BleepingComputer.com: taskmgr.exe and regedit missing!

I am running Windows XP Professional, and using Avast! Antivirus and Spybot: Search and Destroy.

My taskmgr.exe file is missing as well as regedit. ctrl+alt+del does nothing and I can't access either by Start -> run, nor can I find them anywhere in Windows (even with hidden and system files viewable). Even worse, the files are also missing from the Dllcache folder in Windows/System32. And when I attempted to make copies of the files using an emergency utility (xp_emegencyutil.exe) from dougknox.com, only the ms_config file was created; the other two seem to have been intercepted somehow.

Do I have any options besides wiping my hard drive?

Are you able to run any other applications on the machine such as Internet Explorer or the command prompt? Do you receive an error message when you try to run task manager or regedit? If so, please post EXACTLY what the error message says.

This post has been edited by astracner: 15 January 2011 - 04:51 AM

Hi noob101 and welcome to BleepingComputer!


MALWAREBYTES ANTIMALWARE
-------------------------------------------
Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and save it to your desktop.
alternate download link 1
alternate download link 2

MBAM 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.
  
• Double-click on mbam-setup.exe to install the application.
  
• When the installation begins, follow the prompts and do not make any changes to default settings.
  
• When installation has finished, make sure you leave both of these checked:
  • Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
    
  • Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
  
  
• Then click Finish.

MBAM 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 to close that box and continue.
  
• If you encounter any problems while downloading the definition updates, manually download them from here and just double-click on mbam-rules.exe to install.

On the Scanner tab:

• Make sure the "Perform Full Scan" option is selected.
  
• Then click on the Scan button.
  
• If asked to select the drives to scan, leave all the drives selected and click on the Start Scan button.
  
• The scan will begin and "Scan in progress" will show at the top. It may take some time to complete so please be patient.
  
• When the scan is 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 and continue with the removal process.

Back at the main Scanner screen:

• Click on the Show Results button to see a list of any malware that was found.
  
• Make sure that everything is checked, and 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 in MBAM.
  
• 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 MBAM's database version and your operating system.
  
• Exit MBAM when done.

Note: If MBAM encounters a file that is difficult to remove, you will be asked to reboot your computer so MBAM can proceed with the disinfection process. If asked to restart the computer, please do so immediately. Failure to reboot normally (not into safe mode) will prevent MBAM from removing all the malware.

Hi! thanks for the welcome and thank you both for taking the time to read my post.

I can run Internet Explorer, but the command prompt (cmd.exe) is also gone. I have also discovered two more missing tools: ipconfig and rstrui (the system restore application) When I try to run any of these (rstrui.exe, cmd.exe, regedit.exe, taskmgr.exe) from the run window I get:

Windows cannot find 'filename'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search.

When I run ipconfig I get a black DOS looking window that appears to be the normal ipconfig screen, but it disappears before I can read it.

I also tried running all of these from msconfig tools and recieved:

The system cannot find the file specified.

elise025,

I followed your directions and mbam successfully removed two trojans. Thanks! After rebooting, I still can't find/run the programs in question.

Besides missing these very important programs, everything on my computer seems to run smoothly.

Thanks again to you both.

Click Start > Run, type sfc /scannow and press enter. Let the system file checker run unhindered. Note - you mayb be prompted for your Windows CD.

Can you also post me the MBAM log?

I don't know if this is important, but here's the log from mbam:


Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.50.1.1100
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: 5523

Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 7.0.5730.13

1/15/2011 9:03:39 PM
mbam-log-2011-01-15 (21-03-39).txt

Scan type: Full scan (C:\|D:\|E:\|)
Objects scanned: 203138
Time elapsed: 40 minute(s), 41 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: 1
Files Infected: 1

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:
c:\RECYCLER\s-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1013 (Trojan.Agent) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Files Infected:
c:\RECYCLER\s-1-5-21-1482476501-1644491937-682003330-1013\Desktop.ini (Trojan.Agent) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Thank you, see also my last post.