[JessOnTechComps]

Hey Ann,

One person on a forum does not represent the whole forum society. I actually posted a thread in the General Talk part of this forum asking about people skills and soft skills - basically how a tech communicates with a user. And it was this thread that inspired me to do that.


I personally agree with the part of his message where he said "using a smorgasbord of utilities found through a Google search is not anything any malware removal expert would ever recommend", and I was pretty upset that after I had posted four perfectly acceptable apps, that other people jumped in and recommended different programs. For you, it's confusing, and I have to say I was pretty mad. I probably should have said something right away though, rather than worry about what people would think of a forum newbie dictating how they should respond to posts!

Now, I'm more mad at the jerk who wrote this to you. You have been to two computer forums that I know of now, asking for HELP! Most people would have just given up by now. Just because he knows about the technical side of computers, this guy clearly has very little knowledge of how to help other people understand that. X-( I'm sorry for my part in your "smorgasbord of utilities", and some of
the confusion that may have come across earlier in the discussion. I'm
also sorry that you were treated that way by a "malware removal
expert". I'm still so mad at him! Man! X-(


Did you try re-installing the drivers for the CD/DVD drive? If that doesn't work, I'm going to suggest you back up all the important data off your computer, make sure you have copies of drivers you'll need later, and re-install Windows.




And once again, Ann, I'd like to congratulate you on your determination to see this through and ask for help. Not a lot of people accomplish that. Well done!




Jess

[earthbru]

Ann,

I would like to suggest something that is a bit of a long shot but easy enough to be worth trying.

Shut down Windows, turn the computer off, unplug it and leave it unplugged for about ten minutes.

Plug it back in, boot it up and see if anything changes.

[Tech4me]

Hi Ann. Please keep in mind that all the suggestions you get from here or any forum as the matter of fact are just suggestions...and MUST follow carefully....
So far, I Don't think any of those softwares that Flashorn & Rgreen recommended messed up your cd/dvd drivers.....Because I have all of those and running good .
Now, I can help you to get your Cd/DVD drive back to "My Computer" menu..: FOLLOW CAREFULLY ...: (THIS WILL FIX CODE 39 ALSO)

forums.pcworld.com/message/174995|m-174995

[SpiritWind]

:D Hi Ann :


I visited the Aumha.net Forums last night and when I saw your Post, I realized you had

disclosed too much info ( mainly about "deleting" Norton and "adding" Malwarebytes,

SUPERAntiSpyware, RogueRemover, etc ) ; Bill Castner, a very experienced and certified

"Microsoft Most Valuable Professional" dislikes people asking for Help that have already

been "messing" around on their own and he prefers people who have NOT engaged in

that "activity" to come with their "original problem ONLY . His "I am no longer watching this

thread" his his way of saying I have nothing else to offer and an "Invitation" to Others to Post

Responses if they feel they can help . IF you would be interested in

asking for help from a different "Malware Removal Specialist" who does not share Mr .

Castner "Approach" to malware removal, I recommend you ask on the "Spyware Beware"

Forums, starting with the Info at forums.maddoktor2.com/index.php?showtopic=9590 .

This would involve Posting a "Log" from the FREE "HijackThis" program, perhaps along

with Posting the Logs from your 1st 2 Scans using Malwarebytes Anti-Malware with a

BRIEF description ( WITHOUT the "Deleting" & "Adding" I commented on earlier ) of your

"original" situation and "current" situation . Other than the Recommendation of using

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, all other "suggestions" have NOT been helpful in solving

your initial computer problem(s) .

[Adama]

Hi Ann,

I commend you on working through this problem and still have a sound mind! :0 Good for you. :D

I'm no expert at this, but my experience with CCleaner was not a good one. When I used it for a problem I was having, it was rather agressive and it made my computer not work properly. Once I uninstalled it, I was able to get my computer back to normal.

Perhaps CCleaner was too agressive for you as well? And maybe it deleted some of your drivers? ?:|

Good luck to you! :)

[number6]

CCleaner doesn't delete drivers. You can see what it's going to delete
by analyzing first. It sounds to me like your computer has been
infected by malware.

[JessOnTechComps]

CCleaner is a great program, but I think agressive is a good word. If you're not sure what all the items listed are, and just check them all off, you'll most likely get quite a surprise when you restart your computer. But like number6 said, it wouldn't delete drivers. It cleans crap from programs you've installed, such as Internet Explorer. It basically cleans from within the legitimate programs you've installed on your computer.

Jess

[Adama]

OFF TOPIC:

Nothing of that sort, number6, my problems had to do with cookies, and some things that were deleted.

I do not wish to hijack Ann's thread.

BACK ON TOPIC:

I was merely sharing my experience with CCleaner and that it can be agressive.

[Adama]

JessOnTechComps said:

CCleaner is a great program, but I think agressive is a good word. If you're not sure what all the items listed are, and just check them all off, you'll most likely get quite a surprise when you restart your computer. But like number6 said, it wouldn't delete drivers. It cleans crap from programs you've installed, such as Internet Explorer. It basically cleans from within the legitimate programs you've installed on your computer.

Jess

Hi Jess,

You're right, of course, I didn't have an idea what I was clicking on when I used CCleaner.

And now, thanks to number6 and you, I know that it won't delete drivers.

Ok, I'm leaving now to hide under Patrick's rock again.... !

[Tech4me]

Hi Adama. Good to hear from you.....

If you don't want CCleaner to clean out all COOKIES ....Just UNCHECK the box . So next time You don't have to sign in the forum agaim.

!http://forums.pcworld.com/legacyimages/
1!

[Adama]

Hi Tech,

It's good to be back and to see you too, my friend. :x

And, thanks for the info too.

