greyowl

Thank you for the information. I will try this and report back tomorrow.

I recently reinstalled the Operating System on a Dell Latitude E6400. I appreciate the help I received from the forum. I am now wondering if I could have done it differently. The drive had been divided into C and D partitions. The C partition was a 100mb partition that said "system reserved". The old operation system was on D partition. I considered changing the partition to make the drive just one partition © and install XP on it. However, I got a warning that removing the stuff on C drive would make the computer not boot until I installed XP, so I got cold feet and installed XP on the D drive partition. Now when I install the drivers and apps, they default to install on the C partition which obviously has no space so I have to change the destination on everything. I am wondering what this 100mb partition is all about and what is its benefit. I am also wondering if I could just create on partition and install XP on it like I have done with other laptops and whether it would work fine. I hope someone understands this and can explain it to me. Thank you

Thank you so much for this link. When I looked it up, I could only find drivers for Vista. Maybe, I was on the Canadian Dell site. I have now successfully reformated the hard drive and installed XP. Just need to now install the drivers. Thanks so much for the help. If I run into anymore problems, I will post again.

Just to clarify. The computer in my signature is not the computer in question. The Dell E6400 has a Intel Dual 2.53 GHz processor and 2GB of RAM. Would that run Vista OK?

Yes.

Dell E6400

Thank you for the information and help. I have the activation code for the XP disc. But, you are saying that this might not work on the laptop, right.

I have a Dell laptop that has Vista on it. There is a problem with the computer so I need to remove the operating system and reinstall it. I no longer have the Vista disc so I will have to use an XP disc. I am wondering if XP will work OK on the laptop. Dell only has drivers for Vista on their website. I am wondering if these drivers are likely to work with XP. Thank you.

GT500, I use Firefox with the extension AdBan 2.3.1 because it claims to be the fastest adblocker. Have you ever tried it? Do you think that AdblockPlus is better and faster?

This is great information. Now, I am wondering if AdvertBan is slowing down my browsing.

I thought Exile 360 said that you have to disable DNS in order for the host file to work.

Very interesting issues and discussion. Since I have an older computer and dialup internet, it might just over load the system. I sure don't want to compromise performance as I have little margin here. I don't suppose there is anyone around that still uses dialup that could advise me. I may just try it. Is it relatively easy to setup and disable if it doesn't work well.

Thanks again. Do you use the MVPS hosts or do you recommend another. In terms of procedure, would I install the MVPS Hosts first (do I just click on the file and it installs. Then the HostMan and Hosts Server component. I am a novice. BTW--The Post button isn't working at the bottom of the page--I have to go to MoreReplyOptions to get it to post.

Thanks for the information. So, there are no drawbacks?

I am wondering if MVPS Hosts and HostsMan are recommended to increase security and improve internet browsing speed. I am on dialup internet. Are there any disadvantages in using these?

Thank you for your help. I really appreciate it. All the best.

I don't think that we ever used adw cleaner. Should I download it and run it now? Will I need your help in running it? So is my computer now free of all viruses. Were there virus on it before? Thank you so much for the help.

Below is the SecurityCheck results: Results of screen317's Security Check version 0.99.57 Windows XP Service Pack 3 x86 Internet Explorer 8 ``````````````Antivirus/Firewall Check:`````````````` Windows Firewall Enabled! avast! Antivirus Antivirus up to date! `````````Anti-malware/Other Utilities Check:````````` WinPatrol Secunia PSI (2.0.0.3001) Malwarebytes Anti-Malware version 1.70.0.1100 CCleaner JavaFX 2.1.1 Java 7 Update 11 Adobe Flash Player 10 Flash Player out of Date! Adobe Flash Player 11.5.502.146 Mozilla Firefox (18.0) ````````Process Check: objlist.exe by Laurent```````` WinPatrol winpatrol.exe is disabled! Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware mbamscheduler.exe AVAST Software Avast AvastSvc.exe AVAST Software Avast avastUI.exe `````````````````System Health check````````````````` Total Fragmentation on Drive C:: 12% Defragment your hard drive soon! (Do NOT defrag if SSD!) ````````````````````End of Log``````````````````````

