Unable to remove a folder / url from favorite folder

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G

Guest

Hi All,
I have problem removing some url's and folder from the main favorite folder.
I tried right clicking my mouse but instead of getting a drop down menu it
pops up with a message 'close toolbar'.
Any idea / suggestion much appreciated

Regds

Mike
 
Sittingbull said:
Hi All,
I have problem removing some url's and folder from the main favorite
folder. I tried right clicking my mouse but instead of getting a drop
down menu it pops up with a message 'close toolbar'.
Any idea / suggestion much appreciated

Regds

Mike

First eliminate any scumware.
What You Should Know About Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/devioussoftware.mspx

CAUTION!!!!! Before you try to remove spyware using any of these programs ,
download a copy of LSPFIX from any of the following sites:
http://www.cexx.org/lspfix.htm
http://www.spychecker.com/program/winsockxpfix.html
(if your OS is Win2k or XP) The process of removing certain malware may kill
your internet connection. If this should occur, this program, LSPFIX, will
enable you to regain your connection.

See
Dealing with Unwanted Malware, Parasites, Toolbars and Search Engines
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

Note that AdAware and SpyBot S & D will each catch some things the other
won't. Also, each needs to be updated with the program's update function
before every use, even when just downloaded. There's also a lot more to do
than just those two programs. CWShredder is also available here:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/regs_edits/cwshredder.zip or
http://forum.aumha.org/downloads/cwshredder.zip
**Post your HijackThis log to
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/
http://forums.tomcoyote.org/
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/ or the Spyware forum at
http://forum.aumha.org/viewforum.php?f=30 for expert analysis, not here.**
Alternative download pages for Ad-Aware, Spybot, HijackThis and CWShredder
may be found on this page:
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm.


See this link for information about malware:
http://arstechnica.com/articles/paedia/malware.ars

If nothing there helps, please post back to this thread.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
 
Hi Sittingbull :-)

Try deleting the unwanted URL's and folders from the Favorites Folder from
the Windows Explorer. If you are not sure where your Favorites folder is,
just go to Start>Search>For Files or Folders>type Favorites in the search
window and click Search, then see where it comes up. Then you can go to the
folder and delete all the unwanted files. You may have to go to Safe Mode
to delete them.

How To Restart in Safe Mode
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2001052409420406


If you have not already done so, you may also want to clear the Temporary
Internet Files and Cookies to be sure those for the unwanted sites are
cleared out of the History files as well.

Safely Delete the Temporary Internet Files
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/delcache.htm

If these steps do not resolve your problem, or you need help with the above,
please post back to this thread with the details and any error messages.

Hope this helps

Jan :)
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Replies are posted only to the newsgroup for the benefit or other readers.
How to make a good newsgroup post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
 
Hi Jan Il :-)

Thanks for speedy response. I have tried to locate unwanted URL's and
folders as suggested but the search function cannot locate it. Its as if they
are 'invisible' to Windows, hence what it cant 'see' it cannot delete. I
suspect those urls and folders have been inserted by some applications. Does
folders like 'cool stuff' and 'online gaming' rings a bell ?

Best Regds

Mike
 
Hi Frank,
Thanks for replying. You could be right about the 'Scumware'. I will try to
download some freeware and run a check on my PC a bit later. Incidently, I
have tried suggestion from member regarding locating the url and folder but
the search function cannot locate it. Does 'cpol stuff' and 'online gaming'
rings a bell ?

Will update you all later.

Best Regds

Mike
 
Sittingbull said:
Hi Frank,
Thanks for replying. You could be right about the 'Scumware'. I will
try to download some freeware and run a check on my PC a bit later.
Incidently, I have tried suggestion from member regarding locating
the url and folder but the search function cannot locate it. Does
'cpol stuff' and 'online gaming' rings a bell ?

Will update you all later.

Best Regds

Mike

No.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
 
Hi Sittingbull :-)
Hi Jan Il :-)

Thanks for speedy response. I have tried to locate unwanted URL's and
folders as suggested but the search function cannot locate it. Its as if they
are 'invisible' to Windows, hence what it cant 'see' it cannot delete. I
suspect those urls and folders have been inserted by some applications. Does
folders like 'cool stuff' and 'online gaming' rings a bell ?

Sounds as if you do have scumware that has been loaded onto your system, as
Frank mentioned. Once you have cleaned your system, you may find that the
problems will be gone, or easily resolved. It sounds like a hijacker. There
are some variants that can replicate themselves repeatedly and continue to
return if they are not cleaned properly, so be sure to run the removal tools
from the Safe Mode, with Hidden files enabled so that they can't not hide,
and follow all the instructions carefully.

Also.....in addition to the removal information provided by Frank, you might
also try the following to make sure your sysem is totally clean:

Courtesy of Jim Byrd -

Download Sysclean.com, from Trend Micro, here:
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/dcs.asp along with the latest pattern
file, here:
http://www.trendmicro.com/download/pattern.asp
Be sure to read the "How-to" info here:
http://www.trendmicro.com/ftp/products/tsc/readme.txt
You might also want to get Art's updater, SYS-UP.Zip, here for future
updating of these: http://home.epix.net/~artnpeg/.
(If you download and use the updater from the beginning, it will
automatically handle downloading the other files. Place them in a dedicated
folder after appropriate unzipping, and then run. This scan may take a long
time, as Sysclean is VERY extensive and thorough

Hope this helps

Jan :)
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Replies are posted only to the newsgroup for the benefit or other readers.
How to make a good newsgroup post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
 
Hi Frank,
I have cleaned up my system using spybot and ad aware which speeded up my
system. Thats a plus, but I still couldnt remove the unwanted favorites which
hangs on like a stubborn stain. Any further suggestions is well appreciated.

