PC doesn't want to run Ad-Aware programme

Well, It all started when I decided to do an update for my windows xp system. My PC started acting up but I could not and didn't want to think I caught something while downloading security updates for windows xp.
So I went about my business and decided to download some games from a site called
Game Top.com My PC started acting even weirder so in order to get some help I posted :

[url="http://"%20<a%20href="]http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/top...6392.html"[/url]" target="_blank">Does any one know Game Top.com</a>


I got great help and was advised to download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and run a quick scan.
Which I did and found out 1 Reg key was infected removed it yada yada.... as you can see in the url above. I also deleted the downloaded games etc...

I'm in the clear I thought just to find my pc becoming slower online and off line, always busy full action as if it wants to take off , although I'm not even behind it.

I trust my AVG 8 will keep me protected, but can't take the long wait when I want to check something online...
So I decided to check the tutorial: Using Ad-Aware 2007 Free to remove Spyware & Hijackers from Your Computer
by Bleeping Computer on 4th of Apr 2004 and download it (Because you guys know your stuff).

It's called Ad-Aware Free, because it didn't have the same name I hesitated a little but decided still to do it because i wanted to get rid of my PC's slowness. The site directed me to mirror download site cnet Download.com.

Where I was greeted with Welcome Ad-Aware Anniversary Edition users. I downloaded the Anniversary Edition and installed it and wanted to restart my PC because that's what it wanted me to do.

Now that's where my PC refused to do as it was ordered to. So I clicked it again and it refused again...
I decided to restart it but NO, I wanted to turn it of but NO it closed all the programs that were open except for the Ad Aware finished installing page.

So I unplugged it (I know bad bad me not good for the PC) and turned it back on.

Only to find that even after 5 times double clicking on the Ad-Aware Icon it still does not want to run the removal tool.

Now how deep in it am I????

What's up with my PC??

It does everything else: opens ,closes programs, goes online (not as fats as it should),

BUT it doesn't want to start the removal tools or turn off when I turn it off.

I hope I'm at the right spot, Please help!!!

Jay

Hello can you go to Control Panel>>Add/Remove Programs and uninstall everything AdAware. then Reboot your computer.

Now:
Please download ATF Cleaner by Atribune & save it to your desktop.

• Double-click ATF-Cleaner.exe to run the program.
• Under Main "Select Files to Delete" choose: Select All.
• Click the Empty Selected button.
• If you use Firefox browser click Firefox at the top and choose: Select All
• Click the Empty Selected button.
  If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.
• If you use Opera browser click Opera at the top and choose: Select All
• Click the Empty Selected button.
  If you would like to keep your saved passwords, please click No at the prompt.
• Click Exit on the Main menu to close the program.

Note: On Vista, "Windows Temp" is disabled. To empty "Windows Temp" ATF-Cleaner must be "Run as an Administrator".

NEXT SAS: Run from your regular user account.....
Please download and scan with SUPERAntiSpyware Free

• Double-click SUPERAntiSypware.exe and use the default settings for installation.
• An icon will be created on your desktop. Double-click that icon to launch the program.
• If asked to update the program definitions, click "Yes". If not, update the definitions before scanning by selecting "Check for Updates". (If you encounter any problems while downloading the updates, manually download them from here. Double-click on the hyperlink for Download Installer and save SASDEFINITIONS.EXE to your desktop. Then double-click on SASDEFINITIONS.EXE to install the definitions.)
• In the Main Menu, click the Preferences... button.
• Click the "General and Startup" tab, and under Start-up Options, make sure "Start SUPERAntiSpyware when Windows starts" box is unchecked.
• Click the "Scanning Control" tab, and under Scanner Options, make sure the following are checked (leave all others unchecked):
  • Close browsers before scanning.
  • Scan for tracking cookies.
  • Terminate memory threats before quarantining.
• Click the "Close" button to leave the control center screen and exit the program.
• Do not run a scan just yet.

Reboot your computer in "Safe Mode" using the F8 method. To do this, restart your computer and after hearing your computer beep once during startup (but before the Windows icon appears) press the F8 key repeatedly. A menu will appear with several options. Use the arrow keys to navigate and select the option to run Windows in "Safe Mode".

