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Um, help?

  
 
XXII:X:II = XXX
05:04 / 24.12.04
Never get high on your own supply. Relevant to the topic at hand, I've been told long enough by less savvy acquaintances that I have an enviable facility for the finer points of computers for a complete layperson. I tend to not think much of such praise, since I'd imagine most people roughly my age who've been using computers fairly regularly since 1983 know about the same amount. But sometimes it bites me on the ass to believe I know as much as I might when I get it into my head to troubleshoot.

Earlier this evening, during an hour in which I could not get online, I decided to take a stab at getting rid of whatever malicious programming is in my roommate's PC laptop (running Windows NT/2000) that causes a popup to pop up with just about every new window, in the process also getting rid of a warning that comes up whenever the PC boots up about the maximum registry size being too small. After a tour of some of the hard drive's back alleys, trashing (but not emptying) what I believed to be perfunctory files (ie, old installers, anything with the word "ActiveX" in it, etc.), I went into the registry and began deleting items that I also thought were trojans and the like (things with Gator.com in the title). In the process I deleted a folder called "ActiveX Cache," which I'd not intended to do, but I just shrugged and figured it amounted to the same thing as deleting everything in the folder; I also deleted other items that upon reflection might have been something other than I took them for. I looked for an "Undo" function within RegEdit, but none was forthcoming. Before I rebooted the PC, I noticed that while I could open folders on the desktop, I couldn't actually SEE their contents. Again, I just figgered this would likely self-correct after reboot.

BZZZZZT

So, I still can't see any of the contents of the folders on the Desktop, which means that if anything currently in the Trash could unfuck this I can't actually see it. Also, within Explorer, I cannot load up Hotmail, nor can I use what I think are Java-enabled buttons within Yahoo (I've not tested this theory at any other Java-dependent sites), even though I've specifically had Java boot up; hell, I don't even know whether this message will be able to post, though I assume since I was able to log in it will. I just tried a reboot and hit F8 to launch from the last good bootup state, but the current state seems good enough to the kernel system. I just completed a Windows AutoUpdate, which I'll try rebooting to activate, but lest anyone suggest the bright idea of using a system CD to boot, I should mention this is a refurbished PC and there is no such CD in the house.

My roommate is out of town until Sunday evening, so I'd like to have this back in at least the previous lesser state of decrepancy by the time of his return. Any assistance any of you might be able to lend would be greatly appreciated.

/+,
 
 
Less searchable M0rd4nt
06:41 / 24.12.04
I went into the registry and began deleting items that I also thought were trojans

--Italics mine. *Gives VJB a thick ear*
 
 
Triplets
06:59 / 24.12.04
Did you backup anything in the registry before you gave it a Total Recall job? If you did, this may help: linky!

linky 2!
 
 
XXII:X:II = XXX
07:08 / 24.12.04
No, no thought to backup, Triplets. Not much thought involved all around, I'd say.

I have been able to get onto Hotmail and desktop windows are working again since the earlier message; that could be thanks to the MS Update I d/led in the meantime. I'll have to give Yahoo a shot to see whether that's working yet. So this problem may have solved itself. I will keep you all up to date.

Thank you for the ear-thickening, MC; I'll gladly take that if I can avoid making my roommate's life, to say nothing of my own, more difficult.

/+,
 
 
Lurid Archive
14:33 / 24.12.04
Surely you can just re-install windows, and it will keep your data safe while repairing any system damage? That certainly works in XP - though you have to be careful that you don't tell it to do a clean install.
 
 
cusm
18:11 / 24.12.04
Absolutely the thing to do. If you have a system CD. Which you don't.
 
 
cusm
18:17 / 24.12.04
Now, to get rid of the popups and mire of spyware, you'll need some tools. Go get Adaware. When you're done with that, run Spybot Search And Destroy. Of course, the websitefor Spybot isn't loading today, so try one of these mirrors here or here.

Lastly, ditch IE and use Mozilla or Netscape, both of which have excellent java popup stoppers.

Good luck!
 
 
invisible_al
19:59 / 24.12.04
Think you're looking at at least a partial re-install, does Windows NT/2000 have a 'repair' function. But anyway you're looking at tracking down a spare copy of it, or getting someone with a large ammount of windows fu to come and have a look at it.

Oh and for stubborn spyware, if Ad-Aware and Spyware S&D can't get rid of it try Hijack This. Beware however, this helps you edit the registry, which is what got you into this mess in the first place. They advise you do a scan, back up stuff like the reigistry and then post the log file to one of the recommended Forums so they can tell you what you've got and how to get rid of it.
But anyway this is bolting the door after the horse has bolted so I'll shut up and wish you good luck.
 
 
XXII:X:II = XXX
05:38 / 25.12.04
Thank you folks for your help. The problems that I was most concerned about seem to have righted themselves, probably with the AutoUpdate downloaded from Microsoft. I have been able to get onto Yahoo, so whatever problems there may have been with Java appear to be gone, at least for the moment.

I will take into consideration all the suggestions for popup and spybot eradication, both on this machine and my sister's, which is even more buggy (perhaps it's telling that I regularly try to debug that one, too, though with her approval). You might think that it's primarily my roommate's concern about fixing the preexisting problems, but seeing as 99 times out of a 100 I am the one to use this laptop it's only fair that I be the one to try to fix whatever wear and tear I put on the poor thing.

/+,
 
  
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