Regds
 
Hi Jan Il :-)
Like I said to Frank, I have removed a lot of garbage using spybot and ad ad
aware but the unwanted favorites are still there. Any other suggestion is
appreciated

regds

Mike
 
Make sure you try CWShredder:
http://www.intermute.com/products/cwshredder.html
and HijackThis.
Go to: http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
Download "Hijack This!" [freeware]

Unzip, double-click "HijackThis.exe" and Press "Scan".

When the scan is finished, the "Scan" button will change into a "Save Log"
button.
Click: "Save Log" (generates: "hijackthis.log")

Next, go to the below location:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/

Sign in, go to the "Spyware and Hijackware Removal" section.
Press "New Topic" and post a description of your symptoms. If they need to
see your log they will ask for it.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
 
Hi Sittingbull :-)

OK...then let's take this from another aspect. It may be that, if you have
run all the removal tools properly and the problem still exists, then you
may have a corrupt Favorites folder, and that will have to be deleted and a
new on created. However, before doing so, you should create a folder on
your desktop called FavBackup, and copy all your favorites into the folder
on your desktop.

Then do the following:

Corrupt Favorites Folder:

Create a new Favorites folder as per the instructions here.
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/answers3.htm#favorites
(Note: There are other items here that might also apply)

If the problem persists after doing this, then you know that there is
nothing wrong with the folder, and there may still be some form of scumware
on your system which may require further action. If not, then you can copy
the links from the backup folder on the desktop, just the ones you want and
only a few at a time, to be sure that none of them are corrupted or bad,
testing as you go to make sure all is working properly, until you have all
the ones you want restored to the new folder. You can then delete the
backup folder on the desktop.

If you can not delete the folder from the Windows Explorer, then you will
need to manually delete the Favorites folder from the Safe Mode:

How to delete files or folders in Safe Mode

A Description of the Safe Mode Boot Options in Windows XP
This article discusses the several Safe Boot options that Windows supports.
These options load a minimal set of drivers. You can use these options to
start Windows so that you can modify the registry or load or remove drivers.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315222 (XP 11/5/2003)



Hope this helps

Jan :)
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Replies are posted only to the newsgroup for the benefit or other readers.
How to make a good newsgroup post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
 
Hi Jan Il :)
I think I have tracked down one of the culprit (there may be others).
searchweb2 is definitely lurking in my system. I took up Franks suggestion
and ran CWschreader without success. I have tried hijackthis and will post it
in their forum (my interpretation is limited by the tutorial). Any idea on
how Searchweb2 can be removed ? I briefly searched the web and I get the
impression that this is a tough nut to crack and TERMINAL. There are a number
of web sites that claim they have programs that could remove this, but I
need another opinion as whether they are genuine ones.

regds

Mike
 
Hi Frank :-)
Thanks for the tips. I ran cwshredder and it reported no problem. Tried
HijackThis and have obtained a log. My interpretation is limited by the
tutorial and will post it at the forum later.
I have managed to track down one of the culprits. Its possible that my
problems are caused by searchweb2. None of the tools I have tried to date
could remove it. I did a brief search on the web and the comments I have seen
is very discouraging. This 'thing' seems TERMINAL. Any further suggestion as
to what tools to use to remove it

Thks & Regds

Mike

Frank Saunders said:
Make sure you try CWShredder:
http://www.intermute.com/products/cwshredder.html
and HijackThis.
Go to: http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
Download "Hijack This!" [freeware]

Unzip, double-click "HijackThis.exe" and Press "Scan".

When the scan is finished, the "Scan" button will change into a "Save Log"
button.
Click: "Save Log" (generates: "hijackthis.log")

Next, go to the below location:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/

Sign in, go to the "Spyware and Hijackware Removal" section.
Press "New Topic" and post a description of your symptoms. If they need to
see your log they will ask for it.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx


Sittingbull said:
Hi Frank,
I have cleaned up my system using spybot and ad aware which speeded
up my system. Thats a plus, but I still couldnt remove the unwanted
favorites which hangs on like a stubborn stain. Any further
suggestions is well appreciated.

Regds
 
Sittingbull said:
Hi Frank :-)
Thanks for the tips. I ran cwshredder and it reported no problem.
Tried HijackThis and have obtained a log. My interpretation is
limited by the tutorial and will post it at the forum later.
I have managed to track down one of the culprits. Its possible that my
problems are caused by searchweb2. None of the tools I have tried to
date could remove it. I did a brief search on the web and the
comments I have seen is very discouraging. This 'thing' seems
TERMINAL. Any further suggestion as to what tools to use to remove it

Thks & Regds

Mike

I don't have any references for searchweb2. Sorry.
I think posting your HijackThis log to a proper forum is your best bet.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
 
Hello,
Did any of the suggestions given to you work? I have the exact same problem
and haven't been able to get rid of it so I thought I'd see how it worked out
for you.
Thanks!
 
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