[Resolved] explorer.exe is not starting on reboot

Hello Team,
Need your help to resolve problems with my laptop. On feb 4th, Malwarebytes Anti-Malaware found a trojan and removed them.

Registry Keys Infected:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\idid (Trojan.Sasfix) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell (Hijack.Shell) -> Bad: (Explorer.exe rundll32.exe mldq.ovo pweav) Good: (Explorer.exe) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.


But since then, I have seen lot of *.tmp files being created every 5 minutes in C:\windows\temp.

I have Symantec Client Firewall, Symantec Antivirus running on my machine.

None of the antivirus program is able to find any trojan.
When i boot my machine either in safe mood or regularly, explorer.exe is not starting.

The registry setting for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Shell is messsed up.
"Shell"=hex(184):45,78,70,6c,6f,72,65,72,2e,65,78,65


System Information:
IBM T42p laptop running windows XP Professional SP 2


Thank You.

Hello there, glitter



I'm Conspire, I'll be glad to help you with your computer problems.

Please observe these rules while we work:

• Read the entire procedure
• It is important to perform ALL actions in sequence.
• If you don't know, stop and ask! Don't keep going on.
• Please reply to this thread. Do not start a new topic.
• Stick with me till you're given the all clear.
• Remember, absence of symptoms does not mean the infection is all gone.
• Don't attempt to clean your computer with any tools other than the ones I ask you to use during the cleanup process.

Please be advised, as I am still in training, all my replies to you will be checked for accuracy by one of our experts to ensure that I am giving you the best possible advise.
This may cause a delay, but I will do my best to keep it as short as possible.

Please bear with me, I will post back to you as soon as I can.

IMPORTANT NOTE : Please do not delete anything unless instructed to.

From what I understand, your computer does not boot up properly with explorer.exe not loading? Does it tell you that the explorer is not loading? What do you see when you boot it up? (e.g. desktop, icons…) Are you accessing this forum through another computer?

Hello Conspire, When i boot my computer, I get a blank screen. I dont get any error message. Alt+ctrl+delete, brings up the Windows Task Manager. I start explorer.exe by clicking File - New Task. Once explorer.exe is started, i see all the icons on the desktop. All the applications work withoug any problem. But when i open IE or Firefox, i get lot of popups even with my popup blocker enabled. Right Now, i am accessing the forum another desktop computer. Thank You.

Hi,

[external image: Posted Image]
Download GMER Rootkit Scanner from here or here.

• Extract the contents of the zipped file to desktop.
• Double click GMER.exe. If asked to allow gmer.sys driver to load, please consent .
• If it gives you a warning about rootkit activity and asks if you want to run scan…click on NO.
  
  [external image: Posted Image]
  Click the image to enlarge it
  
• In the right panel, you will see several boxes that have been checked. Uncheck the following …
  • Sections
  • IAT/EAT
  • Drives/Partition other than Systemdrive (typically C:\)
  • Show All (don't miss this one)
• Then click the Scan button & wait for it to finish.
• Once done click on the [Save..] button, and in the File name area, type in "Gmer.txt" or it will save as a .log file which cannot be uploaded to your post.
  
• Save it where you can easily find it, such as your desktop, and attach it in your reply.

**Caution**
Rootkit scans often produce false positives. Do NOT take any action on any "<— ROOKIT" entries

===================================================

Please download DDS by sUBs from one of the following links and save it to your desktop.

• • DDS.scr
  • DDS.pif
• Disable any script blocking protection (How to Disable your Security Programs)
• Double click DDS icon to run the tool (may take up to 3 minutes to run)
• When done, DDS.txt will open.
• After a few moments, attach.txt will open in a second window.
• Save both reports to your desktop.

—————————————————

• Post the contents of the DDS.txt report in your next reply
• Attach the Attach.txt report to your post by scroling down to the Attachments area and then clicking Browse. Browse to where you saved the file, and click Open and then click UPLOAD.

===================================================

On your next reply please post :
DDS log
GMER log
If GMER doesn't run in normal mode, try running it on safe mode.

Good Day!

Do you still need any help on this?

Yes. I still need your help. While running GMER, i get error with some system files and was not able to save the GMER log. I got a blue screen complaining about rdbss.sys while shutting down the system . I will run dds and post the log Thank You.

attaching the output of GMER and dds scan.

Hello there,

***Read through this entire procedure and if you have any questions, please ask them before you begin. Then either print out, or copy this page to Notepad and save to your desktop for reference as you will not have any browsers open while you are carrying out portions of these instructions.

