaster- Secure your Internet Explorer to make it harder for ActiveX programs to run on your computer. Also stop certain cookies from being added to your computer when running Mozilla based browsers like Firefox.
* Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware and Malware
* If you don't know what ActiveX controls are, see here

Protect yourself against spyware using the Immunize feature in Spybot - Search & Destroy. Guide: Use Spybot's Immunize Feature to prevent spyware infection in real-time. Note: To ensure you have the latest Immunizations always update Spybot - Search & Destroy before Immunizing. Spybot - Search & Destroy FAQ

Check out Keeping Yourself Safe On The Web for tips and free tools to help keep you safe in the future.

Also see Slow Computer? It may not be Malware for free cleaning/maintenance tools to help keep your computer running smoothly.
Safe Surfing!

[pantera35]

Thank you for all your help.
Still running fairly slow but it is a night and day difference from the way it was prior to your assistance.
I have implimented all the programs and done all the cleanup that you suggested as well as was recommended in the links you provided.
I feel like my computer is well protected now.
Thanks again.

T.

[SuperDave]

You're welcome. I will lock this thread. If you need it re-opened, please send me a pm.