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Spyware / Malware / Virus Removal

Strange processes running, laptop freezes and unstable

9 min read

This thread's last reply is from . Advice, software, and links below may be out of date — treat specific steps and download links with caution.

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Hi,

My HP dv4000 which is running Windows XP Home Edition has been unstable and keeps freezing. I have to constantly shut it down and restart. I was wondering if someone could give me advice especially since I'm pretty much a novice at this kind of stuff.

I ran AVG Anti-Spyware which removed a huge amount of spyware but the problem still exists. My Windows task manager shows some processes that I think could be the problem. Exolon.exe, and tpkextiA.exe. When I ran the spyware program, Dowloader.exe come up as a major threat and I removed it.

I downloaded Hijackthis and ran the program. Below is the log file. If anyone has any advise on what I should do I would really appreciate it!

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 6:19:32 PM, on 1/24/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.5730.0011)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\brsvc01a.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\brss01a.exe
C:\Program Files\Musicmatch\Musicmatch Jukebox\mm_tray.exe
C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\pptd40nt.exe
C:\Program Files\Brother\ControlCenter2\brctrcen.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\WDBtnMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\WDC\SetIcon.exe
C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\avgas.exe
C:\WINDOWS\tpkextiA.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Brother\Brmfcmon\BrMfcWnd.exe
C:\Program Files\Brother\Brmfcmon\BrMfimon.exe
C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\PcCtlCom.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\PcScnSrv.exe
C:\Program Files\Dantz\Retrospect\retrorun.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Dantz\RETROS~1\wdsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMAgent.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\Tmntsrv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\TmPfw.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\tmproxy.exe
C:\WINDOWS\tpkexti.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wbem\wmiapsrv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\PccGuide.exe
C:\Program Files\Exolon\Exolon.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\OUTLOOK.EXE
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\WINWORD.EXE
C:\Program Files\Hijackthis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://news.google.com/news?auth=DQAAAHEAA…aSEmuNptKpI2O0A
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://news.google.com/news?auth=DQAAAHEAA…aSEmuNptKpI2O0A
O2 - BHO: AssistantLibrary - {04CDB16C-AB38-43CD-A86A-6FEB90290939} - C:\Program Files\PadsysAssistant\AssistantLibrary.dll
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: BandBHO Class - {6CA1C00B-90FC-4F3E-911F-95306ABA43AA} - C:\Program Files\AdSponsor\AdSponsor.dll (file missing)
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MMTray] "C:\Program Files\Musicmatch\Musicmatch Jukebox\mm_tray.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SSBkgdUpdate] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Scansoft Shared\SSBkgdUpdate\SSBkgdupdate.exe" -Embedding -boot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PaperPort PTD] C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\pptd40nt.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IndexSearch] C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\IndexSearch.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ControlCenter2.0] C:\Program Files\Brother\ControlCenter2\brctrcen.exe /autorun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WD Button Manager] WDBtnMgr.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SetIcon] \Program Files\WDC\SetIcon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [!AVG Anti-Spyware] "C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\avgas.exe" /minimized
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [tpkextiA] C:\WINDOWS\tpkextiA.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Synchronizer.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\AdobeCollabSync.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Status Monitor.lnk = C:\Program Files\Brother\Brmfcmon\BrMfcWnd.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O11 - Options group: [INTERNATIONAL] International*
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TYPE=3&tp=iehome&locale=EN_US&c=Q106&bd=pavilion&pf=laptop
O16 - DPF: {05D44720-58E3-49E6-BDF6-D00330E511D3} (StagingUI Object) - http://zone.msn.com/binFrameWork/v10/StagingUI.cab46479.cab
O16 - DPF: {14C1B87C-3342-445F-9B5E-365FF330A3AC} (Hewlett-Packard Online Support Services) - http://h20278.www2.hp.com/HPISWeb/Customer…DataManager.CAB
O16 - DPF: {193C772A-87BE-4B19-A7BB-445B226FE9A1} (ewidoOnlineScan Control) - http://downloads.ewido.net/ewidoOnlineScan.cab
