BleepingComputer.com: System Restore & System Fix - Start Menu Help!

*I'm using a Windows 7 OS on an HP laptop

So a few days ago, I got the symptoms of the System Restore virus. At the time, I didn't know what the virus was or that it was even a virus (I'm not exactly an expert in computers) so I did a system restore to the day before. After the restore, everything was fine and looking normal as it had before the virus struck.

Today, I left my computer on accidentally because I fell asleep. I had my Firefox windows opened and all that normal stuff. When I woke up, instead of my Firefox windows, I found at least 15 popup warnings all saying the same thing, but unfortunately I can't recall what it was. However, at the bottom right hand corner, there was a notification that I had low RAM - something along the lines of that. Everything was running noticeably slower so I restarted it.

When I logged back in, I found that my desktop picture turned black and all my desktop icons disappeared (except for the recycling bin). Most of my icons in my start menu were gone too, similar to the symptoms of the System Restore virus. I tried to run the real system restore but the virus prevented me from opening it even though I tried a number of times, so I logged into my backup user account.

On my backup user, my background was fine and most of my icons (files, really) were still on the desktop except for the shortcuts. More of the original icons that belonged in the start menu were still there, but of course some were still missing. I ran system restore but somehow, it wouldn't move past the "initiating..." phase on the Windows background screen. I waited at least 30 minutes thinking that it was just taking a while but I figured it was probably stuck so I manually turned it off (I know, not a good thing to do). I basically repeated this about twice, hoping each time, the system restore would actually work. On the last try, probably due to my turning it off manually, I lost my restore points and guess what icon showed up on my main user account? System Fix.

That's when the System Fix virus started running its program. Since I couldn't do system restore anymore, I searched online and found the guide for how to remove it here: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-system-fix

I went through all the steps so here is where I am at now:

Using http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic405109.html I tried to locate and manually restore my shortcuts. I was able to get my desktop icons back and most of my files however I can't seem to fully restore the start menu side bar where the shortcuts to Computer, Control Panel, etc are supposed to be. I have the Computer shortcut still but I don't have any of the others.

So far, most everything has been fixed through using the guide. It's just the shortcuts on the side menu of the start menu that I'm missing. Does anyone know how to get these back? Oh and if anyone could tell me what made my system restore process take so long initializing when it didn't take so long the first time, I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks ahead of time!

This post has been edited by ishme4nowz: 15 November 2011 - 01:37 PM

Hello and welcome to Bleeping Computer

We apologize for the delay in responding to your request for help. Here at Bleeping Computer we get overwhelmed at times, and we are trying our best to keep up. Please note that your topic was not intentionally overlooked. Our mission is to help everyone in need, but sometimes it takes just a little longer to get to every request for help. No one is ignored here.

If you have since resolved the original problem you were having, we would appreciate you letting us know. If not please perform the following steps below so we can have a look at the current condition of your machine.
If you are unable to create a log because your computer cannot start up successfully please provide detailed information about the Windows version you are using: What we in particular need to know is version, edition and if it is a 32bit or a 64bit system. [/b]
If you are unsure about any of these caracteristics, just let us know and we'll help you figuring it out. Please also tell us if you have your Windows CD/DVD handy.


Please include a clear description of the problems you're having, along with any steps you may have performed so far.

Please refrain from running tools or applying updates other than those we suggest while we are cleaning up your computer. The reason for this is so we know what is going on with the machine at any time. Some programs can interfere with others and hamper the recovery process.

Even if you have already provided information about your PC, we need a new log to see what has changed since you originally posted your problem.
We need to create an OTL Report

• Please download OTL from one of the following mirrors:
  • This is THE Mirror
  
  
• Save it to your desktop.
  
• Double click on the icon on your desktop.
  
• Click the "Scan All Users" checkbox.
  
• In the custom scan box paste the following:
  

  msconfig
  safebootminimal
  activex
  drivers32
  netsvcs
  %SYSTEMDRIVE%\*.exe
  /md5start
  explorer.exe
  winlogon.exe
  wininit.exe
  hlp.dat
  /md5stop

  
  
• Push the button.
  
• Two reports will open, copy and paste them in a reply here:
  • OTL.txt <-- Will be opened
    
  • Extra.txt<--Will be minimized

In the upper right hand corner of the topic you will see a button called Watch Topic.I suggest you click it and select Immediate E-Mail notification and click on Proceed. This way you will be advised when we respond to your topic and facilitate the cleaning of your machine.

After 5 days if a topic is not replied to we assume it has been abandoned and it is closed.

regards myrti

Due to the lack of feedback, this topic is now closed.

In the event you still have problems, please send me or any Moderator a Private Message and ask them to reopen this topic within the next 5 days. Please include a link to your topic in the Private Message. Thank you.