[Essexboy]

OOps crossposted - did you see my previous with the zip file ?

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Zip file hasn't helped. But meanwhile I have come up with a couple of things that might be relevant.

1. One of the last things that the computer must have done while it had a network connection was to get some Windows Update messages. The "Important" message was to install Internet Explorer 9. But there were two "Optional" updates which I had ignored up until now. I have just opened them and one is an update for the Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller, a software update that was published in mid-May. Of course Windows Update is useless now because I don't have internet access to download. I have tried looking around the Realtek support site, but don't really know what I am looking for. Is it possible to download the updates on Windows Update to a separate computer and transfer the files across?

2. I also spotted this forum exchange which featured similar problems to mine. http://answers.micro...b3-9fe8f6d7c2b3 I have no idea whether the suggested solution would be worth trying. Apart from anything else I don't know how to find out which motherboard I have.

3. In Device Manager I changed the view so that it showed hidden devices. These included Non-plug and play drivers. There is one marked with a yellow triangle called SASKUTIL. A quick google says that this is something to do with Superantispyware, which I have installed. Probably unrelated, but just in case...


Charles

[charles.actuary]

Zip file hasn't helped. But meanwhile I have come up with a couple of things that might be relevant.

1. One of the last things that the computer must have done while it had a network connection was to get some Windows Update messages. The "Important" message was to install Internet Explorer 9. But there were two "Optional" updates which I had ignored up until now. I have just opened them and one is an update for the Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller, a software update that was published in mid-May. Of course Windows Update is useless now because I don't have internet access to download. I have tried looking around the Realtek support site, but don't really know what I am looking for. Is it possible to download the updates on Windows Update to a separate computer and transfer the files across?

2. I also spotted this forum exchange which featured similar problems to mine. http://answers.micro...b3-9fe8f6d7c2b3 I have no idea whether the suggested solution would be worth trying. Apart from anything else I don't know how to find out which motherboard I have.

3. In Device Manager I changed the view so that it showed hidden devices. These included Non-plug and play drivers. There is one marked with a yellow triangle called SASKUTIL. A quick google says that this is something to do with Superantispyware, which I have installed. Probably unrelated, but just in case...


Charles

[Essexboy]

Yes that looks like a plan

First download the latest driver from Here

Then go to device manager and uninstall both

Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller
Realtek Virtual Miniport Driver for VLAN (NDIS 6.2)

Reboot and then install the driver that you downloaded

Let me know how that goes

[charles.actuary]

No better I'm afraid. The Realtek PCIe ... Controller has reinstalled. The "Virtual Miniport Driver" hasn't come back. But I'm still getting the same messages in the Network and Sharing Centre.

[Essexboy]

OK going back to the Techs

[Essexboy]

OK next trick - there is a possibilty (high) that the firewall has broken the connection

The remedy for this is to completely uninstall McAfee and then re-instal a fresh copy - there are full instructions here - but it is fairly simple

Download a fresh copy of McAfee to your desktop
Download the McAfee removal tool to your desktop
Uninstall McAfee via programmes and features
Run the McAfee removal tool
Reboot

THEN

• To open a command prompt, click Start > All Programs > Accessories and then right click command prompt and select run as administrator.
• Copy and paste (or type) the following command in the command box box and then press ENTER after each line:
  netsh winsock reset c:\resetlog.txt
  netsh int ip reset reset.log
  
• Reboot the computer.
• In next reply please post content of the file c:\resetlog.txt

Reinstall McAfee and try again

[charles.actuary]

We are back in business again! Superb!

I'm typing this on the computer that was giving trouble. The only issue is that there is no sign of c:\resetlog.txt. Should I have looked for the file before re-installing McAfee?

Any suggestions on what I do next? Can I delete all the diagnostics programs?

Thank you very much indeed for the help. I'll try to be some time before I have to come back.

Charles

[Essexboy]

Aye you can delete the diagnostic programmes from your desktop, the malware programmes we will uninstall

Subject to no further problems

I will remove my tools now and give some recommendations, but, I would like you to run for 24 hours or so and come back if you have any problems

Now the best part of the day ----- Your log now appears clean

A good workman always cleans up after himself so..The following will implement some cleanup procedures as well as reset System Restore points:

Run OTL

• Under the Custom Scans/Fixes box at the bottom, paste in the following
  
  

  :Commands
  [resethosts]
  [purity]
  [emptytemp]
  [EMPTYFLASH]
  [Reboot]

• Then click the Run Fix button at the top
• Let the program run unhindered, reboot the PC when it is done

Uninstall ComboFix

Remove Combofix now that we're done with it.

• Please press the Windows Key and R on your keyboard. This will bring up the Run... command.
• Now copy/paste this: ComboFix /Uninstall in the runbox and click OK. Note the space between the X and the /Uninstall, it needs to be there.
  

  

• Please follow the prompts to uninstall Combofix.
• This will uninstall Combofix, delete its related folders and files, reset your clock settings, hide file extensions, hide the system/hidden files and resets System Restore again.
• You will then recieve a message saying Combofix was uninstalled successfully once it's done uninstalling itself.

Run OTL and hit the cleanup button. It will remove all the programmes we have used plus itself.

We will now confirm that your hidden files are set to that, as some of the tools I use will change that

• Click Start.
• Open My Computer.
• Select the Tools menu and click Folder Options.
• Select the View Tab.
• Under the Hidden files and folders heading select Do not show hidden files and folders.
• Click Yes to confirm.
• Click OK.

Your Java is out of date. Older versions have vulnerabilities that malware can use to infect your system. Please follow these steps to remove older version of Java components and upgrade the application.

Upgrading Java:

• Go to this site and click Do I have Java
• It will check your current version and then offer to update to the latest version

SPRING CLEAN

To manually create a new Restore Point

• Go to Control Panel and select System
• Select System
• On the left select System Protection and accept the warning if you get one
• Select System Protection Tab
• Select Create at the bottom
• Type in a name i.e. Clean
• Select Create

Now we can purge the infected ones

• GoStart > All programs > Accessories > system tools
• Right click Disc cleanup an select run as administrator
• Select Your main drive and accept the warning if you get one
• For a few moments the system will make some calculations
• Select the More Options tab
• In the System Restore and Shadow Backups select Clean up
• Select Delete on the pop up
• Select OK
• Select Delete

Now that you are clean, to help protect your computer in the future I recommend that you get the following free programmes:

Malwarebytes. Update and run weekly to keep your system clean

Download and install FileHippo update checker and run it monthly it will show you which programmes on your system need updating and give a download link

It is critical to have both a firewall and anti virus to protect your system and to keep them updated.

To keep your operating system up to date visit

• Microsoft Windows Update

To learn more about how to protect yourself while on the internet read our little guide How did I get infected in the first place ?
Keep safe

[charles.actuary]

McAfee didn't like Combofix much, and came up with a succession of warnings about Potential Unwanted Programs. I assume it eventually ran properly, as there's no sign of the program. Perhaps I should have turned off McAfee before starting.

I have FileHippo and Superantispyware, and will use Malwarebytes. One thing that I have never been sure about: as you know, I have McAfee SecurityCentre. Does that mean that I shouldn't run Superantispyware real time? I have never been entirely sure whether it will conflict with McAfee. And from what I read on the protection article that you suggested, am I right in thinking that I should not run Malwarebytes real time?

Once again, thank you very much for your help.

Charles

[Essexboy]

I have no problems running MBAM real time with my AV - but I do not use McAfee.
As it looks in different areas and does a different job it should be compatible, same with SAS but with the proviso that only one realtime antimalware should be running

[Essexboy]

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.