O16 - DPF: {200B3EE9-7242-4EFD-B1E4-D97EE825BA53} (VerifyGMN Class) - http://h20270.www2.hp.com/ediags/gmn/insta…staller_gmn.cab
O16 - DPF: {39B0684F-D7BF-4743-B050-FDC3F48F7E3B} (FilePlanet Download Control Class) - http://www.fileplanet.com/fpdlmgr/cabs/FPDC_2.3.3.102.cab
O16 - DPF: {3BB54395-5982-4788-8AF4-B5388FFDD0D8} (ZoneBuddy Class) - http://zone.msn.com/BinFrameWork/v10/ZBuddy.cab32846.cab
O16 - DPF: {49232000-16E4-426C-A231-62846947304B} (SysData Class) - http://ipgweb.cce.hp.com/rdqnbk/downloads/sysinfo.cab
O16 - DPF: {5736C456-EA94-4AAC-BB08-917ABDD035B3} (ZonePAChat Object) - http://zone.msn.com/binframework/v10/ZPAChat.cab32846.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/…b?1149121140728
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdat…b?1162170181875
O16 - DPF: {A8739816-022C-11D6-A85D-00C04F9AEAFB} (Web Camera Server Control) - http://138.89.254.141/wg_webeye.cab
O16 - DPF: {A93D84FD-641F-43AE-B963-E6FA84BE7FE7} (LinkSys Content Update) - http://www.linksysfix.com/netcheck/51/install/gtdownls.cab
O16 - DPF: {AB86CE53-AC9F-449F-9399-D8ABCA09EC09} (Get_ActiveX Control) - https://h17000.www1.hp.com/ewfrf-JAVA/Secur…loadManager.ocx
O16 - DPF: {B8BE5E93-A60C-4D26-A2DC-220313175592} (ZoneIntro Class) - http://cdn2.zone.msn.com/binFramework/v10/…ro.cab34246.cab
O16 - DPF: {CAC181B0-4D70-402D-B571-C596A47D0CE0} (CBankshotZoneCtrl Class) - http://zone.msn.com/bingame/zpagames/zpa_pool.cab42858.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - https://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shock…ash/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {D54160C3-DB7B-4534-9B65-190EE4A9C7F7} (SproutLauncherCtrl Class) - http://www.sonypictures.com/games/gamehous…outLauncher.cab
O16 - DPF: {DA2AA6CF-5C7A-4B71-BC3B-C771BB369937} (StadiumProxy Class) - http://zone.msn.com/binframework/v10/StProxy.cab41227.cab
O16 - DPF: {DBA230D1-8467-4e69-987E-5FAE815A3B45} -
O16 - DPF: {FF1CD9A3-00CD-45C1-8182-4EEC229A182D} (Plaxo Auto-Import Utility) - https://www.plaxo.com/activex/plx_upldr-2k-xp.cab
O18 - Filter: text/html - {994D478A-45D0-4DB4-AE28-738B1E346F99} - C:\Program Files\Exolon\Exolon.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: igfxcui - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\igfxdev.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O21 - SSODL: WPDShServiceObj - {AAA288BA-9A4C-45B0-95D7-94D524869DB5} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\WPDShServiceObj.dll
O23 - Service: AVG Anti-Spyware Guard - Anti-Malware Development a.s. - C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
O23 - Service: BrSplService (Brother XP spl Service) - brother Industries Ltd - C:\WINDOWS\system32\brsvc01a.exe
O23 - Service: iPodService - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: LightScribeService Direct Disc Labeling Service (LightScribeService) - Hewlett-Packard Company - C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Central Control Component (PcCtlCom) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\PcCtlCom.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Protection Against Spyware (PcScnSrv) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\PcScnSrv.exe
O23 - Service: Retrospect Launcher (RetroLauncher) - Dantz Development Corporation - C:\Program Files\Dantz\Retrospect\retrorun.exe
O23 - Service: Retrospect WD Service (RetroWDSvc) - Dantz Development Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\Dantz\RETROS~1\wdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: SoundMAX Agent Service (SoundMAX Agent Service (default)) - Analog Devices, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMAgent.exe
O23 - Service: TiVo Beacon (TivoBeacon2) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\TiVo Shared\Beacon\TiVoBeacon.exe" /service (file missing)
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Real-time Service (Tmntsrv) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\Tmntsrv.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Personal Firewall (TmPfw) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\TmPfw.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Proxy Service (tmproxy) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\tmproxy.exe
O23 - Service: Windows Overlay Components - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\tpkexti.exe
Hello smithduke and welcome to the TomCoyote Forums! :wavey:

It seems as though you have been infected with a dropper trojan. Droppers usually serve as a gateway for other malware to get installed. They will silently connect and install other baddies and the problem can get worse and worse as time goes by. So while we are fixing this, I would advise you to stay offline as much as possible to avoid more stuff getting installed until the dropper has been successfully removed.

The dropper has installed itself as a service as seen here:

O23 - Service: Windows Overlay Components - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\tpkexti.exe

It also has an associated startup entry as seen here:

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [tpkextiA] C:\WINDOWS\tpkextiA.exe

What we'll first try is to disable the service.