Multiple AntiVirus Running

I see you have more than one Anti-Virus program installed, ( Webroot ) and ( Symantec ).

While this may seem like greater protection, it can cause problems including slowdowns, system hangs or even crashes. This can happen if both AntiVirus applications attempt to access the same file at the same time. This may cause the applications to interfere with each other, or cause the system to lock up. It can also be a drain on system resources, making a machine run slower than it should.

Any reason why you installed Webroot? Did your Symantec (Norton) expire?

Any antivirus program must be removed via add/remove program.
For any program that doesn't have an add/remove entry, you will have to do this:

Re-install the program -> Reboot -> Uninstall


If you choose to uninstall Norton, also do this:

http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgen…005033108162039

Click on a link which describes the version you are using and follow the instructions.

===================================================

Download Combofix from any of the links below but rename it to ConspireCF before saving it to your desktop.

Link 1
Link 2


==================================

Double click on the renamed ComboFix.exe & follow the prompts.

• When finished, it will produce a report for you.
• Please post the C:\ComboFix.txt so we can continue cleaning the system.

• As part of it's process, ComboFix will check to see if the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console is installed. With malware infections being as they are today, it's strongly recommended to have this pre-installed on your machine before doing any malware removal. It will allow you to boot up into a special recovery/repair mode that will allow us to more easily help you should your computer have a problem after an attempted removal of malware.
• Follow the prompts to allow ComboFix to download and install the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console, and when prompted, agree to the End-User License Agreement to install the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console.

[external image: Posted Image]

Once the Microsoft Windows Recovery Console is installed using ComboFix, you should see the following message:


[external image: Posted Image]


Click on Yes, to continue scanning for malware.

When finished, it shall produce a log for you. Please include the C:\ComboFix.txt in your next reply for further review.

===================================================

On your next reply please post :
ComboFix log

Good Day!

Hello Conspire, I uninstalled webroot. I have symantec antivirus and firewall running on my machine now. Attaching the log from ComboFix. Thank You for your time.

After running ComboFix, now explorer.exe is starting on reboot :-)

Hi,

Re-run Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

• Double-click MalwareBytes' (Note to Vista users, please right-click and select Run as Administrator.)
  
  • Go to Update tab to update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
• Then click Check for Updates.
• If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
• Once the program has loaded, select Perform Quick Scan, then click Scan.
• When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
• Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
• When completed, a log will open in Notepad. Please copy and paste the log back into your next reply

Note:

• The log can also be found here:
  C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\mbam-log-date (time).txt
• Or via the Logs tab when Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is started.

Note: If MBAM encounters a file that is difficult to remove, you will be presented with 1 of 2 prompts.
Click OK to either and let MBAM proceed with the disinfection process.
If asked to restart the computer, please do so. Failure to reboot will prevent MBAM from removing all the malware.

===================================================

Eset online scannner

You can use either Internet Explorer or Mozilla FireFox for this scan.

Note: If you are using Windows Vista, open your browser by right-clicking on its icon and select 'Run as administrator' to perform this scan.

• Please go here then click on: [external image: Posted Image]
  

  Note: If using Mozilla Firefox you will need to download esetsmartinstaller_enu.exe when prompted then double click on it to install.
  All of the below instructions are compatible with either Internet Explorer or Mozilla FireFox.

• Select the option YES, I accept the Terms of Use then click on: [external image: Posted Image]
• When prompted allow the Add-On/Active X to install.
• Make sure that the option Remove found threats is NOT checked, and the option Scan archives is checked.
• Now click on Advanced Settings and select the following:

• • Scan for potentially unwanted applications
  • Scan for potentially unsafe applications
  • Enable Anti-Stealth Technology
• Now click on: [external image: Posted Image]
• The virus signature database… will begin to download. Be patient this make take some time depending on the speed of your Internet Connection.
• When completed the Online Scan will begin automatically.
• Do not touch either the Mouse or keyboard during the scan otherwise it may stall.
• When completed select Uninstall application on close if you so wish, make sure you copy the logfile first!
• Now click on: [external image: Posted Image]
• Use notepad to open the logfile located at C:\Program Files\ESET\EsetOnlineScanner\log.txt.
• Copy and paste that log as a reply to this topic.

===================================================

On your next reply please post :
MBAM log
ESET log

Good Day!

Attaching the mbam.log file. I ran Eset. But it didnt create the log.txt file in the location that you had mentioned.

Did ESET report anything? Locate the log at C:\Program Files\ESET\EsetOnlineScanner\log.txt.

Log from Eset online scanner. Thank You your time.