103 replies to this topic

[Juliet]

Im not sure I get the question? I am not using a mouse, I use my touch pad to scroll the pointer and it is working 98 % of the time correctly.

OK
98% of the time now?
better then it was, does that mean something we did has made an improvement?

[Chuck 1962]

 

 

My system denied write access to the host file. Wants me to edit the file myself? The HJT.

 

HJT will run anyways....just continue with that

 

As far windows updates,  I think the most simple way is to just click restart.

But I don't work off a Windows 8 machine so,  better I guess to use the way your most comfortable with or what works best for you.

 

When I run it anyways another error comes up....cannot find the C:\program files(x86)\HiJack This\Trend Micro\HiJackThis\hijackthis.logfile.

[Chuck 1962]

 

Im not sure I get the question? I am not using a mouse, I use my touch pad to scroll the pointer and it is working 98 % of the time correctly.

OK
98% of the time now?
better then it was, does that mean something we did has made an improvement?

 

Its better since the full reset.... Everything feels better... how do the logs look?

[Juliet]

Its better since the full reset.... Everything feels better... how do the logs look?

As far as I can tell they are OK,  was going to use HJT to see what startup items could be disabled.
 
we might can use a different tool. IF, it will work on WIndows 8.1


The below is a program that will help you identify and give choices if anything further or hidden can be disabled.

This program will identify startup entries that are unnecessary to be started at bootup. This will help free some memory.

• Download StartupLite.exe by MalwareBytes to your desktop.
• Double click on StartUpLite.exe to run it. If you are using Windows Vista, right click the icon and select Run As Administrator.
• A list of unecessary startup entries will be compiled.
• Take a read at the description of each and for most of them you probably won't need it please make sure there is a checkmark next to Disable.
• Leave all the items as Disabled and click Continue.
• Restart your computer once it's done.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What we can do now is run an online scan with Eset, for the time being it is our most trusted scanner.
Most reliable and thorough.
The settings I suggest will show us items located in quarantine folders so don't be alarmed with this, also, in case of a false positive I ask that you not allow it to delete what it does find.
This scanner can take quite a bit of time to run, depending of course how full your computer is.


Go here to run an online scannner from ESET. Windows Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8 users will need to right click on their Internet Explorer shortcut, and select Run as Administrator

• Note:
  For browsers other than Internet Explorer, you will be prompted to download and install esetsmartinstaller_enu.exe. Click on the link and save the file to a convenient location. Double click on it to install and a new window will open. Follow the prompts.
• Turn off the real time scanner of any existing antivirus program while performing the online scan. Here's how.
• Click the blue Run ESET Online Scanner button
• Tick the box next to YES, I accept the Terms of Use.
• Click Start
• When asked, allow the program to install the "OnlineScanner.cab" activex control by clicking the Install button
• Once the activex control is installed, on the next screen click on Enable detection of potentially unwanted applications
• Click on Advanced Settings
• Make sure that the option Remove found threats is unticked.
• Ensure these options are ticked
  • Scan archives
  • Scan for potentially unsafe applications
  • Enable Anti-Stealth technology
• Click Start
• Wait for the scan to finish
• When the scan is done, if it shows a screen that says "Threats found!", then click "List of found threats", and then click "Export to text file..."
• Save that text file on your desktop. Copy and paste the contents of that log as a reply to this topic.
• Close the ESET online scan.

*************************************

[Chuck 1962]

This doesnt look so bad to me...

C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell Backup and Recovery\Components\DBRUpdate\hstart.exe    a variant of Win32/HiddenStart.A potentially unsafe application
C:\Users\chuckanddona\Downloads\WeatherBugSetup(1).msi    a variant of Win32/Bundled.Toolbar.Ask potentially unsafe application
C:\Users\chuckanddona\Downloads\WeatherBugSetup.msi    a variant of Win32/Bundled.Toolbar.Ask potentially unsafe application
C:\Users\chuckanddonna\Downloads\spsetup127.exe    Win32/Bundled.Toolbar.Google.D potentially unsafe application

[Juliet]

C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell Backup and Recovery\Components\DBRUpdate\hstart.exe --> A potentially unsafe application
I don't go after this. Comes pre-installed on Dell computers and is on my own

C:\Users\chuckanddona\Downloads\WeatherBugSetup(1).msi a variant of Win32/Bundled.Toolbar.Ask potentially unsafe application
C:\Users\chuckanddona\Downloads\WeatherBugSetup.msi a variant of Win32/Bundled.Toolbar.Ask potentially unsafe application
C:\Users\chuckanddonna\Downloads\spsetup127.exe Win32/Bundled.Toolbar.Google.D potentially unsafe application

These I would remove. These are installers that came with bundled tools considered adware/malware and did not ask if you wanted installed along with what tool you were downloading. It's important to do custom installs and read thoroughly to opt out of these extras.