So far so good. Thanks for your continuing help. Below is the new Eset log: ESETSmartInstaller@High as downloader log: all ok # version=8 # OnlineScannerApp.exe=1.0.0.1 # OnlineScanner.ocx=1.0.0.6889 # api_version=3.0.2 # EOSSerial=a99d24429f363140bff7bd4903c3fc57 # end=finished # remove_checked=false # archives_checked=false # unwanted_checked=true # unsafe_checked=false # antistealth_checked=true # utc_time=2013-01-30 06:22:36 # local_time=2013-01-30 01:22:36 (-0500, Eastern Standard Time) # country="United States" # lang=1033 # osver=5.1.2600 NT Service Pack 3 # compatibility_mode=774 16777213 100 89 727738 135315228 0 0 # scanned=43669 # found=4 # cleaned=0 # scan_time=3541 C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\Apps\Puran Defrag\v.7.5\PuranDefragFreeSetup.exe a variant of Win32/Toolbar.Babylon.A application 5895429B57F5706829BB2B343C67EC11DF1A3A4B I C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\Apps\Unlocker\Unlocker1.9.1.exe Win32/Adware.ADON application 6E45431B698CDB7BE8F1A41266BE7B327F33AD38 I C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\Apps\XP SmokerFree\Pro v.5.7\xpspro.exe Win32/Toolbar.Zugo application 901394A065096958E10527DD812E8D046EFF9F94 I C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\Apps\XP SmokerFree\xps5.7Free.exe Win32/Toolbar.Zugo application D670AA03433270C2B9CD4978192A25FB2D699241 I ESETSmartInstaller@High as downloader log: Can not open internetESETSmartInstaller@High as downloader log: all ok # version=8 # OnlineScannerApp.exe=1.0.0.1 # OnlineScanner.ocx=1.0.0.6889 # api_version=3.0.2 # EOSSerial=a99d24429f363140bff7bd4903c3fc57 # end=finished # remove_checked=false # archives_checked=false # unwanted_checked=true # unsafe_checked=false # antistealth_checked=true # utc_time=2013-02-02 05:43:31 # local_time=2013-02-02 12:43:31 (-0500, Eastern Standard Time) # country="United States" # lang=1033 # osver=5.1.2600 NT Service Pack 3 # compatibility_mode=774 16777213 100 89 75926 135615283 0 0 # scanned=43094 # found=4 # cleaned=0 # scan_time=3156 C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\Apps\Puran Defrag\v.7.5\PuranDefragFreeSetup.exe a variant of Win32/Toolbar.Babylon.A application 5895429B57F5706829BB2B343C67EC11DF1A3A4B I C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\Apps\Unlocker\Unlocker1.9.1.exe Win32/Adware.ADON application 6E45431B698CDB7BE8F1A41266BE7B327F33AD38 I C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\Apps\XP SmokerFree\Pro v.5.7\xpspro.exe Win32/Toolbar.Zugo application 901394A065096958E10527DD812E8D046EFF9F94 I C:\Documents and Settings\user\My Documents\Apps\XP SmokerFree\xps5.7Free.exe Win32/Toolbar.Zugo application D670AA03433270C2B9CD4978192A25FB2D699241 I

I reinstalled MBAM and updated without any problem. I have not enabled realtime protection. Before I installed MBAM and earlier in the day, on one startup, I had the same problem of it booting, login, Window chimes, but no desktop. On restart, it corrected itself. This seems to be a reoccurring problem sometimes with no known trigger.

I followed the instructions in your last post. It still did not work. Would not complete initial scan and froze computer.

I was able to do this manually by running rkill first. Below is the new rkill log after a restart: Rkill 2.4.6 by Lawrence Abrams (Grinler) http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ Copyright 2008-2013 BleepingComputer.com More Information about Rkill can be found at this link: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic308364.html Program started at: 01/31/2013 10:52:53 PM in x86 mode. Windows Version: Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 3 Checking for Windows services to stop: * No malware services found to stop. Checking for processes to terminate: * C:\WINDOWS\System32\WLTRYSVC.EXE (PID: 1000) [WD-HEUR] * C:\WINDOWS\System32\bcmwltry.exe (PID: 1020) [WD-HEUR] * C:\WINDOWS\wanmpsvc.exe (PID: 1428) [WD-HEUR] 3 proccesses terminated! Checking Registry for malware related settings: * No issues found in the Registry. Resetting .EXE, .COM, & .BAT associations in the Windows Registry. Performing miscellaneous checks: * Windows Firewall Disabled [HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\StandardProfile] "EnableFirewall" = dword:00000000 Checking Windows Service Integrity: * DHCP Client (Dhcp) is not Running. Startup Type set to: Disabled * RpcSs => %SystemRoot%\system32\svchost.exe -k rpcss [incorrect ImagePath] Searching for Missing Digital Signatures: * No issues found. Checking HOSTS File: * HOSTS file entries found: 127.0.0.1 localhost Program finished at: 01/31/2013 10:54:04 PM Execution time: 0 hours(s), 1 minute(s), and 11 seconds(s)

I followed your instructions. No change. ComboFix still would not complete the initial scan after a 45 min. wait. It only appeared to be scanning for about 1 1/2 mins. It would not close and froze the computer so I had to do a forced shut down.

I followed your instructions, but it would not allow me to delete or replace the files--says they are being used by another program.

Unfortunately, I am suddenly having the same problem again. The computer boots, I put in my password, I hear the Window chimes, but the desktop does not come up. To fix it, I went into SafeMode, and restored to Feb 29 and this worked. I then ran the new version of CCleaner (3.27.1900), and the problem occurred again. I again went into SafeMode and restored to Feb 29 and this worked. I believe I may have run the new version of CCleaner 3.27.1900 after I installed MBAM 1.70. So, the problem may have been caused by the CCleaner rather than MBAM.