If you are comfortable with the procedure, this can be done by going to Start - Run and typing "services.msc" without the quotes and pressing enter.
This will open up the services manager. Find the service named Windows Overlay Components and double click it. This will open up the properties window of the selected service. Press the Stop button to stop the service and change the Startup Type to disabled.

Then, open Hijack This and scan.

With no other windows open, have it fix the following lines by putting a check in their respective boxes and hitting fix checked.

O2 - BHO: AssistantLibrary - {04CDB16C-AB38-43CD-A86A-6FEB90290939} - C:\Program Files\PadsysAssistant\AssistantLibrary.dll
O2 - BHO: BandBHO Class - {6CA1C00B-90FC-4F3E-911F-95306ABA43AA} - C:\Program Files\AdSponsor\AdSponsor.dll (file missing)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [tpkextiA] C:\WINDOWS\tpkextiA.exe
O18 - Filter: text/html - {994D478A-45D0-4DB4-AE28-738B1E346F99} - C:\Program Files\Exolon\Exolon.dll


The service will still be listed, but it should be inactive once you set the startup type to disabled and stopped it manually. We will get rid of it once you are successful with these instructions.

Once that is done, restart the computer and find and delete these files and/or folders:

C:\Program Files\PadsysAssistant\ C:\Program Files\AdSponsor\ C:\Program Files\Exolon\ C:\WINDOWS\tpkextiA.exe C:\WINDOWS\tpkexti.exe

Then rescan with Hijack This and post a new log. Tell me how things are running also.

Good luck,

Galadriel
Galadriel, thanks so much for responding! I feel comfortable with your instructions but I have one question. I believe Exolon.exe is part of my GameTap program. Should I still fix it?
You're awesome! Thanks again. I'll let you know how things are working!


Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 8:08:22 PM, on 1/25/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.5730.0011)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\brsvc01a.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\brss01a.exe
C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\PcCtlCom.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\PcScnSrv.exe
C:\Program Files\Dantz\Retrospect\retrorun.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Dantz\RETROS~1\wdsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMAgent.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\TiVo Shared\Beacon\TiVoBeacon.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\Tmntsrv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\TmPfw.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\tmproxy.exe
C:\Program Files\Musicmatch\Musicmatch Jukebox\mm_tray.exe
C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\pptd40nt.exe
C:\Program Files\Brother\ControlCenter2\brctrcen.exe
C:\Program Files\WDC\SetIcon.exe
C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\avgas.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\PccGuide.exe
C:\Program Files\Hijackthis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://news.google.com/news?auth=DQAAAHEAA…aSEmuNptKpI2O0A
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://news.google.com/news?auth=DQAAAHEAA…aSEmuNptKpI2O0A
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MMTray] "C:\Program Files\Musicmatch\Musicmatch Jukebox\mm_tray.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SSBkgdUpdate] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Scansoft Shared\SSBkgdUpdate\SSBkgdupdate.exe" -Embedding -boot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PaperPort PTD] C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\pptd40nt.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IndexSearch] C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\IndexSearch.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ControlCenter2.0] C:\Program Files\Brother\ControlCenter2\brctrcen.exe /autorun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SetIcon] \Program Files\WDC\SetIcon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [!AVG Anti-Spyware] "C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\avgas.exe" /minimized
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Synchronizer.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\AdobeCollabSync.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Status Monitor.lnk = C:\Program Files\Brother\Brmfcmon\BrMfcWnd.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_09\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O11 - Options group: [INTERNATIONAL] International*
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TYPE=3&tp=iehome&locale=EN_US&c=Q106&bd=pavilion&pf=laptop
O16 - DPF: {05D44720-58E3-49E6-BDF6-D00330E511D3} (StagingUI Object) - http://zone.msn.com/binFrameWork/v10/StagingUI.cab46479.cab
O16 - DPF: {14C1B87C-3342-445F-9B5E-365FF330A3AC} (Hewlett-Packard Online Support Services) - http://h20278.www2.hp.com/HPISWeb/Customer…DataManager.CAB
O16 - DPF: {193C772A-87BE-4B19-A7BB-445B226FE9A1} (ewidoOnlineScan Control) - http://downloads.ewido.net/ewidoOnlineScan.cab
O16 - DPF: {200B3EE9-7242-4EFD-B1E4-D97EE825BA53} (VerifyGMN Class) - http://h20270.www2.hp.com/ediags/gmn/insta…staller_gmn.cab
O16 - DPF: {39B0684F-D7BF-4743-B050-FDC3F48F7E3B} (FilePlanet Download Control Class) - http://www.fileplanet.com/fpdlmgr/cabs/FPDC_2.3.3.102.cab
O16 - DPF: {3BB54395-5982-4788-8AF4-B5388FFDD0D8} (ZoneBuddy Class) - http://zone.msn.com/BinFrameWork/v10/ZBuddy.cab32846.cab
O16 - DPF: {49232000-16E4-426C-A231-62846947304B} (SysData Class) - http://ipgweb.cce.hp.com/rdqnbk/downloads/sysinfo.cab
O16 - DPF: {5736C456-EA94-4AAC-BB08-917ABDD035B3} (ZonePAChat Object) - http://zone.msn.com/binframework/v10/ZPAChat.cab32846.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/…b?1149121140728
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdat…b?1162170181875
O16 - DPF: {A8739816-022C-11D6-A85D-00C04F9AEAFB} (Web Camera Server Control) - http://138.89.254.141/wg_webeye.cab
O16 - DPF: {A93D84FD-641F-43AE-B963-E6FA84BE7FE7} (LinkSys Content Update) - http://www.linksysfix.com/netcheck/51/install/gtdownls.cab
O16 - DPF: {AB86CE53-AC9F-449F-9399-D8ABCA09EC09} (Get_ActiveX Control) - https://h17000.www1.hp.com/ewfrf-JAVA/Secur…loadManager.ocx
O16 - DPF: {B8BE5E93-A60C-4D26-A2DC-220313175592} (ZoneIntro Class) - http://cdn2.zone.msn.com/binFramework/v10/…ro.cab34246.cab
O16 - DPF: {CAC181B0-4D70-402D-B571-C596A47D0CE0} (CBankshotZoneCtrl Class) - http://zone.msn.com/bingame/zpagames/zpa_pool.cab42858.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - https://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shock…ash/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {D54160C3-DB7B-4534-9B65-190EE4A9C7F7} (SproutLauncherCtrl Class) - http://www.sonypictures.com/games/gamehous…outLauncher.cab
O16 - DPF: {DA2AA6CF-5C7A-4B71-BC3B-C771BB369937} (StadiumProxy Class) - http://zone.msn.com/binframework/v10/StProxy.cab41227.cab
O16 - DPF: {DBA230D1-8467-4e69-987E-5FAE815A3B45} -
O16 - DPF: {FF1CD9A3-00CD-45C1-8182-4EEC229A182D} (Plaxo Auto-Import Utility) - https://www.plaxo.com/activex/plx_upldr-2k-xp.cab
O20 - Winlogon Notify: igfxcui - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\igfxdev.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O21 - SSODL: WPDShServiceObj - {AAA288BA-9A4C-45B0-95D7-94D524869DB5} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\WPDShServiceObj.dll
O23 - Service: AVG Anti-Spyware Guard - Anti-Malware Development a.s. - C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
O23 - Service: BrSplService (Brother XP spl Service) - brother Industries Ltd - C:\WINDOWS\system32\brsvc01a.exe
O23 - Service: iPodService - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: LightScribeService Direct Disc Labeling Service (LightScribeService) - Hewlett-Packard Company - C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Central Control Component (PcCtlCom) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\PcCtlCom.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Protection Against Spyware (PcScnSrv) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\PcScnSrv.exe
O23 - Service: Retrospect Launcher (RetroLauncher) - Dantz Development Corporation - C:\Program Files\Dantz\Retrospect\retrorun.exe
O23 - Service: Retrospect WD Service (RetroWDSvc) - Dantz Development Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\Dantz\RETROS~1\wdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: SoundMAX Agent Service (SoundMAX Agent Service (default)) - Analog Devices, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMAgent.exe
O23 - Service: TiVo Beacon (TivoBeacon2) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\TiVo Shared\Beacon\TiVoBeacon.exe" /service (file missing)
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Real-time Service (Tmntsrv) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\Tmntsrv.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Personal Firewall (TmPfw) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\TmPfw.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Proxy Service (tmproxy) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\tmproxy.exe

Galadriel, thanks so much for responding! I feel comfortable with your instructions but I have one question. I believe Exolon.exe is part of my GameTap program. Should I still fix it?


If you know what it is, then leave it be. I see you fixed it from the log.

