Redirect Virus/Trojan crashed laptop

[hpmossii]

I have HP G72-B66US laptop purchased 10/2010. I am running Windows 7 Home Premium. I have McAfee Antivirus with current virus definitions and nothing was found but a month or so ago my McAfee firewall started turning off. I would turn it back on and sometimes it would turn right back off again. I’ve been concerned that I had some problem undetected by McAfee so I downloaded MalwareBytes. I actually disconnected my laptop from our wireless internet connection and downloaded the MalwareBytes setup file onto a flash drive using our desktop PC and then installed MalwareBytes on my laptop without taking it back online. MalwareBytes went all the way through a full scan and at the very end detected the Redirect Trojan. When I attempted to remove this Trojan with Malwarebytes, my computer crashed. When I rebooted, it was back connected to the wireless router and McAfee’s firewall was off again. Now the laptop won’t even boot up. Unfortunately, I didn't capture the logs to attach to this message.

[A] When I reboot it I get the “Starting Windows” message followed by the HP logo. Then I get a Windows Error Recovery screen with the following message: “Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. If Windows files have been damaged or configured incorrectly, Startup Repair can help diagnose and fix the problem. If power was interrupted during startup, chose Start Windows Normally.” When I chose Startup Repair, it says “Windows is loading files” and then displays a blue screen with something that looks like rays of light beaming from the top center. Then it says “Startup Repair”. Then it shows the Recovery Manager screen in the background with Startup Repair window on top. This window displays the message “Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically”. Closing that window brings me to the Recovery Manager screen with 3 sections: “I need help immediately”, “I’d like to identify any problems”, and “I’d like to take precautions”. The first section contained 3 options: Microsoft System Restore, System Recovery, and Minimized Image Recovery. The second section had 1 option: Run Computer Checkup. And the third section had 1 option: File Backup Program.

First I chose to back up my files. I then tried to read the DVDs on my desktop PC and saw the whole thing is compressed, so I have not verified the integrity of the backup. The Computer Checkup utility provides 3 options: Launch Check Disk for the Windows Partition, Launch Check Disk for the Recovery Partition, or Open a Command Prompt.

Running Check Disk for the Windows Partition, it went through the process of verifying files and then indexes and security descriptors. I did not see anything that looked bad, though at the end the data flew rapidly up the screen so I couldn’t read it all.

[C] At this point, I clicked the X to close Recovery Manager. It prompted: “Do you want to exit Recovery Manager and reboot?” and I clicked OK. This brought me back to the stage described in [A] above. This time I chose “Start Windows Normally.” I got the “Starting Windows” message followed by the HP logo. Then it went right back to the Windows Error Recovery screen with my two choices of “Startup Repair” or “Start Windows Normally”.

[D] I then went back into Recovery Manager and tried System Recovery. Since I’d been having problems for a few weeks I chose to recover a few stages back, using 4/6/13. That recover processed for a while but eventually failed. The problem was identified as StartupRepairOffline. I don’t know if I can even get my laptop back online since I can’t cleanly boot up, so if I need to be online to run the repair utility I’m stuck.

Please advise how I should proceed from this point…

[gringo_pr]

Hello hpmossii

I would like to welcome you to the Malware Removal section of the forum.

Around here they call me Gringo and I will be glad to help you with your malware problems.

Very Important --> Please read this post completely, I have spent my time to put together somethings for you to keep in mind while I am helping you to make things go easier, faster and smoother for both of us!

• 
  
• Please do not run any tools unless instructed to do so.
  
  • We ask you to run different tools in a specific order to ensure the malware is completely removed from your machine, and running any additional tools may detect false positives, interfere with our tools, or cause unforeseen damage or system instability.
    

  [*]Please do not attach logs or use code boxes, just copy and paste the text.

  • Due to the high volume of logs we receive it helps to receive everything in the same format, and code boxes make the logs very difficult to read. Also, attachments require us to download and open the reports when it is easier to just read the reports in your post.
    

  [*]Please read every post completely before doing anything.

  • Pay special attention to the NOTE: lines, these entries identify an individual issue or important step in the cleanup process.
    

  [*]Please provide feedback about your experience as we go.

  • A short statement describing how the computer is working helps us understand where to go next, for example: I am still getting redirected, the computer is running normally, etc. Please do not describe the computer as "the same", this requires the extra step of looking back at your previous post.
  
  

NOTE: At the top of your post, click on the "Follow This Topic" Button, make sure that the "Receive notification" box is checked and that it is set to "Instantly" - This will send you an e-mail as soon as I reply to your topic, allowing us to resolve the issue faster.

NOTE: Backup any files that cannot be replaced. Removing malware can be unpredictable and this step can save a lot of heartaches if things don't go as planed. You can put them on a CD/DVD, external drive or a pen drive, anywhere except on the computer.

NOTE: It is good practice to copy and paste the instructions into notepad and print them in case it is necessary for you to go offline during the cleanup process. To open notepad, navigate to Start Menu > All Programs > Accessories > Notepad. Please remember to copy the entire post so you do not miss any instructions.

For x32 (x86) bit systems download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to a flash drive.

For x64 bit systems download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool x64 and save it to a flash drive.

How to tell > 32 or 64 bit

Plug the flashdrive into the infected PC.

Enter System Recovery Options.

To enter System Recovery Options from the Advanced Boot Options:

• 
  
• Restart the computer.
  
• As soon as the BIOS is loaded begin tapping the F8 key until Advanced Boot Options appears.
  
• Use the arrow keys to select the Repair your computer menu item.
  
• Select US as the keyboard language settings, and then click Next.
  
• Select the operating system you want to repair, and then click Next.
  
• Select your user account an click Next.

To enter System Recovery Options by using Windows installation disc:

• Insert the installation disc.
  
• Restart your computer.
  
• If prompted, press any key to start Windows from the installation disc. If your computer is not configured to start from a CD or DVD, check your BIOS settings.
  
• Click Repair your computer.
  
• Select US as the keyboard language settings, and then click Next.
  
• Select the operating system you want to repair, and then click Next.
  
• Select your user account and click Next.

On the System Recovery Options menu you will get the following options:

• • 
    Startup Repair
    System Restore
    Windows Complete PC Restore
    Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool
    Command Prompt

[*]Select Command Prompt

[*]In the command window type in notepad and press Enter.

[*]The notepad opens. Under File menu select Open.

[*]Select "Computer" and find your flash drive letter and close the notepad.

[*]In the command window type e:\frst64.exe or e:\frst.exe and press Enter

Note: Replace letter e with the drive letter of your flash drive.

[*]The tool will start to run.

[*]When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.

[*]First Press the Scan button.

[*]It will make a log (FRST.txt)

[*]Second Type the following in the edit box after "Search:". services.exe

[*]Click the Search button

[*]It will make a log (Search.txt)

I want you to poste Both the FRST.txt report and the Search.txt into your reply to me

Gringo

[gringo_pr]

Hello

48 Hour bump

It has been more than 48 hours since my last post.

• do you still need help with this?
  
• do you need more time?
  
• are you having problems following my instructions?
  
• if after 48hrs you have not replied to this thread then it will have to be closed!
  

Gringo

[Maurice Naggar]

Due to the lack of feedback this topic is closed to prevent others from posting here. If you need this topic reopened, please send a Private Message to any one of the moderating team members. Please include a link to this thread with your request. This applies only to the originator of this thread.

Other members who need assistance please start your own topic in a new thread. Thanks!