ADWARE REMOVAL AFTERMATH

[Kevin]

I had some infected files removed from my system last night. The tech
informed me that because my system will not run ActiveX due to a corruption
from the adware/virus that I needed to contact my vendor to do a system file
scan and repair.

What are my options at this point? Do I need to re-install or repair Vista?
Will that correct the problem?

Appreciate any help. Thanks in advance

Kevin

 

[Hermann Andrason]

You should try the repair option first, if that doesn't work, try restoring
the computer to an older restore point. It's very unlikely that it will
solve this problem, since your system files are likely to be corrupted, but
worth a shot.

If everything else fails, there's always the ultimate solution to Win Errors
:

Format C:\ Y

 

[Charlie42]

I had some infected files removed from my system last night. The tech
informed me that because my system will not run ActiveX due to a
corruption
from the adware/virus that I needed to contact my vendor to do a system
file
scan and repair.

I believe what your techie mean was for you to use the System File Checker
Tool. It's a command line Windows app that can verify and repair corrupted
system files. Here's how to use it:

Open up a command prompt (Accessories menu), run as administrator:

Type:

sfc /verifyonly

This will give you the status of your system files. If there are errors,
type:

sfc /scannow

This will rescan and repair damaged system files. Keep your Windows
installation disk close, SFC might need files from it. To get further help
on how to use the tool, type:

sfc /?

What are my options at this point? Do I need to re-install or repair
Vista?
Will that correct the problem?

Don't go there just yet. Try System File Checker first, and report back to
this ng if that doesn't do the trick.

Charlie42

 

[Kevin]

I appreciate your help Charlie42. I ran the sfc repair and it was unable to
repair all files but it did correct a majority of my issues. I think I need
to boot up with the Windows CD and repair. My question is will this repair
overwrite all my programs and files...do I need to back up everything prior
to running this repair or should I just back up all my personal files and do
a clean install of Vista? Thanks in advance.

Kevin

 

[Charlie42]

I appreciate your help Charlie42. I ran the sfc repair and it was unable to
repair all files but it did correct a majority of my issues.

Did it stop at 98 or 99% ? If so, this is a known bug in Vista which does
not necessarily mean there are any further damaged files on your system.
Remaining issues can be found in the cbs log file, but if your system is now
up and running, I would not be too concerned.

I think I need
to boot up with the Windows CD and repair. My question is will this repair
overwrite all my programs and files...

No. Your third party software should be left untouched. The repair applies
to the OS, and you will probably have to redownload and install a bunch of
Windows updates after you have done the repair.

do I need to back up everything prior
to running this repair or should I just back up all my personal files and
do
a clean install of Vista?

I strongly recommend you back up whatever you can. If you are left with no
option but to do a clean install, you will also need the installers and/or
installation disks for your third party software.

Charlie42

 

[David]

Did it stop at 98 or 99% ? If so, this is a known bug in Vista which does
not necessarily mean there are any further damaged files on your system.
Remaining issues can be found in the cbs log file, but if your system is
now up and running, I would not be too concerned.


No. Your third party software should be left untouched. The repair applies
to the OS, and you will probably have to redownload and install a bunch of
Windows updates after you have done the repair.


I strongly recommend you back up whatever you can. If you are left with no
option but to do a clean install, you will also need the installers and/or
installation disks for your third party software.

Charlie42

I don't know about it being a known bug. If so, it was repaired by
installing SP1 RC1.
I was having problems with random program shutdowns, ie Media Player (for
example, and there were others) "encountered and error and will shut down."
SFC stopped at 98%, when I ran it. After installing SP1, the SFC completed
successfully and the random shutdown problem stopped for all programs where
it occurred.
Since I've not seen a fix for SFC listed amongst RC1's features, I assume
that something on my Vista installation had been corrupted and a repair
installation would have fixed it as well, but I don't know that for sure, of
course.

 

[Charlie42]

I don't know about it being a known bug. If so, it was repaired by
installing SP1 RC1.
I was having problems with random program shutdowns, ie Media Player (for
example, and there were others) "encountered and error and will shut
down." SFC stopped at 98%, when I ran it. After installing SP1, the SFC
completed successfully and the random shutdown problem stopped for all
programs where it occurred.

Since I've not seen a fix for SFC listed amongst RC1's features, I assume
that something on my Vista installation had been corrupted and a repair
installation would have fixed it as well, but I don't know that for sure,
of course.

This is MVP Kristian Kenney's post on the issue:

http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...366-6E527B0FBA67&lang=en&cr=US&sloc=en-us&p=1

According to him, SFC halting at 98-99% is caused by the USB related
KB941600 update.

I don't know if this applies to your machine, but if SFC now finishes at
100% without succesfully correcting all problems, then you must decide
wether to do a repair or leave things the way they are. If everything seems
to work, I suggest you leave it for now - you can always do a repair at a
later time. Of course, if you still experience random shutdowns and errors,
it's time to pick up the installation disk.

Charlie42

 

[David]

This is MVP Kristian Kenney's post on the issue:

http://www.microsoft.com/communitie...366-6E527B0FBA67&lang=en&cr=US&sloc=en-us&p=1

According to him, SFC halting at 98-99% is caused by the USB related
KB941600 update.

I don't know if this applies to your machine, but if SFC now finishes at
100% without succesfully correcting all problems, then you must decide
wether to do a repair or leave things the way they are. If everything
seems to work, I suggest you leave it for now - you can always do a repair
at a later time. Of course, if you still experience random shutdowns and
errors, it's time to pick up the installation disk.

Charlie42

Well, it went through 100% verified and then said that Windows Resource
Protections didn't find any violations. I guess that means there are no
problems to correct. Remember, I said that after I installed RC1 all the
problems with random shutdowns of applications went away.

BTW, that particular update was installed on my computer in November (& is
still there). I can't recall if the shut down and/or the scannow problem
started then, but KB941600 is residing on my system comfortably now.

 

[Charlie42]

Well, it went through 100% verified and then said that Windows Resource
Protections didn't find any violations. I guess that means there are no
problems to correct. Remember, I said that after I installed RC1 all the
problems with random shutdowns of applications went away.

Sounds good. And from what you are saying, it seems like SP1 has taken care
of the SFC issue. Thats is good news too.

BTW, that particular update was installed on my computer in November (& is
still there). I can't recall if the shut down and/or the scannow problem
started then, but KB941600 is residing on my system comfortably now.

I don't think the update had anything to do with it. It probably was the
cleanup operation, like you wrote in the OP.

Glad to hear things are working now.

Charlie42

 

[Mark]

Just wanted to thank you for very clear, concise instructions on the use of
sfc.
Such a simple procedure that clears up many user's problems.