I'm suspicious of that program, but like I said, if you know what it is we can leave it. What I would like you to do though, is to go to VirusTotal and upload both Exolon.exe and Exolon.dll and see what the results are. At the top of the VirusTotal window there is a small text box and a "browse" button. Navigate to the Program Files/Exolon folder and do both of em. I believe it will only do one at a time, so you may have to repeat the process for the other file. Once it is done scanning, copy and paste the results here. In the meantime, hold on to the zip…

Now, the service which you disabled, is still in the service list. To remove it, we can use a tool in Hijack This.
Open Hijack This and just choose to run the program (don't do a scan, we don't need the scan for this). In the bottom right corner of the program is a button labeled "Config…" Click that button and choose Misc Tools from the options at the top.
Under System Tools look for the "Delete an NT Service" and click it. Copy and paste this into the box:
Windows Overlay Components and hit ok.

Once you are done with this, you may want to update your java as the version you have installed as several vulnerabilities.
You should download the installer first and before you install it, uninstall the previous version using Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel.
See this blog entry for more info on how to do this.

Also make sure that you have all the latest critical updates by going to Windows Update.
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

And do report back on how things are going with the computer now.

Regards,

Galadriel
Galadriel, Here are the results of the VirusTotal. My system seems better but I'm still having a problem with it freezing. I'll continue with the rest of your instructions but I just wanted to get results from VirusTotal. Thanks again. Complete scanning result of "Exolon.exe", received in VirusTotal at 01.27.2007, 02:44:18 (CET). Antivirus Version Update Result AntiVir 7.3.0.32 01.27.2007 no virus found Authentium 4.93.8 01.26.2007 no virus found Avast 4.7.936.0 01.27.2007 no virus found AVG 386 01.26.2007 no virus found BitDefender 7.2 01.27.2007 Adware.CASClient.H CAT-QuickHeal 9.00 01.26.2007 no virus found ClamAV devel-20060426 01.26.2007 no virus found DrWeb 4.33 01.26.2007 no virus found eSafe 7.0.14.0 01.26.2007 no virus found eTrust-InoculateIT 23.73.124 01.26.2007 no virus found eTrust-Vet 30.3.3353 01.27.2007 no virus found Ewido 4.0 01.26.2007 no virus found Fortinet 2.85.0.0 01.27.2007 no virus found F-Prot 4.2.1.29 01.26.2007 no virus found Ikarus T3.1.0.27 01.26.2007 no virus found Kaspersky 4.0.2.24 01.27.2007 not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.CASClient.t McAfee 4950 01.26.2007 no virus found Microsoft 1.2101 01.27.2007 Transponder.NewAd1 NOD32v2 2010 01.26.2007 no virus found Norman 5.80.02 01.26.2007 no virus found Panda 9.0.0.4 01.26.2007 Suspicious file Prevx1 V2 01.27.2007 no virus found Sophos 4.13.0 01.24.2007 no virus found Sunbelt 2.2.907.0 01.26.2007 no virus found TheHacker [removed] 01.26.2007 no virus found UNA 1.83 01.26.2007 no virus found VBA32 3.11.2 01.27.2007 no virus found VirusBuster 4.3.19:9 01.26.2007 no virus found Aditional Information File size: 241664 bytes MD5: 86623dfe269b614283ab0a8650ab973a SHA1: 7686a97b41e4368a0f6bdad2cdeb7787635353cd ___________________________________________________________ Complete scanning result of "Exolon.dll", received in VirusTotal at 01.27.2007, 02:51:58 (CET). Antivirus Version Update Result AntiVir 7.3.0.32 01.27.2007 no virus found Authentium 4.93.8 01.26.2007 no virus found Avast 4.7.936.0 01.27.2007 no virus found AVG 386 01.26.2007 no virus found BitDefender 7.2 01.27.2007 Adware.CASClient.H CAT-QuickHeal 9.00 01.26.2007 no virus found ClamAV devel-20060426 01.26.2007 no virus found DrWeb 4.33 01.26.2007 no virus found eSafe 7.0.14.0 01.26.2007 no virus found eTrust-InoculateIT 23.73.126 01.27.2007 no virus found eTrust-Vet 30.3.3353 01.27.2007 no virus found Ewido 4.0 01.26.2007 no virus found Fortinet 2.85.0.0 01.27.2007 no virus found F-Prot 4.2.1.29 01.26.2007 no virus found Ikarus T3.1.0.27 01.26.2007 no virus found Kaspersky 4.0.2.24 01.27.2007 not-a-virus:AdWare.Win32.CASClient.t McAfee 4950 01.26.2007 no virus found Microsoft 1.2101 01.27.2007 ICanNews.CMapp NOD32v2 2010 01.26.2007 no virus found Norman 5.80.02 01.26.2007 no virus found Panda 9.0.0.4 01.26.2007 Suspicious file Prevx1 V2 01.27.2007 no virus found Sophos 4.13.0 01.24.2007 no virus found Sunbelt 2.2.907.0 01.26.2007 no virus found TheHacker [removed] 01.26.2007 no virus found UNA 1.83 01.26.2007 no virus found VBA32 3.11.2 01.27.2007 no virus found VirusBuster 4.3.19:9 01.26.2007 no virus found
Well according to those results, and also according to the info I was able to find (which was not much), it is a relatively new one. And it is suspicious. Kaspersky and BitDefender both flag it as one of the transponder family. The transponder family of adware is a pretty big one and it usually is a program that will show you ads at different intervals (pop-ups). So if you think it is related to your GameTap software, perhaps you should leave it but keep a close eye on it. If it starts acting up, try to disable it again.
Note that some adware applications that come bundled in with other programs may cause the host program to stop working if removed. If this happens and you really need the app, just uninstall and reinstall it with the bundle.