Scan with SUPERAntiSpyware as follows:

• Launch the program and back on the main screen, under "Scan for Harmful Software" click Scan your computer.
• On the left, make sure you check C:\Fixed Drive.
• On the right, under "Complete Scan", choose Perform Complete Scan and click "Next".
• After the scan is complete, a Scan Summary box will appear with potentially harmful items that were detected. Click "OK".
• Make sure everything has a checkmark next to it and click "Next".
• A notification will appear that "Quarantine and Removal is Complete". Click "OK" and then click the "Finish" button to return to the main menu.
• If asked if you want to reboot, click "Yes" and reboot normally.
• To retrieve the removal information after reboot, launch SUPERAntispyware again.
  • Click Preferences, then click the Statistics/Logs tab.
  • Under Scanner Logs, double-click SUPERAntiSpyware Scan Log.
  • If there are several logs, click the current dated log and press View log. A text file will open in your default text editor.
  • Please copy and paste the Scan Log results in your next reply.
• Click Close to exit the program.

Hi,

Well I've done the scan and it all went well. Strangely enough it didn't find anything while scanning.

It can't be that there's still something can it? This scan would have surely found it wouldn't it?

Anyway here it is :

SUPERAntiSpyware Scan Log
http://www.superantispyware.com

Generated 01/22/2009 at 04:47 PM

Application Version : 4.25.1012

Core Rules Database Version : 3721
Trace Rules Database Version: 1695

Scan type : Complete Scan
Total Scan Time : 03:57:27

Memory items scanned : 202
Memory threats detected : 0
Registry items scanned : 5525
Registry threats detected : 0
File items scanned : 46301
File threats detected : 0


Hope you're pleased with this log , and I would like to thank you for your help It means a great deal!!

Cheers

Jay

Ok good, I want to run one more MBAM scan to see if somethings left. Did you remove AdAware and reboot? So we can be sure that issue will be resolved?

Open MBAM in normal mode and click Update tab, select Check for Updates,when done
click Scanner tab,select Quick scan and scan.
After scan click Remove Selected, Post new scan log and Reboot.

Well this must be it then yeah!

to the Ad-Aware yes i ditched it and rebooted all went well!

MBAM was able to update successfully this time!

I ran a quick scan and here is the log!

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.33
Database version: 1680
Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2

1/22/2009 9:53:21 PM
mbam-log-2009-01-22 (21-53-21).txt

Scan type: Quick Scan
Objects scanned: 50952
Time elapsed: 8 minute(s), 15 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 0

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

I think it is safe to say I'm in the clear yeah! What do you think?

Thanx for your help, much appreciated


Cheers,

Jay

Looks good Jay !!

Now you should Create a New Restore Point to prevent possible reinfection from an old one. Some of the malware you picked up could have been saved in System Restore. Since this is a protected directory your tools cannot access to delete these files, they sometimes can reinfect your system if you accidentally use an old restore point. Setting a new restore point AFTER cleaning your system will help prevent this and enable your computer to "roll-back" to a clean working state.

The easiest and safest way to do this is:

• Go to Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools and click "System Restore".
• Choose the radio button marked "Create a Restore Point" on the first screen then click "Next". Give the R.P. a name, then click "Create". The new point will be stamped with the current date and time. Keep a log of this so you can find it easily should you need to use System Restore.
• Then use Disk Cleanup to remove all but the most recently created Restore Point.
• Go to Start > Run and type: Cleanmgr
• Click "Ok"
• Disk Cleanup will scan your files for several minutes, then open.
• Click the "More Options" Tab.
• Click the "Clean up" button under System Restore.
• Click Ok. You will be prompted with "Are you sure you want to delete all but the most recent restore point?"
• Click Yes, then click Ok.
• Click Yes again when prompted with "Are you sure you want to perform these actions?"
• Disk Cleanup will remove the files and close automatically.

Vista Users can refer to these links: Create a New Restore Point and Disk Cleanup.

I think I keep on thanking you!!
But you've really helped me a lot here!

Cheers,

Jay

You're very welcome Jay. Take a few moments to read our quietman7's great tips,see post # 17.
Tips to protect yourself against malware and reduce the potential for re-infection:

have a great day!!