FakeHDD infection ? -- rkill finds nothing; MBAM won't install

Hi everyone -

I'm trying to get an infection off someone's computer running XP SP3.

One of the many pop ups says:

"System error. Hard disk failure detected

It's highly recommended to run complete HDD scan to prevent loss of personal files."

Based on that message, I think I'm dealing with the FakeHDD malware?

Anyway, I have the system in Safe Mode and am trying to run rkill, but it seems to find nothing. Additionally, TDSSKiller seems to find nothing and MBAM starts to install and at the end gives me an "Access Denied" message.

I have tried doing running these in both Safe Mode and Safe Mode with Networking using both accounts on the computer (which are both specified as being Administrator accounts).

The one thing I've noticed is that when I'm trying to run a program on this computer, the system will pop up the "You're working in Safe Mode" message asking if I want to continue. I've never seen that pop up on another computer after the initial one at boot. Makes me think that's suspicious.

Any thoughts on what my options are? Is it worth attempting a System Restore?

Thanks so much in advance!

-- N

An update...

I tried SUPERAntiSpyware and it installed and is now scanning.

-- N

Hello ,post that SAS log when done.

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.


NEXT

This infection changes settings on your computer so that when you launch an executable, a file ending with .exe, it will instead launch the infection rather than the desired program. To fix this we must first download a Registry file that will fix these changes. From a clean computer, please download the following file and save it to a removable media such as a CD/DVD, external Drive, or USB flash drive.

FixNCR.reg

insert the removable device into the infected computer and open the folder the drive letter associated with it. You should now see the FixNCR.reg file that you had downloaded onto it. Double-click on the FixNCR.reg file to fix the Registry on your infected computer.


>>>> Download this file and doubleclick on it to run it. Allow the information to be merged with the registry.

Run RKill....


Download and Run RKill

• Please download RKill by Grinler from one of the 4 links below and save it to your desktop.
  
  Link 1
  Link 2
  Link 3
  Link 4
  
  
• Before we begin, you should disable your anti-malware softwares you have installed so they do not interfere RKill running as some anti-malware softwares detect RKill as malicious. Please refer to this page if you are not sure how.
  
• Double-click on Rkill on your desktop to run it. (If you are using Windows Vista, please right-click on it and select Run As Administrator)
  
• A black screen will appear and then disappear. Please do not worry, that is normal. This means that the tool has been successfully executed.
  
• If nothing happens or if the tool does not run, please let me know in your next reply

Do not reboot your computer after running rkill as the malware programs will start again. Or if rebooting is required run it again.


If you continue having problems running rkill.com, you can download iExplore.exe or eXplorer.exe, which are renamed copies of rkill.com, and try them instead.


Next run MBAM (MalwareBytes):

Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and save it to your desktop.

• Important!! When you save the mbam-setup file, rename it to something random (such as 123abc.exe) before beginning the download.

Malwarebytes may "make changes to your registry" as part of its disinfection routine. If using other security programs that detect registry changes (ie Spybot's Teatimer), they may interfere or alert you. Temporarily disable such programs or permit them to allow the changes.

• Make sure you are connected to the Internet and double-click on the renamed file to install the application.
• When the installation begins, follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
• Malwarebytes will automatically start and you will be asked to update the program before performing a scan.
• If an update is found, the program will automatically update itself. Press the OK button and continue.
• If you cannot update Malwarebytes or use the Internet to download any files to the infected computer, manually update the database by following the instructions in FAQ Section A: 4. Issues.

• Under the Scanner tab, make sure the "Perform Quick Scan" option is selected.
• Click on the Scan button.
• When finished, a message box will say "The scan completed successfully. Click 'Show Results' to display all objects found".
• Click OK to close the message box, then click the Show Results button to see a list of any malware that was found.
• Make sure that everything is checked and then click Remove Selected.
• When removal is completed, a log report will open in Notepad.
• The log is automatically saved and can be viewed by clicking the Logs tab.
• Copy and paste the contents of that report in your next reply. Be sure to post the complete log to include the top portion which shows the database version and your operating system.
• Exit Malwarebytes when done.

Note: If Malwarebytes encounters a file that is difficult to remove, you will be asked to reboot your computer so it can proceed with the disinfection process. If asked to restart the computer, please do so immediately. Failure to reboot normally will prevent Malwarebytes from removing all the malware.

-- Some types of malware will target Malwarebytes and other security tools to keep them from running properly. If that's the case, go to Start > All Programs > Malwarebytes Anti-Malware folder > Tools > click on Malwarebytes Chameleon and follow the onscreen instructions. The Chameleon folder can be accessed by opening the program folder for Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (normally C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware or C:\Program Files (x86)\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware).


>>>>
Please download MiniToolBox, save it to your desktop and run it.

Checkmark the following checkboxes:

• Flush DNS
• Report IE Proxy Settings
• Reset IE Proxy Settings
• Report FF Proxy Settings
• Reset FF Proxy Settings
• List content of Hosts
• List IP configuration
• List Winsock Entries
• List last 10 Event Viewer log
• List Installed Programs
• List Devices
• List Users, Partitions and Memory size.
• List Minidump Files

Click Go and post the result (Result.txt). A copy of Result.txt will be saved in the same directory the tool is run.

Note: When using "Reset FF Proxy Settings" option Firefox should be closed.