Also, you might want to run maintenance. ATF-Cleaner is a very small and easy to use "dust bunny" remover. (Internet Temp files, cookies and so on).

A Defrag might not be a bad idea if you have not done so in a long time.

You also might want to flush your system restore points as they will not be clean. You can do this by turning it off, rebooting and turning it back on, creating a new restore point after that.

To turn it off and on, right-click on "My Computer" - select "Properties". Click the System Restore Tab. Put a check in the "Turn off System Restore on all drives" checkbox and hit apply. Restart the computer. Then go back to the System Restore tab and uncheck it, hit apply. Then go to the System Restore function by going to Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - System Restore and follow the prompts to create a new restore point.

Let me know how it's going after that.
Everything seems to be working fine although after turning on my computer this morning Trend Micro had a unstable system recovery. I tried running GameTap to see if it would work without exolon and so far it works perfectly. I know I keep thanking you but you've really helped me out so much and it's greatly appreciated! I was at the point of reformatting my hardrive, which I no longer need to do. :D
smithduke,

If you're still following this topic, I'd like you to go to this forum and start a new topic there. http://www.thespykiller.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=1.0
You do not need to register for this. Name the topic "Exolon" and post a link back to this topic here in the body of the message so the experts know where it is from. You will have the ability to browse your computer to attach the file. Do so please.
Experts and researchers will then have access to the file you submit for analysis and eventual detection (or improvement of).
You will not see the attached file though. Only researchers will see it. I'll take a look once you do.

Please post here when you have done so.

Regards,
Hi Galadriel,

Sorry to bother you again but for some reason I got tpkextia.exe again. I've followed your advice on how to prevent this from happening. I have my cookies deleted each time I close Mozilla Firefox and I've been scanning regularly. Today I downloaded Ad-Aware and it found tons of spyware, malware etc. Suddenly, I started getting system restore from Trend Pc-cillin and not being able to connect online. When I did a Hijackthis scan, surprise, it came up again.

In addition, the scan I send you previously didn't show everything because I had chosen to do a selective startup. I did that because I thought it would help with my issues but had forgotten to go back to normal startup. Did that affect the scan outcome?

