Folder/Window spam at Startup

[keyweez360]

Ok so whenever I start my computer and get to my main desktop screen, a TON of windows open up very quickly. Folders: Desktop, My Documents, Start Menu, Favorites, WINDOWS, and Incomplete all open up. In addition to these, I get about 12 other little windows that open up, all talking about something similar.

These little windows say --

Windows cannot open this file:
File: ntuser.dat_BAK_94409 (this number varies through all of them)

Apart from these BAK things, I also get two more windows with the same message as above, but different files. One asks for SI.bin while the other asks for ntuser.dat.

The HijackThis log is attached -- couldn't get the other log files to work.

[recovering disk space -- attachment deleted by admin]

[evilfantasy]

I'm not sure this is malware doing this but the HijackThis log is odd to say the least.

You do need to uninstall one of the antivirus. Running two is never advised and just causes problems, including being less protected.

When did this start happening?

[keyweez360]

It started happening yesterday, within the past couple of days maybe. And I can see the folders identified as Startup by HijackThis, but trying to "fix" them does nothing -- as windows tells me they are too important to mess with when I try.

[evilfantasy]

Did you install anything around the time this started happening, and did you uninstall one of the antivirus?

[keyweez360]

All I had done in the few days before it started happening was mess with my audio drivers. I lost audio for some reason, so i uninstalled/reinstalled the drivers.

[evilfantasy]

How about trying do a system restore to before it happened?

Or do you have an XP CD?

[keyweez360]

You know, my system restore functionality has been broken for as long as I can remember. It will let me start the restoration, it does its thing, and the comp restarts, but when I get back to the desktop it says it could not restore the system.

And I might have an XP cd around here. It's a Dell, so it came on the machine, but I think I have the disc somewhere.

[evilfantasy]

Try Start > All Programs > Dell Accessories > Driver Reset Tool

[keyweez360]

Ran it, it said no problems found, so I reset. Still getting the windows at startup though. I should probably mention I was able to stop the BAK windows from showing up -- "fixed" them in HijackThis. Now its just ntuser.dat, Desktop, My Documents, Start Menu, Favorites, WINDOWS, and Incomplete.

[evilfantasy]

Try here for the unwanted files that are starting up.

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

C:\Documents and Settings\your name/account\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

You will need to Set windows to show hidden extensions, file's, folder's. http://www.xtra.co.nz/help/0,,4155-1916458,00.html

[keyweez360]

The contents of those two folders (after showing hidden items) is

Adobe Gamma (Shortcut)
DESKTOP.INI
Microsoft Office (Shortcut)

[evilfantasy]

That not it then.

try C:\Documents and Settings\*username

[keyweez360]

Went through all the names under Documents and Settings startup, and they all just had DESKTOP.INI. One folder called "All Users.WINDOWS" had "Start Menu" inside of its startup folder, and "Programs" inside of that, and "SUPERAntiSpyware" inside of that.

[evilfantasy]

Download and run this. http://majorgeeks.com/StartUp_d4436.html

See if they show up in the startups.

[keyweez360]

Sidenote: I just want to say thanks for all of your help thus far. I really appreciate it. And it was hard to get a hold of someone who knew their stuff, so thanks. Trying that startup program now...