Hello misterno,

Since this does not look like a malware issue there is not a whole lot more I can do, I recommend that you start a new topic over in the windows XP forum about the problem with explorer.exe after we are done here.


Do you have any other questions or problems?

that is all thanks

Hello misterno,

Your welcome, sorry I could not do more about the explorer.exe problem. Here is a link to the XP forum if you would like to post there to see if someone can help out with that.
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Windows-XP-...2003-NT-f5.html


Lets go ahead and remove the tools used and update a few things.





Please download JavaRa to your desktop and unzip it to its own folder

• Run JavaRa.exe, pick the language of your choice and click Select. Then click Remove Older Versions.
• Accept any prompts.
• Open JavaRa.exe again and select Search For Updates.
• Select Update Using Sun Java's Website then click Search and click on the Open Webpage button. Download and install the latest Java Runtime Environment (JRE) version for your computer.

You are using a old version of Adobe Acrobat Reader, please update it here.








Please download OTCleanIt and save it to your Desktop.

• Double-click OTCleanIt.exe
  
• Click the CleanUp! button to begin removing tools used to clean your computer
  
• If you are prompted to Reboot during the cleanup, please select Yes

Please remove any leftover tools used to clean your computer.








Reset and Re-enable your System Restore to remove infected files that have been backed up by Windows. The files in System Restore are protected to prevent any programs from changing those files. This is the only way to clean these files: (You will lose all previous restore points which are likely to be infected)

1. Turn off System Restore.

On the Desktop, right-click My Computer.
Click Properties.
Click the System Restore tab.
Check Turn off System Restore.
Click Apply, and then click OK.


2. Restart your computer.

3. Turn ON System Restore.

On the Desktop, right-click My Computer.
Click Properties.
Click the System Restore tab.
UN-Check Turn off System Restore.
Click Apply, and then click OK.

System Restore will now be active again.

The following is a list of tools and utilities that I like to suggest to people. This list is full of great tools and utilities to help you understand how you got infected and how to keep from getting infected again.

1. Spywareguard: Is realtime protection from spyware.

2. Spywareblaster: Helps protect against any bad ActiveX from installing on your computer.

3. SuperAntiSpyware: Use this program to help remove any spyware that may have gotten on your computer.

4. FireFox: This is a great alternate browser over Internet Explorer. Firefox is much more secure then Internet Explorer and also has a bulilt in pop up blocker.

5. ATF Cleaner: This program cleans out your temporary files. This is a great tool that can help speed your computer up.

6. Trillian or Miranda-IM - These are Malware free Instant Messenger programs which allow you to connect to multiple IM services in one program! (AOL, Yahoo, ICQ, IRC, MSN)

7. Windows Updates - It is very important to make sure that both Internet Explorer and Windows are kept current with the latest critical security patches from Microsoft. To do this just start Internet Explorer and select Tools > Windows Update, and follow the online instructions from there.


To find out more information about how you got infected in the first place and some great guidelines to follow to prevent future infections you can read this article by Tony Klein

Since this issue appears to be resolved ... this Topic has been closed. Glad we could help.

If you're the topic starter, and need this topic reopened, please contact a staff member with the address of the thread.

Everyone else please begin a New Topic.