Missing shortcuts for entire accessories folder

Not sure if this is WHERE I should post this, so hopefully some diligent soul will move it if needed....

Have NO idea HOW we got attacked, but we were invaded! I had 65 threats at the beginning and none now thanks to your site and a new virus protection program.

Problem is, to clean the sluggish computer out I need to set a restore point, and that folder is completely gone - from regular locations. I searched and found notepad to use, but not actually KNOWING the name of the admin tools programs, I can't manually search for them.

Have been working on this problem for 3 days now....much better now. Will probably be getting a new machine shortly but still want to clean this one out for the time being.

Pam

Problem is, to clean the sluggish computer out I need to set a restore point, and that folder is completely gone - from regular locations.

Hello and Welcome -
Do you think that there is still an infection in your system, or do you think it is now fully cleaned ??
Please explain a bit better as to what you would like done to the computer, and how you would like us to help you -

Thank You -

Our Dell Vostro Tower (about 5-6 years old) XP Pro has been running very strange - hanging on reboot, hanging on startup - printer spooler file missing, loading pages painfully slow....a variety of things began to go wrong. WAS running Symantec Corporate - first thing I found 3 days ago was a window that I THOUGHT was Norton scan results - only it wasn't - it was the look-alike that led me to an external site to fix what the scan had found. This is not MY normal computer but my husband's for home use. He of course was in the middle of doing taxes with many downloads and uploads of files and state specific return software. As soon as I saw what was an external site touting their ability to rid my system of whatever threat was found I cancelled it. But by then the damage must have been done. At least a dozen windows opened all along the bottom of the screen with symantec ! in them. I was planning on doing a cleanout AFTER tax season, but had to face it then. Began with doing a Malwarebytes scan in safe with networking, then found a great review on Kasminsky so bought that and replaced Symantec, also used TDSSKiller and HyjackThis as well - while scanning with Kasminsky over and over to clean out all the threats (on my little netbook) I found a post from one of your "guys" (Gringo) helping someone else get rid of win32.ZAcess.k virus and followed those instuctions - starting with ComboFix, then TDSSKiller, then back to ComboFix, then finally I began to see clean scans and programs showed back up - no longer icons grayed out, etc. But now that I want to clean out just junk, I want to set a restore point in case I delete something I shouldn't....but when I go to programs, there's NO accessories folder at all. If I try to go at it from control panel, administrative tools is totally empty. All folders are set to show hidden files, and I even set them to show system files as well. If this is as far as I can get this old bird, I'll be ok - but the nerd in me that's been fueling me these last 3 days wants to solve this issue! Maybe I just won't find them - maybe the viruses did their dirty work and made it impossible to find them.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. And yes I have all the logfiles - at least after the first horrific set of scans. I can probably rebuild their order as well....

Pam

Hello,

It is unwise to follow malware removal instructions posted for someone else, especially in the Virus, Trojan, Spyware, and Malware Removal Logs forum. You could turn your machine into a brick by doing so. That said, since you have run ComboFix, please follow the instructions in ==>This Guide<== starting at step 6.

Once the proper logs are created, then make a NEW TOPIC and post it ==>HERE<== Since you have run ComboFix, please include the ComboFix log in the new topic. Please be sure to include a description of your computer issues and what you have done to try to resolve them.

If you cannot produce any of the other logs, then please create the new topic anyway, include the information that you were unable to produce the other logs and why and include the ComboFix log along with a description of your computer issues.

Orange Blossom

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic451024.html/page__view__findpost__p__2674739

Please note that a new topic has been created in Malware Removal Forum now -

Hello,

Now that you have posted a log here: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic451024.html you should NOT make further changes to your computer (install/uninstall programs, use special fix tools, delete files, edit the registry, etc) unless advised by a MRT Team member, nor should you ask for help elsewhere. Doing so can result in system changes which may not show in the log you already posted. Further, any modifications you make on your own may cause confusion for the helper assisting you and could complicate the malware removal process which would extend the time it takes to clean your computer.

From this point on the MRT Team should be the only members that you take advice from, until they have verified your log as clean.

Please be patient. It may take a while to get a response because the MRT Team members are EXTREMELY busy working logs posted before yours. They are volunteers who will help you out as soon as possible. Once you have made your post and are waiting, please DO NOT make another reply until it has been responded to by a member of the MRT Team. Generally the staff checks the forum for postings that have 0 replies as this makes it easier for them to identify those who have not been helped. If you post another response there will be 1 reply. A team member, looking for a new log to work may assume another MRT Team member is already assisting you and not open the thread to respond.

Please be patient. It may take several days to get a response but your log will be reviewed and answered as soon as possible. I advise checking your topic once a day for responses as the e-mail notification system is unreliable.

If HelpBot replies to your topic, PLEASE follow Step One so it will report your topic to the team members.

To avoid confusion, I am closing this topic. Good luck with your log.

Orange Blossom