[jacey32]

Every time I reboot, the Found New Hardware Wizard comes up wanting me to install some program called, simply "Image" -- I have no memory downloading anything like this, so I don't want to install it (obviously). Any idea how I can find out what this is? Could it be some kind of malware? Google searching "image" is kinda useless. There is an icon that looks like a flat gray X with all the other program icons in the lower right hand corner of the bottom toolbar thingy, but no info comes up when I right click.

Thanks!

P.S. Apologies if this is in the wrong place -- please advise if I should move it somewhere else.

Please advise if I should post a Hijack This log.

Edited by jacey32, 15 May 2006 - 02:59 PM.

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Hi jacey32...

Yes...please do post me a HijackThis log...but attach it to the post, please. Let's see if it shows up in the start ups or is possibly associated with another application.

wannabe1

[wannabe1]

Hi jacey32...

Yes...please do post me a HijackThis log...but attach it to the post, please. Let's see if it shows up in the start ups or is possibly associated with another application.

wannabe1

[jacey32]

Hi Wannabe1,

Thanks for helping.

HJT log is attached.

Cheers,

JC

[jacey32]

oops, sorry, file didn't attach.

Upload failed. You are not permitted to upload a file with that file extension.

shall I just cut and paste?

[wannabe1]

Try zipping the log...right click on it and point to "Send to"...select "Compressed (zip) folder". Then try to attach the zip folder to your reply.

[jacey32]

that seems to have worked. thanks.

Attached Files

•  jacey32hijackthis.zip   3.33KB   47 downloads

[wannabe1]

I see a couple of possible culprits in the log. MailSkinner and Adobe Photo Album. Both are starting when you start the computer and both involve images. Neither are necesary as startup applications.

MailSkinner can also be malware so if you did not specifically download this application to add graphical support to your e-mails, it may be time to visit our Malware Forum.

In the meantime, lets stop both of them from starting with Windows. Click Start, then Run, type msconfig, and click "Ok". Under the "Startup" tab, find "Photoshop Album Starter Edition" (apdproxy.exe) and "mailskinner" (mailskinner.exe) in the list and uncheck the boxes next to them. (While you are in there, look for "Image" or a Setup listing which mentions Image) "Apply" the change and click "Ok". Reboot.

Upon restarting, you will see a Selective Startup dialog window...this is normal. Check the box to not show it again and click "Ok".

Do you still get the prompt to install "Image" when you start the machine"

[jacey32]

Hi Wannabe1,

Unfortunately, I still do get the prompt. I saw no other references to "Image" in the Startup infomation.

I'm suspicious of that mailskinner program -- I don't think I actively downloaded anything like that, and I seem to remember Norton a while ago giving me a warning about that being a trojan (though I thought I got rid of it). I recently switched to a beta version of the live msn hotmail -- do you think that could have something to do with it?

Maybe it's malware forum time?

Thanks,

JC

[wannabe1]

Yep...if you didn't download and install the MailSkinner application, you were probably the victim of a "drive by" install. There may be other applications involved in this, as well.

Please go to the Malware Forum and follow the instructions.

That will give you several steps that will help you clean up 70 percent of all problems by yourself...then post a hijackthis log in THAT forum. Be patient, the Malware Forum is a very busy place and a two or three day wait is not unusual. DO NOT REPLY TO OR BUMP YOUR OWN LOG. If it shows a reply it may be overlooked as one that is being worked on.

If you are still having problems after getting a clean bill of health from the malware expert, please return to this thread.

wannabe1

[jacey32]

Alrighty -- will do.

Thanks for your help.

JC

[jacey32]

Still having problems with the new hardware wizard. Got a clean bill of health from the malware folks.

Tried to add a link to that thread, but it didn't work. It's in the Malware forum, called 'problems with mailskinner'

Wondering if I should just take the chance and install the thing, and use system restore if things get messed up??

Edited by jacey32, 22 May 2006 - 10:06 AM.

[wannabe1]

First thing, set a new restore point and name it "Clean".

Go ahead and install "Image", making note of where it installs to.

[jacey32]

Hi Wannabe1,

Sorry to disappear on you there. I took my computer in to get something else fixed, and the shop guy helped me with the problem. It seems to be fixed now. Thanks for all your help.

JC