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HijackThis Log

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Hi All,

I have some minor issues with my computer and I was wondering if someone could help me out.

- Winpatrol lists Abel.exe as a service, but cannot find the local file. It is still mentioned once in the registry, can this be the problem?
- My computer sometimes spontaneously gives a login box for a blackboard application on the unimaas.nl (my university) domain. Can this be caused by the Citrix item listed below?
- I ran the log through a log auto analyzer at http://hjt.networktechs.com/ and it identified CTFMON.EXE as a Coolwebsearch CTFMON32 parasite variant. See http://hjt.networktechs.com/parse.php?log=300472 Winpatrol says it is the CTF loader from Microsoft, so I'm not sure.
Can someone tell me which items to get fixed and which ones not? Thanks in advance.

Here's the log:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 17:32:43, on 1-2-2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
H:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
H:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
H:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
H:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\FrameworkService.exe
H:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\Mcshield.exe
H:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\VsTskMgr.exe
H:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
H:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\sstray.exe
H:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\SHSTAT.EXE
H:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\UpdaterUI.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
H:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
H:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
H:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
H:\Program Files\BillP Studios\WinPatrol\WinPatrol.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\LVComsX.exe
H:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
H:\Documents and Settings\Hans\Mijn documenten\Unzipped\hijackthis\HijackThis.exe
H:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
H:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
H:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.nl/
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName = Koppelingen
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - H:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE H:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE H:\WINDOWS\System32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nForce Tray Options] sstray.exe /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ShStatEXE] "H:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\SHSTAT.EXE" /STANDALONE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [McAfeeUpdaterUI] "H:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\UpdaterUI.exe" /StartedFromRunKey
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinPatrol] H:\Program Files\BillP Studios\WinPatrol\winpatrol.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] H:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = H:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - H:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\npjpi150_04.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - H:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\npjpi150_04.dll
O16 - DPF: {215B8138-A3CF-44C5-803F-8226143CFC0A} (Trend Micro ActiveX Scan Agent 6.6) - http://housecall65.trendmicro.com/housecal…ivex/hcImpl.cab
O16 - DPF: {238F6F83-B8B4-11CF-8771-00A024541EE3} (Citrix ICA Client) - https://ubwi0002.unimaas.nl/Citrix/ICAWEB/e…ca32/wficat.cab
O16 - DPF: {41F17733-B041-4099-A042-B518BB6A408C} - http://a1540.g.akamai.net/7/1540/52/200411…llInstaller.exe
O16 - DPF: {85D1F3B2-2A21-11D7-97B9-0010DC2A6243} (SecureLogin class) - http://secure2.comned.com/signuptemplates/…login-devel.cab
O23 - Service: Abel - Unknown owner - H:\Program Files\Cain\Abel.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: McAfee Framework Service (McAfeeFramework) - Network Associates, Inc. - H:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\FrameworkService.exe
O23 - Service: Network Associates McShield (McShield) - Network Associates, Inc. - H:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\Mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: Network Associates Task Manager (McTaskManager) - Network Associates, Inc. - H:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\VsTskMgr.exe
O23 - Service: NBService - Nero AG - H:\Program Files\Ahead\Nero\Nero 7\Nero BackItUp\NBService.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - H:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
Hello and welcome to the forums

Please go HERE and do a online scan.
Let me know what is found.

After scan, reboot and post a new HijackThis log

Also let me know how the computer is running now.
Hi LDTate,

I did the F-secure scan and it found the following:

Result: 11 malware found
Tracking Cookie (spyware)
System (Disinfected)
System
System (Submitted)
System
System
System
System
System
System
System
Trojan-Downloader.JS.Agent.ab (virus)

H:\…\TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES\CONTENT.IE5\0D2OVB6M\ADV499[1].HTM (Renamed)

I looked up the virus in their database and it infects word documents and sends them to Usenet newsgroup through the Forte Agent Newsreader. I don't have this newsreader, so no documents could've been sent if I understood it correctly. Also, no infected word documents were found. I let F-secure disinfect the files and ran it again and nothing was found anymore.

