[**Brian**]

My friend told me this past week that he had been hit with WinAntivirus 2009. Using MBAM in safemode, updated it in "Safemode with Networking," Then ran MBAM, in normal mode, removing this infection and others. In Safemode Vista gives you a taskbar and startmenu that looks like prior versions of Windows, and I want to restore the Vista Looking Taskbar. I used Taskbar and Startmenu and tried to restore the defaults, but the taskbar does not return to normal. This is a Vista Home Basic Machine (Acer Aspire Laptop)

Is there a way to restore the Vista Taskbar to normal? I wonder if MBAM removed something it shouldn't have, but I can't find any way to restore the taskbar to normal, and I don't know why an MBAM scan would have removed this Vista looking Taskbar and Vista Looking Start Button......The Malware is Gone, but this is strange

Been told this may be a Driver issue, but not sure how to correct ths, as I am still learning about Vista as I move forward

Any Help you can give me would be great!!

Thanks,

Brian

Edited by **Brian**, 28 November 2008 - 11:52 AM.

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I've found that malware like that tends to change styles (like the problem he's having,) and also that it can't be cleaned up just by running MBAM. I would say that he's probably still infected.

[jt1990]

I've found that malware like that tends to change styles (like the problem he's having,) and also that it can't be cleaned up just by running MBAM. I would say that he's probably still infected.

[**Brian**]

I've found that malware like that tends to change styles (like the problem he's having,) and also that it can't be cleaned up just by running MBAM. I would say that he's probably still infected.

Jt1990:

He may be, however, I would like to know how to restore the Vista Style Taskbar and start button on his Vista Machine - I have never encountered this situation before, and usually, a full restrat into Normal mode returns everything to normal. There does not seem to be any written materal on how to go about fixing it, hence, I asked here I believe that there has to be a way to do it.

Thanks

Brian

[jt1990]

And since a full restart doesn't fix it, that's what leads me to think that it's still infected. I may be wrong, but that's what (from the description you've given me) it seems like.

[gclipse02]

Ah, sounds like you're talking about Windows Vista Aero, stylish taskbar and window wrap on Vista? You have to meet the hardware requirements before you can activate it, but since you had it then lost it, you obviously meet them. Right click on the desktop>Personalize>Window Color and Appeareance and select Aero.

[**Brian**]

gclipse02:

Thank you for that information!! Will use that as part of my fix checks when I am over there again. Was also informed that "sfc /scannow" will replace files that are missing or damaged, but wanted to be sure that it would replace the files and put the Areo Style Taskbar and Start Button Back for him. Learning Vista is a daily thing, I just wish M$ would TELL us this stuff so we don't have to search all over the internet for stuff that simple hehehe

Brian

[gclipse02]

Brain:

Stick with Vista, it's a good OS when you trim all the excess fat off of it (Sidebar, in my opinion- UAC). And if you really want M$ help with your problem, it's $249 for personal assistance. Just found that out this past weekend when I needed to troubleshoot a computer... That's why I'm glad to find forums like these. I found the answer I was looking for here for my problem, figured I try to balance the universe by helping someone else out with theirs. Hope it works for you.

[**Brian**]

Brain:

Stick with Vista, it's a good OS when you trim all the excess fat off of it (Sidebar, in my opinion- UAC). And if you really want M$ help with your problem, it's $249 for personal assistance. Just found that out this past weekend when I needed to troubleshoot a computer... That's why I'm glad to find forums like these. I found the answer I was looking for here for my problem, figured I try to balance the universe by helping someone else out with theirs. Hope it works for you.

I plan on someday updating one of my machines to Vista: I just cannot believe that some of what I Think is Simple is not available online: fixes like the Taskbar switch should be there, and probably are, but you have to be careful with it, because it seems that one mistake with Vista can cause problems that are not as easily correctable, as as easy to correct as with XP - I guess I just have to keep playing, and asking questions as I move forward

Brian

[**Brian**]

Hello All:

I was able to fix the Windows Vista Taskbar and Start Menu Problem by doing the following things:

SYSTEM: Acer Aspire Laptop
OS: Windows Vista Basic, Service Pack 1

1. RIGHT CLICK on the Desktop, Choose Personalize and Left Click on it
2. Choose Window Color and Appearance
3. CHANGE: Window Color and Appearance to be "Windows Vista Basic", Click Apply and OK
4. CHANGE: Desktop Background to your Favorite Picture, and Click Apply and OK
5. CHANGE: Theme to "Windows Vista" and Click Apply and OK

NOTE: It seems as if the MBAM did make changes to the Taskbar and Start Button, but it is unknown wheter this was specifically due to the WinAntivirus 2009 Rogue, or if it was due to OTHER Malware that was on this system when I followed the instructions for cleaning the infection. I post this here so that others that have this issue can recover from it without having to restore their machines from backups. The fix is simple, you just have to UPDATE and run MBAM, remove the infection and then follow these instructions to restore the Taskbar and Start Menu to the Vista Defaults (If it is necessary) ~Brian

Thank You to all who helped me solve this issue My Friend is VERY Happy

Brian

Edited by **Brian**, 05 December 2008 - 08:18 PM.

[ins4ne]

The same thing happened to me. One day my vista Taskbar was gone and replaced with windows classic, and i have already tried a couple of times to go to personalize but it brings me right to the classic theme chooser, and all i get is windows classic and like high constrast one or two or w/e....

I completely restarted this computer a couple of times and have done like three scans with norton and windows defender to get rid of anything that could be affecting it. I want my old windows vista back.

[ins4ne]

Windows vista basic isn't even an option I have.

Windows Standard
Windows Classic
High Contrast White
High Contrast Black
High Contrast #2
High Contrast #1

That's all they give me.

[reallyocean]

Windows vista basic isn't even an option I have.

Windows Standard
Windows Classic
High Contrast White
High Contrast Black
High Contrast #2
High Contrast #1

That's all they give me.

This is exactly what I have also. Does anyone know how to fix this?

Thank you.

[Brandon_Was_Smart]

I Have the same problem no windows vista basic just those above

[dbreeze]

Those that are missing Vista Basic in themes; have you run a System File Check scan yet? (sfc/scannow from a command prompt window?)