[Buckeye_Sam]

You can delete fixme.reg and you can hide hidden files again by just following these same instructions in reverse.

• Click Start -> My Computer
• Select Tools -> Folder options
• Select the View tab and make sure that 'Show hidden files and folders' (or 'Show all files') is enabled.
• Also make sure that 'Display the contents of system folders' is checked.
• Make sure "Hide extensions for known file types" is unchecked
• Make sure "Hide protected operating system files (recommended)" is unchecked

Now let's see if you have a bad driver.
Right click on My Computer and select Properties.
Click on the Hardware tab -> Device Manager.
Do you see any little yellow or red exclamation points next to anything?

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I didn't realize there was a second page to the thread!!!! I'm so sorry!!!! I deleted the fixme.reg, and the files are now hidden again. Thanks for the help.

As for the cd driver, there is a yellow exclamation point next to "Secondary IE Channel." I normally would teach myself and explore things, but instead of doing that, I'll be smart and let you tell me what to do. Thanks again Sam.

[NYIsles4]

I didn't realize there was a second page to the thread!!!! I'm so sorry!!!! I deleted the fixme.reg, and the files are now hidden again. Thanks for the help.

As for the cd driver, there is a yellow exclamation point next to "Secondary IE Channel." I normally would teach myself and explore things, but instead of doing that, I'll be smart and let you tell me what to do. Thanks again Sam.

[Buckeye_Sam]

That's our problem. Double click on Secondary IE Channel to bring up the Properties window. Now go to the Driver tab and click Update Driver. It will search for and install the driver again.

If you get a message that says you already have the best driver for this device, then I want you to click on the Uninstall Driver button. Then reboot your computer. Windows will automatically reinstall the driver for you.

Let me know how it goes.

[NYIsles4]

I had to uninstall it. When I rebooted, it told me it had found new hardware. I re-installed it, but then noticed another yellow exclamation point next to "QSI CDRW/DVD SBQ242U." I tried the same procedure with that twice and both times it was unable to re-installed, meaning there was still a yellow exclamation point next to it. A window popped up immediately after reboot saying:


Cannot Start This Hardware

There was a problem installing this hardware: CD-ROM Drive

Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is complete or damaged. (Code 19)


I'll leave it up to you from here.

[Buckeye_Sam]

Do you have a Windowx XP disc? If so, follow the directions here to complete a repair installation of Windows XP. This will restore your registry.

http://www.geekstogo...ws-XP-t138.html


If you don't have your disc, you can try this. Reboot into Safe mode and select "Last Known Good Configuration". This rolls back to the most recent successful registry configuration.

Let me know how it goes.

[NYIsles4]

The same message popped up, saying that the system found new hardware. However, I was unable to successfully install it. I don't have my windows XP disk...it's unfortunately at my grandma's house, not with me here in my college dorm. If the other method is the only other possibility, I'll wait until I get to Florida to visit my parents, where I'll have access to the internet on a different computer. I can post things like what happens, however I will be unable to post logs and such. I wont be able to do this until the 26th.

Edited by NYIsles4, 17 December 2005 - 08:52 PM.

[Buckeye_Sam]

Obviously this is no longer a malware issue. But in the interest of your time I wanted to help you as much as I could. However, you may want to start a thread in the hardware forum to see if there is another solution that I may have missed.

http://www.geekstogo...p?act=SF&s=&f=9

Either way, I'll be sure to keep this thread open for a couple weeks.

[NYIsles4]

OK Will do. I want to thank you so much for all of your help. Thank a lot and I'm sure if I have another malware problem I'll ask for you. If you want then you can label this thread as resolved. I'm sure the next thread I post in will give me similar information. Have a very happy/merry holidays. Thanks again Sam!!!!

[Buckeye_Sam]

You are welcome!

Now that you are clean, please follow these simple steps in order to keep your computer clean and secure:

• Disable and Enable System Restore. - If you are using Windows ME or XP then you should disable and reenable system restore to make sure there are no infected files found in a restore point left over from what we have just cleaned.
  
  You can find instructions on how to enable and reenable system restore here:
  
  Managing Windows Millenium System Restore
  
  or
  
  Windows XP System Restore Guide
  
  Renable system restore with instructions from tutorial above
  
  
• Make your Internet Explorer more secure - This can be done by following these simple instructions:
  • From within Internet Explorer click on the Tools menu and then click on Options.
  • Click once on the Security tab
  • Click once on the Internet icon so it becomes highlighted.
  • Click once on the Custom Level button.
    
    • Change the Download signed ActiveX controls to Prompt
    • Change the Download unsigned ActiveX controls to Disable
    • Change the Initialize and script ActiveX controls not marked as safe to Disable
    • Change the Installation of desktop items to Prompt
    • Change the Launching programs and files in an IFRAME to Prompt
    • Change the Navigate sub-frames across different domains to Prompt
    • When all these settings have been made, click on the OK button.
    • If it prompts you as to whether or not you want to save the settings, press the Yes button.
  • Next press the Apply button and then the OK to exit the Internet Properties page.
• Use an AntiVirus Software - It is very important that your computer has an anti-virus software running on your machine. This alone can save you a lot of trouble with malware in the future.
  
  See this link for a listing of some online & their stand-alone antivirus programs:
  
  Virus, Spyware, and Malware Protection and Removal Resources
  
  
• Update your AntiVirus Software - It is imperitive that you update your Antivirus software at least once a week (Even more if you wish). If you do not update your antivirus software then it will not be able to catch any of the new variants that may come out.
  
  
• Use a Firewall - I can not stress how important it is that you use a Firewall on your computer. Without a firewall your computer is succeptible to being hacked and taken over. I am very serious about this and see it happen almost every day with my clients. Simply using a Firewall in its default configuration can lower your risk greatly.
  
  For a tutorial on Firewalls and a listing of some available ones see the link below:
  
  Understanding and Using Firewalls
  
  
• Visit Microsoft's Windows Update Site Frequently - It is important that you visit http://www.windowsupdate.com regularly. This will ensure your computer has always the latest security updates available installed on your computer. If there are new updates to install, install them immediately, reboot your computer, and revisit the site until there are no more critical updates.
  
  
• Install Spybot - Search and Destroy - Install and download Spybot - Search and Destroy with its TeaTimer option. This will provide realtime spyware & hijacker protection on your computer alongside your virus protection. You should also scan your computer with program on a regular basis just as you would an antivirus software.
  
  A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
  
  Using Spybot - Search & Destroy to remove Spyware , Malware, and Hijackers
  
  
• Install Ad-Aware - Install and download Ad-Aware. ou should also scan your computer with program on a regular basis just as you would an antivirus software in conjunction with Spybot.
  
  A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
  
  Using Ad-aware to remove Spyware, Malware, & Hijackers from Your Computer
  
  
• Install SpywareBlaster - SpywareBlaster will added a large list of programs and sites into your Internet Explorer settings that will protect you from running and downloading known malicious programs.
  
  A tutorial on installing & using this product can be found here:
  
  Using SpywareBlaster to protect your computer from Spyware and Malware
  
  
• Update all these programs regularly - Make sure you update all the programs I have listed regularly. Without regular updates you WILL NOT be protected when new malicious programs are released.

Follow this list and your potential for being infected again will reduce dramatically.

[NYIsles4]

All done. Thanks again!!!

[Buckeye_Sam]

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.