[Scorpex]

When you get that error, does any other information come up? Such as a file name, program, anything?

Also, at what point of the startup procedure does it come up?


In Windows Explorer, go to C:\Windows\system32
Right-click ctfmon.exe and select properties. Click the version tab and tell me any info listed.
(Under Item Name, you may have to click on Company, Version, etc… to get more info in the Value box)

Note: ctfmon.exe is normally a legitimate Microsoft file – don’t delete it.


Scorpex

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Oh, sorry for not clarifying. The notice about Cicero UI Wnd Frame occured as I was shutting down, not after I had restarted. Basically it stated that the file failed to close, and asked if I would like to close the task manually or just wait for it to close.

The ctfmon.exe version is 5.1.2600.2180 , and under that is (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)

[Cowman109]

Oh, sorry for not clarifying. The notice about Cicero UI Wnd Frame occured as I was shutting down, not after I had restarted. Basically it stated that the file failed to close, and asked if I would like to close the task manually or just wait for it to close.

The ctfmon.exe version is 5.1.2600.2180 , and under that is (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)

[Scorpex]

Hi Cowman109,

Thanks for clearing that up. Researching that error, I saw most people had it while shutting down.
It seems that error has something to do with the ‘Speech and Handwriting Recognition’ in Microsoft Office XP.

If you have Office XP:
In Control Panel, click on ‘Add/Remove Programs’
Look for Microsoft Office and click on the ‘Change/Remove’ button
Under ‘Features to install’ click on ‘Office Shared Features’
Click on ‘Alternative User Input’
Click Speech and select ‘Not available’ from the drop-down box.
Click Handwriting Recognition and select ‘Not available’ from the drop-down box.

Let me know how it goes

If you don’t have Office XP, let me know if you have an earlier version of Office or just a single application such as Word, Excel, etc.


Scorpex

[Cowman109]

It's Office 2003 Professional Edition actually, but I found the speech and handwriting file. However, it said it could not find a necessary installation file called SKU011.CAB and asks for the installation CD. I'll look for the CD and see if that fixes it (that would make the most sense after all!).

[Cowman109]

Ah, and apparently people have issues with this file, too, as shown in http://www.mcse.ms/message436198.html . Once I find the cd and if it doesn't work I'll have to look at that I suppose.

[Cowman109]

I've had no luck finding the CD, but I figure as the problem hasn't come up since, it's no big deal, really. Thanks for your help, though!

[Scorpex]

Hi Cowman109,

Without you having the Office CD, I’m hesitant to suggest things that I myself haven’t tried. If things ever went wrong, you don’t have the Office CD to repair it - And then you’d have even bigger problems.

I’m thinking when you installed Office you may have chose the option to delete the setup files, which is why it wants the CD.

If the error comes back, you may want to start a new topic in the Software Forum (Applications / Microsoft Office) here and see if the Trusted Techs have some other suggestions.

---------------------------------------------------------

To wrap things up regarding your malware issues:

If you haven’t done so already, Re-enable Microsoft Antispyware by doing the following:
To re-enable your Microsoft Anti-Spyware real-time protection:

• Right-click on the Microsoft Anti-Spyware tray icon by your clock (it's the one with the red and yellow bulls-eye).
• Click on "Security Agents Status".
• Click on "Enable real-time protection".

Next, open Microsoft Anti-Spyware.

• Click on the Options menu, then Settings.
• Select "Real Time Protection" from the left column.
• check "Enable (MSAS) Security Agents" and "Enable real-time spyware threat protection".
• Click the Save button.

Please disable the viewing of hidden files as follows (For security reasons, it’s better to keep these hidden):
1) Go to My Computer, and click on the "Tools" menu
2) Click "Folder options"
3) Select the "View" tab
4) Make sure "Do not show hidden files and folders" is selected
5) Make sure "Hide extensions for known file types" is checked
6) Make sure "Hide protected operating system files (recommended)" is checked



Below I have included a number of recommendations for how to protect your computer in order to prevent future malware infections. Please take these recommendations seriously; these few simple steps can stave off the vast majority of spyware problems.

1) Please go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com and make sure you download any/all "critical updates".

2) Run your antivirus software regularly, and to keep it up-to-date.

3) If you're currently using a firewall - Great! Be sure to read the help files if you need assistance on how to configure it.
If you don't have a Firewall - Get one!(see link below) XP SP2 comes with Windows Firewall. Some consider Windows Firewall to be inadequate because it only blocks incoming threats. It's better than not having one at all. Leave Windows Firewall enabled (enabled by default after installing SP2) while you are deciding on whether or not to switch to another!
A tutorial on understanding and using firewalls may be found here. This link also contains additional links to the more popular free/commercial firewalls available.

4) Below is list of highly recommended free programs that will help protect your system against spyware and in some cases remove it. (Note: If you already have some of these programs installed, please read the tutorial link provided to learn the preferred way to set them up.)

SpywareBlaster - A tutorial on using SpywareBlaster to prevent ActiveX-based spyware and ad/tracking cookies from ever being installed on your computer may be found here.

SpywareGuard - A tutorial on using SpywareGuard for realtime protection against spyware and hijackers may be found here.

IE-SPYAD adds a long list of sites and domains associated with known advertisers, marketers, and crapware pushers to the Restricted sites zone of Internet Explorer. Once you merge this list of sites and domains into the Registry, the web sites for these companies will not be able to use cookies, ActiveX controls, Java applets, or scripting to compromise your privacy or your PC while you surf the Net. Nor will they be able to use your browser to push unwanted pop-ups, cookies, or auto-installing programs on your PC. A tutorial on using IE/SPYAD may be found here

Ad-Aware SE - A tutorial on using Ad-Aware to remove spyware from your computer may be found here.

Spybot-Search & Destroy - A tutorial on using Spybot to remove spyware from your computer may be found here. Please also remember to enable Spybot's "Immunize" and "TeaTimer" features.

Make sure to keep these programs up-to-date and to run them regularly, as this can prevent a great deal of spyware hassle.

5) You can also 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 popup blocker (as an added benefit!) that I have ever seen. If you are interested, Firefox may be downloaded from here: http://www.mozilla.o...oducts/firefox/


Please read Tony Klein's excellent article: How I got Infected in the First Place


Scorpex