Then I ran Hijackthis and got this:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 17:22:34, on 10-2-2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
H:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
H:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
H:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
H:\WINDOWS\system32\sstray.exe
H:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\SHSTAT.EXE
H:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\UpdaterUI.exe
H:\Program Files\BillP Studios\WinPatrol\winpatrol.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
H:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
H:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\FrameworkService.exe
H:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\Mcshield.exe
H:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\VsTskMgr.exe
H:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
H:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
H:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
H:\Documents and Settings\Hans\Mijn documenten\Unzipped\hijackthis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.nl/
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName = Koppelingen
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - H:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - H:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {7E853D72-626A-48EC-A868-BA8D5E23E045} - (no file)
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE H:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE H:\WINDOWS\System32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nForce Tray Options] sstray.exe /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ShStatEXE] "H:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\SHSTAT.EXE" /STANDALONE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [McAfeeUpdaterUI] "H:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\UpdaterUI.exe" /StartedFromRunKey
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinPatrol] H:\Program Files\BillP Studios\WinPatrol\winpatrol.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] H:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SpybotSD TeaTimer] H:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = H:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O6 - HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions present
O6 - HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel present
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - H:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\npjpi150_04.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - H:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\npjpi150_04.dll
O15 - Trusted Zone: *.nu.nl
O16 - DPF: {0EB0E74A-2A76-4AB3-A7FB-9BD8C29F7F75} (CKAVWebScan Object) - http://www.kaspersky.com/kos/english/kavwebscan_unicode.cab
O16 - DPF: {215B8138-A3CF-44C5-803F-8226143CFC0A} (Trend Micro ActiveX Scan Agent 6.6) - http://housecall65.trendmicro.com/housecal…ivex/hcImpl.cab
O16 - DPF: {238F6F83-B8B4-11CF-8771-00A024541EE3} (Citrix ICA Client) - https://ubwi0002.unimaas.nl/Citrix/ICAWEB/e…ca32/wficat.cab
O16 - DPF: {41F17733-B041-4099-A042-B518BB6A408C} - http://a1540.g.akamai.net/7/1540/52/200411…llInstaller.exe
O16 - DPF: {85D1F3B2-2A21-11D7-97B9-0010DC2A6243} (SecureLogin class) - http://secure2.comned.com/signuptemplates/…login-devel.cab
O16 - DPF: {9D190AE6-C81E-4039-8061-978EBAD10073} (F-Secure Online Scanner 3.0) - http://support.f-secure.com/ols/fscax.cab
O18 - Protocol: livecall - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - H:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL
O18 - Protocol: msnim - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - H:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL
O23 - Service: Abel - Unknown owner - H:\Program Files\Cain\Abel.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - H:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Framework Service (McAfeeFramework) - Network Associates, Inc. - H:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\FrameworkService.exe
O23 - Service: Network Associates McShield (McShield) - Network Associates, Inc. - H:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\Mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: Network Associates Task Manager (McTaskManager) - Network Associates, Inc. - H:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\VsTskMgr.exe
O23 - Service: NBService - Nero AG - H:\Program Files\Ahead\Nero\Nero 7\Nero BackItUp\NBService.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - H:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe

There are some differences with the last one that I think are probably related to:
- Installing Spybot
- Adapting the internet security settings in IE
- Running Kapersky online scan
- Running F-secure online scan :)
- Installing the latest version of MSN Live Messenger

The computer is running fast enough. There are just some minor issues.
- Winpatrol lists Abel.exe as a service, but cannot find the local file. It is still mentioned once in the registry, can this be the reason that it is listed as a service? I certainly don't want any part of Abel running on my computer without my knowledge.
- My computer sometimes spontaneously gives a login box for a blackboard application on the unimaas.nl (my university) domain. Can this be caused by the Citrix item listed above? I do not know what triggers it.
I would like to know which items to get fixed and which ones to leave alone.