[annB]

Wow,

I just HAD to take a break for a day to keep my sanity and went to work in my clay studio! So now I'm back and since my last check in have recieved a bunch of new posts, thanks again to you all. I also sent a private message to the Aumha guy letting him know I didn't much appreciate his response to my request and he responded with a more helpful disposition and a few more steps. He explained why he hates people trying this stuff on their own which I appreciated and understand, I quote...
"-- to leave a response here at AumHa without any log information, without any details, with nothing, and ask for help.
Presently,
for example, recent changes to a TDSServ rootkit infection corrupts the
controlset area of the registry. Use of utilities that will kill just
the infector entries leaves behind a giant mess, and without the log
information, leaves a possible Helper such as myself completely
clueless as to how to proceeed. As my regular plumber at my historic
home in Chevy Chase, MD asks when I call" "Bill, did you try to fix
this yourself before calling me? Because if so you know I am going to
charge you double for the repair." " end quote.

None the less, the damage was already done so...

Anyway, these were his steps:

1. Do the first step, Norton/Symantec Removal, in the formal method I suggested.
2. Please complete the following, and submit in-line to your original thread, and not through private mail to me:
a. The log file from your original use of Malwarebytes Anti-malware;
b. Your log result from your first use of SuperAntisypware;
c. A brand new HijackThis log.


I'm going to sit down and sort thru all the info on this PC community forum and what he has given me, come up with what seems to be the best plan of attack, post the plan here and see what you guys think. I think the key from my end is not to be in a rush and jump on the first piece of advice that comes in. Because Bill Castner is a certified Microsoft guy my first instinct is to follow his actions, even if he is a bit condesending. But I'm gonna sit on it for awhile first. Yesterday I ran the Norton Removal tool from the link you gave me (which I had already done once before) and I reset my system restore to start creating restore points. Will I be able to find any logs from previous actions? If sowhere do I look?



Ann

[coastie65]

Hi Ann, I've been reading through this and it looks like the advice has been good so far. A quick note on CCleaner, it is a good cleaner. If you go and use the registry repair ( second option on the list ), you should look through it and tke the save / back up option before using it. I have used it with few hiccups though, but I do back up the registry files just in case. coastie

[SpiritWind]

:D Hi Ann :

Bill Castner is One of the Best; at times, other "Experts" come to him for Advice. Malware

Removal Specialists, such as Mr Castner, deal with System Restore AFTER the malware

cleaning and removal is completed, so I recommend you go NO FURTHER in WHAT you

have done in this area. Are you still able at this point to access those "original" Logs from

both Malwarebytes Anti-Malware AND SUPERAntiSpyware ? He asks for those Logs to

make a Determination as to WHAT was "originally" on your computer, which leads to

"Clues" as to the malware "associates" that may still be hidden, requiring highly advanced

programs, such as "ComboFix", "SDFix", "RSIT", etc be used .

The "HijackThis" program is most easily ( hopefully ) downloaded from

www.filehippo.com/download_hijackthis . A "Tutorial" on this program as it relates to

"Posting Log(s)" is at [http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial94.html] . The

PRIMARY Focus of this Tutorial is "Step 4", though you MAY want to look through "Step(s)

2 & 3" ( I recommend IGNORE "Step(s) 1 AND 5" ) . Some of the Info in Steps 2 & 3 MAY

be outdated, since this Tutorial was published in 2004 .

AT THIS POINT, you should ONLY be following Bill Castner's Advice .

[Flashorn]

Hey Ann !!



I totally agree with SpiritWind . We have recommended AumHa for a specific reason.

They are very experienced at what they do . PLZ , do not use CCLeaner's Registry cleaner.

This might destroy some of the clues that Mr. Castner is counting on to see what is

left to be cleaned off your PC and lead to other indications of hidden processes.

To get to the LOGS in MalwareBytes:



First , bring up MalwareBytes AntiMalware.

Second , at the top of the main screen you will see a tab named "LOGS" . Cilck on that tab.




Thirdly , Double Click on the Log that corresponds to the date of the scan when you first used it.

Fourth , Copy & Paste this NotePad txt. with your next responce to Mr. Castner.

!http://forums.pcworld.com/legacyimages/
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To do the same with SUPERAntiSpyware here are the instructions.

First , bring up the main screen for SUPERAntiSpyware

Second , On the main Screen , on the right hand side, you will see a "PREFERENCES" button. Click on that.

Thirdly . On the 'PREFERENCES' screen , at the top , you will see a tab named "STATISTICS / LOGS". Click on that.



Fourth , Double Click on the LOG that corresponds to the day that you scanned your PC.

A notepad txt. will appear. Again , Copy & Paste the results in your next post to Mr. Castner.



Now , he also asked for a HijackThis log. The tutorial which SpiritWind directed you to is

good . If you should need any info. or IF you don't understand a certain step to be taken,

PLZ< don't hesitate to ask. I will be here to guide you through it.



FLASHORN. !http://forums.pcworld.com/legacyimages/
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[annB]

Hi again,





Thank you so much, I agree that it is best to follow his steps, I'm tired and will take another day off from this then see if I can bring up any of the logs, I 'll keep this thread open a little longer if that's okay. I want to thank everyone again for being so helpful and patient and encouraging. I'll let you know my results. Let's hope for the best! I hope I can recover things with out investing in new drives. As a working artist every penny will count this year.


Ann B


"I am always doing things I can't do, that is how I get to do them."--Pablo Picasso

[Grr8008]

Just a little note, I use defraggler instead of windows defragmenter. Much better program in my opinion. Try it if you want, if you don't then it doesn't really matter. http://www.pcworld.c...nloads/file/fid,72958-order,6-page,1/description.html