Any suggestions? Thanks

My scan results:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 5:20:58 PM, on 2/1/2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.5730.0011)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\brsvc01a.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\brss01a.exe
C:\Program Files\Musicmatch\Musicmatch Jukebox\mm_tray.exe
C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\pptd40nt.exe
C:\Program Files\Brother\ControlCenter2\brctrcen.exe
C:\Program Files\WDC\SetIcon.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\jusched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\tpkextiA.exe
C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMax4PNP.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
C:\Program Files\HPQ\Quick Launch Buttons\EabServr.exe
C:\Program Files\Apoint2K\Apoint.exe
C:\WINDOWS\AGRSMMSG.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\TiVo Shared\Transfer\TiVoTransfer.exe
C:\Program Files\TiVo\Desktop\TiVoServer.exe
C:\Program Files\TiVo\Desktop\TiVoNotify.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\PANICW~1\POP-UP~1\POPUPS~1.EXE
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security 2007\TMAS_OE\TMAS_OEMon.exe
C:\Program Files\CNN Pipeline\CNN.VideoNet.App.exe
C:\Program Files\Palm\Hotsync.exe
C:\Program Files\Apoint2K\Apntex.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\PcCtlCom.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\PcScnSrv.exe
C:\Program Files\Dantz\Retrospect\retrorun.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Dantz\RETROS~1\wdsvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMAgent.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\TiVo Shared\Beacon\TiVoBeacon.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\Tmntsrv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\TmPfw.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\tmproxy.exe
C:\Program Files\Brother\Brmfcmon\brmfcwnd.exe
C:\Program Files\Brother\Brmfcmon\BrMfimon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxsrvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\Hijackthis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://news.google.com/news?auth=DQAAAHEAA…aSEmuNptKpI2O0A
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://news.google.com/news?auth=DQAAAHEAA…aSEmuNptKpI2O0A
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: SSVHelper Class - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\ssv.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MMTray] "C:\Program Files\Musicmatch\Musicmatch Jukebox\mm_tray.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SSBkgdUpdate] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Scansoft Shared\SSBkgdUpdate\SSBkgdupdate.exe" -Embedding -boot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [PaperPort PTD] C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\pptd40nt.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IndexSearch] C:\Program Files\ScanSoft\PaperPort\IndexSearch.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ControlCenter2.0] C:\Program Files\Brother\ControlCenter2\brctrcen.exe /autorun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SetIcon] \Program Files\WDC\SetIcon.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [tpkextiA] C:\WINDOWS\tpkextiA.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMAXPnP] C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMax4PNP.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SoundMAX] C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\Smax4.exe /tray
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [pccguide.exe] "C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security 2007\pccguide.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [igfxtray] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [igfxpers] C:\WINDOWS\system32\igfxpers.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [igfxhkcmd] C:\WINDOWS\system32\hkcmd.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [eabconfg.cpl] C:\Program Files\HPQ\Quick Launch Buttons\EabServr.exe /Start
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Apoint] C:\Program Files\Apoint2K\Apoint.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AGRSMMSG] AGRSMMSG.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [TivoTransfer] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\TiVo Shared\Transfer\TiVoTransfer.exe" /service /registry /auto:TivoTransfer
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [TivoServer] "C:\Program Files\TiVo\Desktop\TiVoServer.exe" /service /registry /auto:TivoServer
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [TivoNotify] "C:\Program Files\TiVo\Desktop\TiVoNotify.exe" /service /registry /auto:TivoNotify
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [RoboForm] "C:\Program Files\Siber Systems\AI RoboForm\RoboTaskBarIcon.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [PopUpStopperProfessional] "C:\PROGRA~1\PANICW~1\POP-UP~1\POPUPS~1.EXE"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [OE] "C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security 2007\TMAS_OE\TMAS_OEMon.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DW4] "C:\Program Files\The Weather Channel FW\Desktop Weather\DesktopWeather.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CNN.Pipeline.Alerter] "C:\Program Files\CNN Pipeline\CNN.VideoNet.App.exe" /cnndriver:startapp alerter
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Synchronizer.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\AdobeCollabSync.exe
O4 - Global Startup: HOTSYNCSHORTCUTNAME.lnk = C:\Program Files\Palm\Hotsync.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Status Monitor.lnk = C:\Program Files\Brother\Brmfcmon\BrMfcWnd.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O11 - Options group: [INTERNATIONAL] International*