Open notepad. Please copy the contents of the quote box below. To do this highlight the contents of the box and right click on it and select copy.
Paste this into the open notepad. save it to the Desktop as fixlist.txt
NOTE. It's important that both files, FRST/FRST64 and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.
It needs to be saved Next to the "Farbar Recovery Scan Tool" (If asked to overwrite existing one please allow)

 

start
C:\Users\chuckanddona\Downloads\WeatherBugSetup(1).msi
C:\Users\chuckanddona\Downloads\WeatherBugSetup.msi
C:\Users\chuckanddonna\Downloads\spsetup127.exe
EmptyTemp:
End

Open FRST/FRST64 and press the Fix button just once and wait.
If for some reason the tool needs a restart, please make sure you let the system restart normally. After that let the tool complete its run.
When finished FRST will generate a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt). Please post it to your reply.

[appleoddity]

This is quite a thread.  In any large thread I usually enjoy throwing my two cents in and making things more complicated.

 

I would expect after a reset that things would be back to functioning normally again.  Although you would need a lot of updates, such as 8.1.  If the system is clear of malware then you should certainly be doing those updates right away.

 

I wanted to chime in in regards to the mouse though.  Again, thinking that the system has been reset and software / drivers should be ok.  It sounds as if the mouse issue is hardware related.  There is a problem that used to be present on Dell laptops that this reminds me of, but I haven't seen it in quite a while.  

 

At one point, it sounded as if you were using a mouse and not the touchpad?  If so, can you now plug the mouse in and does it behave normally?  My point is, does the problem only persist on the touchpad?  My next question is, are you using the original Dell power adapter that came with this laptop or did you replace it?  Dell's used to have an issue with knock off power supplies that caused the touchpad to do exactly what you are describing.  Unplug the power adapter, and while the system is running on battery the touchpad will work fine.  The problem is resolved by using the proper power adapter.

[Chuck 1962]

C:\Program Files (x86)\Dell Backup and Recovery\Components\DBRUpdate\hstart.exe --> A potentially unsafe application
I don't go after this. Comes pre-installed on Dell computers and is on my own

C:\Users\chuckanddona\Downloads\WeatherBugSetup(1).msi a variant of Win32/Bundled.Toolbar.Ask potentially unsafe application
C:\Users\chuckanddona\Downloads\WeatherBugSetup.msi a variant of Win32/Bundled.Toolbar.Ask potentially unsafe application
C:\Users\chuckanddonna\Downloads\spsetup127.exe Win32/Bundled.Toolbar.Google.D potentially unsafe application

These I would remove. These are installers that came with bundled tools considered adware/malware and did not ask if you wanted installed along with what tool you were downloading. It's important to do custom installs and read thoroughly to opt out of these extras.



Open notepad. Please copy the contents of the quote box below. To do this highlight the contents of the box and right click on it and select copy.
Paste this into the open notepad. save it to the Desktop as fixlist.txt
NOTE. It's important that both files, FRST/FRST64 and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.
It needs to be saved Next to the "Farbar Recovery Scan Tool" (If asked to overwrite existing one please allow)

 

start
C:\Users\chuckanddona\Downloads\WeatherBugSetup(1).msi
C:\Users\chuckanddona\Downloads\WeatherBugSetup.msi
C:\Users\chuckanddonna\Downloads\spsetup127.exe
EmptyTemp:
End

Open FRST/FRST64 and press the Fix button just once and wait.
If for some reason the tool needs a restart, please make sure you let the system restart normally. After that let the tool complete its run.
When finished FRST will generate a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt). Please post it to your reply.

 

Fix result of Farbar Recovery Tool (FRST written by Farbar) (x64) Version: 12-01-2015
Ran by chuckanddonna at 2015-01-13 20:35:13 Run:3
Running from C:\Users\chuckanddonna\Desktop
Loaded Profile: chuckanddonna (Available profiles: chuckanddonna)
Boot Mode: Normal
==============================================

Content of fixlist:
*****************
start
C:\Users\chuckanddona\Downloads\WeatherBugSetup(1).msi
C:\Users\chuckanddona\Downloads\WeatherBugSetup.msi
C:\Users\chuckanddonna\Downloads\spsetup127.exe
EmptyTemp:
End
*****************

"C:\Users\chuckanddona\Downloads\WeatherBugSetup(1).msi" => File/Directory not found.
"C:\Users\chuckanddona\Downloads\WeatherBugSetup.msi" => File/Directory not found.
"C:\Users\chuckanddonna\Downloads\spsetup127.exe" => File/Directory not found.
EmptyTemp: => Removed 16.6 MB temporary data.