Thanks in advance.
Click Start > Run > and type in:

services.msc

Click OK.

In the services window find Abel
Right click and choose "Properties". On the "General" tab under "Service
Status" click the "Stop" button to stop the service. Beside "Startup Type"
in the dropdown menu select "Disabled". Click Apply then OK. Exit the
Services utility.



Run hijackthis. Hit None of the above, Click Do a System Scan Only. Put a Check in the box on the left side on these:

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {7E853D72-626A-48EC-A868-BA8D5E23E045} - (no file)
O16 - DPF: {41F17733-B041-4099-A042-B518BB6A408C} - http://a1540.g.akamai.net/7/1540/52/200411…llInstaller.exe
O23 - Service: Abel - Unknown owner - H:\Program Files\Cain\Abel.exe (file missing)

Close ALL windows and browsers except HijackThis and click "Fix checked"


Delete these Files if listed:
H:\Program Files\Cain\Abel.exe


Delete these Folders if listed:
H:\Program Files\Cain




Please download ATF Cleaner by Atribune.
Download - ATF Cleaner»
Double-click ATF-Cleaner.exe to run the program.
Under Main choose: Select All
Click the Empty Selected button.

(If you use FireFox or the Opera browser
To keep saved passwords, click No at the prompt.)

It's normal after running ATF cleaner that the PC will be slower to boot the first time or two.


Reboot and "copy/paste" a new HijackThis log file into this thread.

Also please describe how your computer behaves at the moment.
"Abel" was already stopped in the services utility, so only had to change the Startup type from "automatic" to "disabled". Running hijackthis after that, the item for Abel had disappeared, so I just had the other two fixed. The files and folders were already gone. After running ATF cleaner and emptying everything, Hijackthis gave me the following log:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 18:25:33, on 11-2-2007
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)

Running processes:
H:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
H:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
H:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
H:\WINDOWS\system32\sstray.exe
H:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\SHSTAT.EXE
H:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\UpdaterUI.exe
H:\Program Files\BillP Studios\WinPatrol\winpatrol.exe
H:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
H:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
H:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\FrameworkService.exe
H:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\Mcshield.exe
H:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\VsTskMgr.exe
H:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
H:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
H:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
H:\Documents and Settings\Hans\Mijn documenten\Unzipped\hijackthis\HijackThis.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.nl/
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName = Koppelingen
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - H:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - H:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE H:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE H:\WINDOWS\System32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nForce Tray Options] sstray.exe /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ShStatEXE] "H:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\SHSTAT.EXE" /STANDALONE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [McAfeeUpdaterUI] "H:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\UpdaterUI.exe" /StartedFromRunKey
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinPatrol] H:\Program Files\BillP Studios\WinPatrol\winpatrol.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [CTFMON.EXE] H:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SpybotSD TeaTimer] H:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = H:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OSA9.EXE
O6 - HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions present
O6 - HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel present
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - H:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\npjpi150_04.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - H:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_04\bin\npjpi150_04.dll
O15 - Trusted Zone: *.nu.nl
O16 - DPF: {0EB0E74A-2A76-4AB3-A7FB-9BD8C29F7F75} (CKAVWebScan Object) - http://www.kaspersky.com/kos/english/kavwebscan_unicode.cab
O16 - DPF: {215B8138-A3CF-44C5-803F-8226143CFC0A} (Trend Micro ActiveX Scan Agent 6.6) - http://housecall65.trendmicro.com/housecal…ivex/hcImpl.cab
O16 - DPF: {238F6F83-B8B4-11CF-8771-00A024541EE3} (Citrix ICA Client) - https://ubwi0002.unimaas.nl/Citrix/ICAWEB/e…ca32/wficat.cab
O16 - DPF: {85D1F3B2-2A21-11D7-97B9-0010DC2A6243} (SecureLogin class) - http://secure2.comned.com/signuptemplates/…login-devel.cab
O16 - DPF: {9D190AE6-C81E-4039-8061-978EBAD10073} (F-Secure Online Scanner 3.0) - http://support.f-secure.com/ols/fscax.cab
O18 - Protocol: livecall - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - H:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL
O18 - Protocol: msnim - {828030A1-22C1-4009-854F-8E305202313F} - H:\PROGRA~1\MSNMES~1\MSGRAP~1.DLL
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - H:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee Framework Service (McAfeeFramework) - Network Associates, Inc. - H:\Program Files\Network Associates\Common Framework\FrameworkService.exe
O23 - Service: Network Associates McShield (McShield) - Network Associates, Inc. - H:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\Mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: Network Associates Task Manager (McTaskManager) - Network Associates, Inc. - H:\Program Files\Network Associates\VirusScan\VsTskMgr.exe
O23 - Service: NBService - Nero AG - H:\Program Files\Ahead\Nero\Nero 7\Nero BackItUp\NBService.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation - H:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe

I have the impression that the computer is running somewhat faster now. The Abel item has disappeared now, so that is one down, thanks for that. The Citrix item that I suspect is related to my computer sometimes spontaneously showing a login box is still there. The login box hasn't popped up the last couple of days, but it also showed very irregularly before, so it is probably still there. For the rest, I would like to know which other items I can get fixed, to get the registry error-free and prevent possible problems in the future.

Thanks for your input.
lets see if this will help.

Backup Your Registry with ERUNT
  • Please use the following link and scroll down to ERUNT and download it.
    http://aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php
  • For version with the Installer:
    Use the setup program to install ERUNT on your computer
  • For the zipped version:
    Unzip all the files into a folder of your choice.
Click Erunt.exe to backup your registry to the folder of your choice.

Note: to restore your registry, go to the folder and start ERDNT.exe



I recommend you download RegSeeker. Extract it to it's own folder, open and double click RegSeeker.exe to start the program. Maximize the window and click clean registry. Check all sections and click OK. When the scan is complete, verify the backup box in lower left corner is checked and click the select all button, then select all again. Then right click within the search results and select delete. Run it again and again, deleting everything it finds until it finds nothing. Reboot and make sure your programs are working properly, control panel and add/remove programs windows open, etc (basically just do a quick check of everything). In the event anything was 'broken', you can open RegSeeker, click backups and double click any/all files to put the information back. A reboot may be required for the effects to be seen. Reboot When done.

NOTE: To be extra safe you can choose to only remove the items in RED.
Some items may come back because of the programs you have running.
The fix took a bit longer than expected. I downloaded the programs and ran them, but after having Regseeker delete all the entries and rebooting, the first that happened was a popup saying that I needed to reinstall microsoft office. I obviously had been a bit too thorough, so I made use of the backup again. I then wanted to only delete the red entries, but Regseeker had found over 1800(!) items. I had to go over that list 5 times before all the red items were gone, but in the end I was able to delete about 200-250 items and the computer is ok. But I still have about 1600 items left. There are three categories: - Obsolete entry - Obsolete start menu item - File or path does not exist The latter two seem to be related to old programs and my moving around start menu items. The first one is a bit less clear. I was thinking about deleting the latter two with links to old files/folders and menu items, which should not be very harmful and leaving the obsolete entries alone. What do you think? What does NTREGOPT, which comes with ERUNT, do? Does it also delete items or is it less potentially harmful? Thanks in advance.
NTRegOpt is a registry compactor that improves system performance by compacting the registry, removing any slack space that may be left from previously modified or deleted keys. The program does not modify any registry entries, so it is safe to use.
Ok, I'll try that then. And what do you think about deleting the "obsolete start menu item" and "file or path does not exist" items and leaving the "obsolete entries" alone? Can something be said about which ones are better to delete or do you need to look at at on an individual item basis? How can I determine which items can be deleted and which not? Thanks
I haven't had any problems getting rid of any of those on my pc. I suggest that you try one group at a time if it's causing issues after removing them.
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