O14 - IERESET.INF: START_PAGE_URL=http://ie.redirect.hp.com/svs/rdr?TYPE=3&tp=iehome&locale=EN_US&c=Q106&bd=pavilion&pf=laptop
O16 - DPF: {05D44720-58E3-49E6-BDF6-D00330E511D3} (StagingUI Object) - http://zone.msn.com/binFrameWork/v10/StagingUI.cab46479.cab
O16 - DPF: {14C1B87C-3342-445F-9B5E-365FF330A3AC} (Hewlett-Packard Online Support Services) - http://h20278.www2.hp.com/HPISWeb/Customer…DataManager.CAB
O16 - DPF: {193C772A-87BE-4B19-A7BB-445B226FE9A1} (ewidoOnlineScan Control) - http://downloads.ewido.net/ewidoOnlineScan.cab
O16 - DPF: {200B3EE9-7242-4EFD-B1E4-D97EE825BA53} (VerifyGMN Class) - http://h20270.www2.hp.com/ediags/gmn/insta…staller_gmn.cab
O16 - DPF: {39B0684F-D7BF-4743-B050-FDC3F48F7E3B} (FilePlanet Download Control Class) - http://www.fileplanet.com/fpdlmgr/cabs/FPDC_2.3.3.102.cab
O16 - DPF: {3BB54395-5982-4788-8AF4-B5388FFDD0D8} (ZoneBuddy Class) - http://zone.msn.com/BinFrameWork/v10/ZBuddy.cab32846.cab
O16 - DPF: {49232000-16E4-426C-A231-62846947304B} (SysData Class) - http://ipgweb.cce.hp.com/rdqnbk/downloads/sysinfo.cab
O16 - DPF: {5736C456-EA94-4AAC-BB08-917ABDD035B3} (ZonePAChat Object) - http://zone.msn.com/binframework/v10/ZPAChat.cab32846.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/…b?1149121140728
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdat…b?1162170181875
O16 - DPF: {A8739816-022C-11D6-A85D-00C04F9AEAFB} (Web Camera Server Control) - http://138.89.254.141/wg_webeye.cab
O16 - DPF: {A93D84FD-641F-43AE-B963-E6FA84BE7FE7} (LinkSys Content Update) - http://www.linksysfix.com/netcheck/51/install/gtdownls.cab
O16 - DPF: {AB86CE53-AC9F-449F-9399-D8ABCA09EC09} (Get_ActiveX Control) - https://h17000.www1.hp.com/ewfrf-JAVA/Secur…loadManager.ocx
O16 - DPF: {B8BE5E93-A60C-4D26-A2DC-220313175592} (ZoneIntro Class) - http://cdn2.zone.msn.com/binFramework/v10/…ro.cab34246.cab
O16 - DPF: {CAC181B0-4D70-402D-B571-C596A47D0CE0} (CBankshotZoneCtrl Class) - http://zone.msn.com/bingame/zpagames/zpa_pool.cab42858.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - https://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shock…ash/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {D54160C3-DB7B-4534-9B65-190EE4A9C7F7} (SproutLauncherCtrl Class) - http://www.sonypictures.com/games/gamehous…outLauncher.cab
O16 - DPF: {DA2AA6CF-5C7A-4B71-BC3B-C771BB369937} (StadiumProxy Class) - http://zone.msn.com/binframework/v10/StProxy.cab41227.cab
O16 - DPF: {DBA230D1-8467-4e69-987E-5FAE815A3B45} -
O16 - DPF: {FF1CD9A3-00CD-45C1-8182-4EEC229A182D} (Plaxo Auto-Import Utility) - https://www.plaxo.com/activex/plx_upldr-2k-xp.cab
O20 - Winlogon Notify: igfxcui - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\igfxdev.dll
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O21 - SSODL: WPDShServiceObj - {AAA288BA-9A4C-45B0-95D7-94D524869DB5} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\WPDShServiceObj.dll
O23 - Service: AVG Anti-Spyware Guard - Anti-Malware Development a.s. - C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
O23 - Service: BrSplService (Brother XP spl Service) - brother Industries Ltd - C:\WINDOWS\system32\brsvc01a.exe
O23 - Service: iPodService - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: LightScribeService Direct Disc Labeling Service (LightScribeService) - Hewlett-Packard Company - C:\Program Files\Common Files\LightScribe\LSSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Central Control Component (PcCtlCom) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\PcCtlCom.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Protection Against Spyware (PcScnSrv) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\PcScnSrv.exe
O23 - Service: Retrospect Launcher (RetroLauncher) - Dantz Development Corporation - C:\Program Files\Dantz\Retrospect\retrorun.exe
O23 - Service: Retrospect WD Service (RetroWDSvc) - Dantz Development Corporation - C:\PROGRA~1\Dantz\RETROS~1\wdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: SoundMAX Agent Service (SoundMAX Agent Service (default)) - Analog Devices, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Analog Devices\SoundMAX\SMAgent.exe
O23 - Service: TiVo Beacon (TivoBeacon2) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Common Files\TiVo Shared\Beacon\TiVoBeacon.exe" /service (file missing)
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Real-time Service (Tmntsrv) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\Tmntsrv.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Personal Firewall (TmPfw) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\TmPfw.exe
O23 - Service: Trend Micro Proxy Service (tmproxy) - Trend Micro Inc. - C:\PROGRA~1\TRENDM~1\INTERN~3\tmproxy.exe
Welcome back smithduke.

Sorry to hear the dropper has returned.

Selective startup would have caused some issues. But I'm not sure it is the cause of it returning.

Quick question:

Is this a multiuser machine? In other words, do you have different logins? If so, that may well be why it has returned. Hijack This and many other scanners will only scan the current user and local system. If a baddie is installed in more than one account, each one needs cleaning.

In Hijack This, with no other windows open, put a check next to the following and have it fix when done.

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [tpkextiA] C:\WINDOWS\tpkextiA.exe

When done, restart the computer.

Find and delete the file:
C:\WINDOWS\tpkextiA.exe

Also, you could try doing an online scan at http://www3.ca.com/virusinfo/virusscan.aspx

I'll see what I can find out in the meantime…

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