Don't know if it means anything - but every time I run, then close Combofix and then try to open IE - it "cannot display the webpage...." and I have to restart the PC????

hows it running

Download the GMER Rootkit Scanner. Unzip it to your Desktop.

Before scanning, make sure all other running programs are closed and no other actions like a scheduled antivirus scan will occur while the scan is being performed. Do not use your computer for anything else during the scan.

Double-click gmer.exe. The program will begin to run.

**Caution**
These types of scans can produce false positives. Do NOT take any action on any "<--- ROOKIT" entries unless advised by a trained Security Analyst

If possible rootkit activity is found, you will be asked if you would like to perform a full scan.

• Click NO
• In the right panel, you will see a bunch of boxes that have been checked ... leave everything checked and ensure the Show all box is Unchecked.
• Now click the Scan button.
  Once the scan is complete, you may receive another notice about rootkit activity.
• Click OK.
• GMER will produce a log. Click on the [Save..] button, and in the File name area, type in "GMER.txt"
• Save it where you can easily find it, such as your desktop.

Post the contents of GMER.txt in your next reply.

My PC is running a little faster - however I hear the hard drive working very hard and it sounds like it is always busy doing something in the background if you know what I mean. The lights on my internet connection icon on my task bar are always going on and off. This happens especially when IE is open and I occassionally get a very fast refresh screen thingy happening. I just ran the GMER file and thought I had saved it to my desktop but I hadn't - when I searched for it in Windows Explorer if found 2 GMER.txt documents in the same location (I had saved it to "my documents" in error). I have noticed this past week when I have opened Task Manager to end a task (due to the PC seizing up) that a few times there has been duplicate files running at the same time - as if something is doubling up my processes. This is probably a load of rubbish but it is just something I thought might help you

Here is the GMER log file - thanks again

Your logs are clean


Now we need to create a new System Restore point.

Click Start Menu > Run > type (or copy and paste)

%SystemRoot%\System32\restore\rstrui.exe

Press OK. Choose Create a Restore Point then click Next. Name it and click Create, when the confirmation screen shows the restore point has been created click Close.

Next goto Start Menu > Run > type

cleanmgr

Click OK, Disk Cleanup will open and start calculating the amount of space that can be freed, Once thats finished it will open the Disk Cleanup options screen, click the More Options tab then click Clean up on the system restore area and choose Yes at the confirmation window which will remove all the restore points except the one we just created.

To close Disk Cleanup and remove the Temporary Internet Files detected in the initial scan click OK then choose Yes on the confirmation window.

• Download OTC to your desktop and run it
• Click Yes to beginning the Cleanup process and remove these components, including this application.
• You will be asked to reboot the machine to finish the Cleanup process. Choose Yes.

Below I have included a number of recommendations for how to protect your computer against malware infections.

• Keep Windows updated by regularly checking their website at :
  http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
  This will ensure your computer has always the latest security updates available installed on your computer.
  
  
• SpywareBlaster protects against bad ActiveX, it immunizes your PC against them.
  
  
• SpywareGuard offers realtime protection from spyware installation attempts. Make sure you are only running one real-time anti-spyware protection program ( eg : TeaTimer, Windows Defender ) or there will be a conflict.
  
  
• Make Internet Explorer more secure
  
  • Click Start > Run
  • Type Inetcpl.cpl & click OK
  • Click on the Security tab
  • Click Reset all zones to default level
  • Make sure the Internet Zone is selected & Click Custom level
  • In the ActiveX section, set the first two options ("Download signed and unsigned ActiveX controls) to "Prompt", and ("Initialize and Script ActiveX controls not marked as safe") to "Disable".
  • Next Click OK, then Apply button and then OK to exit the Internet Properties page.
  
  
• TFC - Cleans temporary files from IE and Windows, empties the recycle bin and more. Great tool to help speed up your computer and knock out those nasties that like to reside in the temp folders.
  
  
• MVPS Hosts file replaces your current HOSTS file with one containing well known ad sites and other bad sites. Basically, this prevents your computer from connecting to those sites by redirecting them to 127.0.0.1 which is your local computer, meaning it will be difficult to infect yourself in the future.
  
  
• Please consider using an alternate browser. Mozilla's Firefox browser is fantastic; it is much more
  secure than Internet Explorer, immune to almost all known browser hijackers, and also has the best built-in pop up
  blocker (as an added benefit!) that I have ever seen. If you are interested, Firefox may be downloaded from
  Here
  
  
  If you choose to use Firefox, I highly recommend these add-ons to keep your PC even more secure.
  
  • NoScript - for blocking ads and other potential website attacks
  • McAfee SiteAdvisor - this tells you whether the sites you are about to visit are safe or not. A must if you do a lot of Googling
  
  
  
• Keep a backup of your important files - Now, more than ever, it's especially important to protect your digital files and memories. This article is full of good information on alternatives for home backup solutions.
  
  
• ERUNT (Emergency Recovery Utility NT) allows you to keep a complete backup of your registry and restore it when needed. The standard registry backup options that come with Windows back up most of the registry but not all of it. ERUNT however creates a complete backup set, including the Security hive and user related sections. ERUNT is easy to use and since it creates a full backup, there are no options or choices other than to select the location of the backup files. The backup set includes a small executable that will launch the registry restore if needed.
  
  
• FileHippo Update Checker is an extremely helpful program that will tell you which of your programs need to be updated. Its important to keep programs up to date so that malware doesn't exploit any old security flaws.
  
  
• Recovery Console - Recent trends appear to indicate that future infections will include attacks to the boot sector of the computer. The installation of the Recovery Console in the computer will be our only defense against this threat. For more information and steps to install the Recovery Console see This Article. Should you need assistance in installing the Recovery Console, please do not hesitate to ask.
  
  
• Please read my guide on how to prevent malware and about safe computing here

Thank you for your patience, and performing all of the procedures requested.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU dear Mr Geek! If I forgot to tell you that I loved you at some stage of this whole progress....... then allow me to say it now!

I LOVE YOU

You have been fantastic and patient and brilliant!

You have yourself a fab life - thanks so very much!

Lilz x

This post has been edited by Lilz: Nov 11 2009, 01:55 PM

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.