The system needed a reboot.

==== End of Fixlog 20:36:15 ===

I did 2 scans, thought I did something wrong on the first try but it looks like it must have gone right, this is the log from the 2nd scan.

[Chuck 1962]

This is quite a thread.  In any large thread I usually enjoy throwing my two cents in and making things more complicated.

 

I would expect after a reset that things would be back to functioning normally again.  Although you would need a lot of updates, such as 8.1.  If the system is clear of malware then you should certainly be doing those updates right away.

 

I wanted to chime in in regards to the mouse though.  Again, thinking that the system has been reset and software / drivers should be ok.  It sounds as if the mouse issue is hardware related.  There is a problem that used to be present on Dell laptops that this reminds me of, but I haven't seen it in quite a while.  

 

At one point, it sounded as if you were using a mouse and not the touchpad?  If so, can you now plug the mouse in and does it behave normally?  My point is, does the problem only persist on the touchpad?  My next question is, are you using the original Dell power adapter that came with this laptop or did you replace it?  Dell's used to have an issue with knock off power supplies that caused the touchpad to do exactly what you are describing.  Unplug the power adapter, and while the system is running on battery the touchpad will work fine.  The problem is resolved by using the proper power adapter.

Correct, before the reset I was using a mouse because my touch pad had stopped working at all. I have not tried it yet since the touch pad has been basically fine now. I think I am using a dell certified plug cord. But as an experiment, the next time my pointer freezes I will unplug and see if it makes any difference. Next I have to work out what I am doing wrong with my Mozy restore. Question is now, will I be restoring corrupt files?

[Chuck 1962]

Qhahahaha.... Ready for this????? I got the Windows notice that my pc needed to restart to complete installation of windows 8.1 and it would take some time, 40 minutes or more, I gave permission. Everything went normal, did 100% of this and 100% of that etc... Seemed like it was getting close when I noticed a black screen and all the power lights off!? I manually restarted and it said an old version of windows was being installed then it said it couldn't start and needed to reset to an earlier time then it froze and sat there with the dell logo. Just now as Iwrite this from iPad it seems to be loading, not sure what happened or why or where I am now or if I have gone backwards since our last contact!?

[Chuck 1962]

Qhahahaha.... Ready for this????? I got the Windows notice that my pc needed to restart to complete installation of windows 8.1 and it would take some time, 40 minutes or more, I gave permission. Everything went normal, did 100% of this and 100% of that etc... Seemed like it was getting close when I noticed a black screen and all the power lights off!? I manually restarted and it said an old version of windows was being installed then it said it couldn't start and needed to reset to an earlier time then it froze and sat there with the dell logo. Just now as Iwrite this from iPad it seems to be loading, not sure what happened or why or where I am now or if I have gone backwards since our last contact!?

Okay, back on my lap top..... seems I am still on windows 8.0 and running like before.... not sure what happened to my 8.1 install? But all seems okay.

[Juliet]

I know I got no idea but let's see if we can check

This is what I know for windows 7 this link I"m including should be for Windows 8
http://windows.micro...s#1TC=windows-8

open Windows update, click on View update history
look for "failed updates" and see what the heck is going on.

[appleoddity]

The problem we have to deal with here is that no diagnostics have been performed to determine the health of the computer.  Several attempts have been made but as of yet nothing has been performed.

 

It's important that the hardware is checked out for problems, otherwise we are all wasting our time.

 

Please read here and follow the Dell provided instructions to run an Extended Test on your system: http://www.dell.com/...en/19/SLN129400

 

If you have trouble at first, keep trying.

[Chuck 1962]

I know I got no idea but let's see if we can check

This is what I know for windows 7 this link I"m including should be for Windows 8
http://windows.micro...s#1TC=windows-8

open Windows update, click on View update history
look for "failed updates" and see what the heck is going on.

I ran the troubleshooter. Said a couple of errors found and fixed. I tried to copy / paste them for you but didnt work. Said its okay to try the update again. Took a long time, so I will try to run it when I go to work in a couple of hours.

[Chuck 1962]

I found that Mozy restored all my files to folders instead of their original place. I think because I changed the spelling of the name of my laptop when I did the reset. Anyway, I am not sure how to get them from the folders back to the original places, IE my bookmarks and desk top etc...