I have noticed other people with same problem and have tried to follow similar steps to rid my system of this hijack but haven't had any success.
I updated all windows critical updates. I ran Ad-Aware and deleted all necessary files. I then ran spy-bot and deleted all problem files. I turned off system restore and re-booted in safe-mode. Did Hi-Jack-This scan and fixed all aaawebsearch entries. Re-booted in Normal mode and manually set system restore point. And sure enough, when I open IE the aaawebsearch is still my homepage. I have been at this for 5 hours, someone please help me, thanks.
HJT log:
Logfile of HijackThis v1.98.2
Scan saved at 3:25:50 AM, on 12/12/2004
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)
Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\LEXBCES.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\LEXPPS.EXE
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\Mixer.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_04\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech\QCDriver3\LVCOMS.EXE
C:\Program Files\Logitech\MouseWare\system\em_exec.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\navapw32.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\cli.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\xpsp2fw.exe
C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\CLI.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Dad\Desktop\HijackThis.exe
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer,SearchURL = http://aaawebsearch.com/?a=2
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer,SearchURL = http://aaawebsearch.com/?a=2
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://aaawebsearch.com/?a=2
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://aaawebsearch.com/?a=2
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://aaawebsearch.com/
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://aaawebsearch.com/?a=2
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://aaawebsearch.com/?a=2
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://aaawebsearch.com/?a=2
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://aaawebsearch.com/?a=2
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,SearchURL = http://aaawebsearch.com/?a=2
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,SearchURL = http://aaawebsearch.com/?a=2
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [C-Media Mixer] Mixer.exe /startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_04\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Logitech Utility] Logi_MwX.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LVCOMS] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech\QCDriver3\LVCOMS.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WyvernWorks Ad Away] "C:\Program Files\WyvernWorks\Ad Away 2004\Ad Away.exe" -minimized
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [FilterGate] C:\PROGRA~1\FILTER~1\filtergate.exe /ASK
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NAV Agent] C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\navapw32.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Symantec NetDriver Monitor] C:\PROGRA~1\SYMNET~1\SNDMon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATICCC] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\cli.exe" runtime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LifeScape Media Detector] C:\Program Files\Picasa\PicasaMediaDetector.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [XPSP2 Firewall] C:\WINDOWS\system32\xpsp2fw.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Windows Update Client ] C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuclient.exe
O4 - Global Startup: ATI CATALYST System Tray.lnk = C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\CLI.exe
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://v5.windowsupd...b?1095051526375
O16 - DPF: {74D05D43-3236-11D4-BDCD-00C04F9A3B61} (HouseCall Control) - http://a840.g.akamai...all/xscan53.cab
O16 - DPF: {9A9307A0-7DA4-4DAF-B042-5009F29E09E1} (ActiveScan Installer Class) - http://www.pandasoft.../as5/asinst.cab
O16 - DPF: {B38870E4-7ECB-40DA-8C6A-595F0A5519FF} (MsnMessengerSetupDownloadControl Class) - http://messenger.msn...pDownloader.cab
O16 - DPF: {CE28D5D2-60CF-4C7D-9FE8-0F47A3308078} (ActiveDataInfo Class) - https://www-secure.s...ta/SymAData.cab
O16 - DPF: {DF780F87-FF2B-4DF8-92D0-73DB16A1543A} (PopCapLoader Object) - http://zone.msn.com/...aploader_v5.cab
O16 - DPF: {E77C0D62-882A-456F-AD8F-7C6C9569B8C7} (ActiveDataObj Class) - https://www-secure.s.../ActiveData.cab
O16 - DPF: {F58E1CEF-A068-4C15-BA5E-587CAF3EE8C6} (MSN Chat Control 4.5) - http://chat.msn.com/bin/msnchat45.cab
Thanks a lot,
Finn