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A program has corrupted your search provider.


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  • Root Admin

Sorry for the delay - I'll go ahead and assist you at this time.

 

Please read the following and post back the requested logs when ready

General P2P/Piracy Warning:
 

 
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Before we proceed further, please read all of the following instructions carefully.
If there is anything that you do not understand kindly ask before proceeding.
If needed please print out these instructions.
  • Please do not post logs using CODE, QUOTE, or FONT tags. Just paste them as direct text.
  • If the log is too large then you can use attachments by clicking on the More Reply Options button.
  • Please enable your system to show hidden files: How to see hidden files in Windows
  • Make sure you're subscribed to this topic:
    • Click on the Follow This Topic Button (at the top right of this page), make sure that the Receive notification box is checked and that it is set to Instantly

    [*]Removing malware can be unpredictable...It is unlikely but things can go very wrong! Please make sure you Backup all files that cannot be replaced if something were to happen. You can copy them to a CD/DVD, external drive or a pen drive [*]Please don't run any other scans, download, install or uninstall any programs unless requested by me while I'm working with you. [*]The removal of malware is not instantaneous, please be patient. Often we are also on a different Time Zone. [*]Perform everything in the correct order. Sometimes one step requires the previous one. [*]If you have any problems while following my instructions, Stop there and tell me the exact nature of the issue. [*]You can check here if you're not sure if your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit [*]Please disable your antivirus while running any requested scanners so that they do not interfere with the scanners. [*]When we are done, I'll give you instructions on how to cleanup all the tools and logs [*]Please stick with me until I give you the "all clear" and Please don't waste my time by leaving before that. [*]Your topic will be closed if you haven't replied within 3 days [*](If I have not responded within 24 hours, please send me a Private Message as a reminder)


 
STEP 0
RKill is a program that was developed at BleepingComputer.com that attempts to terminate known malware processes
so that your normal security software can then run and clean your computer of infections.
When RKill runs it will kill malware processes and then removes incorrect executable associations and fixes policies
that stop us from using certain tools. When finished it will display a log file that shows the processes that were
terminated while the program was running.

As RKill only terminates a program's running process, and does not delete any files, after running it you should not reboot
your computer as any malware processes that are configured to start automatically will just be started again.
Instead, after running RKill you should immediately scan your computer using the requested scans I've included.

Please download Rkill by Grinler from one of the links below and save it to your desktop.
 


Link 2

  • On Windows XP double-click on the Rkill desktop icon to run the tool.
  • On Windows Vista/Windows 7 or 8, right-click on the Rkill desktop icon and select Run As Administrator
  • A black DOS box will briefly flash and then disappear. This is normal and indicates the tool ran successfully.
  • If not, delete the file, then download and use the one provided in Link 2.
  • If it does not work, repeat the process and attempt to use one of the remaining links until the tool runs.
  • If the tool does not run from any of the links provided, please let me know.
  • Do not reboot the computer, you will need to run the application again.

 
STEP 01
Backup the Registry:
Modifying the Registry can create unforeseen problems, so it always wise to create a backup before doing so.
  • Please download ERUNT from one of the following links: Link1 | Link2 | Link3
  • ERUNT (Emergency Recovery Utility NT) is a free program that allows you to keep a complete backup of your registry and restore it when needed.
  • Double click on erunt-setup.exe to Install ERUNT by following the prompts.
  • NOTE: Do not choose to allow ERUNT to add an Entry to the Startup folder. Click NO.
  • Start ERUNT either by double clicking on the desktop icon or choosing to start the program at the end of the setup process.
  • Choose a location for the backup.
    • Note: the default location is C:\Windows\ERDNT which is acceptable.

    [*]Make sure that at least the first two check boxes are selected. [*]Click on OK [*]Then click on YES to create the folder. [*]Note: if it is necessary to restore the registry, open the backup folder and start ERDNT.exe


 
 
STEP 02
Please run a Quick Scan with Malwarebytes
Open up Malwarebytes > Settings Tab > Scanner Settings > Under action for PUP > Select: Show in Results List and Check for removal.
Please Update and run a Quick Scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, post back the report.
Make sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected if anything is found.
 
 
STEP 03
Please download RogueKiller and save it to your desktop.

You can check here if you're not sure if your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit

  • RogueKiller 32-bit | RogueKiller 64-bit
  • Quit all running programs.
  • For Windows XP, double-click to start.
  • For Vista,Windows 7/8, Right-click on the program and select Run as Administrator to start and when prompted allow it to run.
  • Read and accept the EULA (End User Licene Agreement)
  • Click Scan to scan the system.
  • When the scan completes Close the program > Don't Fix anything!
  • Don't run any other options, they're not all bad!!
  • Post back the report which should be located on your desktop.


 
Thanks
 

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  • Root Admin

Please go ahead and run through the following steps and post back the logs when ready.

STEP 03
Please download Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit from here

  • Unzip the contents to a folder in a convenient location.
  • Open the folder where the contents were unzipped and run mbar.exe
  • Follow the instructions in the wizard to update and allow the program to scan your computer for threats.
  • Click on the Cleanup button to remove any threats and reboot if prompted to do so.
  • Wait while the system shuts down and the cleanup process is performed.
  • Perform another scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Rootkit to verify that no threats remain. If they do, then click Cleanup once more and repeat the process.
  • When done, please post the two logs produced they will be in the MBAR folder... mbar-log.txt and system-log.txt

STEP 04
Please download Junkware Removal Tool to your desktop.

  • Shutdown your antivirus to avoid any conflicts.
  • Right click over JRT.exe and select Run as administrator on Windows Vista or Windows 7, double-click on XP.
  • The tool will open and start scanning your system.
  • Please be patient as this can take a while to complete.
  • On completion, a log (JRT.txt) is saved to your desktop and will automatically open.
  • Post the contents of JRT.txt into your next reply message
  • When completed make sure to re-enable your antivirus

STEP 05
Lets clean out any adware now: (this will require a reboot so save all your work)

Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode and save to your Desktop.

  • Double click on AdwCleaner.exe to run the tool.
    Vista/Windows 7/8 users right-click and select Run As Administrator
  • Click on the Scan button.
  • AdwCleaner will begin...be patient as the scan may take some time to complete.
  • When it's done you'll see: Pending: Please uncheck elements you don't want removed.
  • Now click on the Report button...a logfile (AdwCleaner[R0].txt) will open in Notepad for review.
  • Look over the log especially under Files/Folders for any program you want to save.
  • If there's a program you may want to save, just uncheck it from AdwCleaner.
  • If you're not sure, post the log for review. (all items found are adware/spyware/foistware)
  • If you're ready to clean it all up.....click the Clean button.
  • After rebooting, a logfile report (AdwCleaner[s0].txt) will open automatically.
  • Copy and paste the contents of that logfile in your next reply.
  • A copy of that logfile will also be saved in the C:\AdwCleaner folder.
  • Items that are deleted are moved to the Quarantine Folder: C:\AdwCleaner\Quarantine
  • To restore an item that has been deleted:
  • Go to Tools > Quarantine Manager > check what you want restored > now click on Restore.


STEP 06
button_eos.gif

Please go here to run the online antivirus scannner from ESET.

  • Turn off the real time scanner of any existing antivirus program while performing the online scan
  • Tick the box next to YES, I accept the Terms of Use.
  • Click Start
  • When asked, allow the activex control to install
  • Click Start
  • Make sure that the option Remove found threats is unticked
  • Click on Advanced Settings and ensure these options are ticked:
    • Scan for potentially unwanted applications
    • Scan for potentially unsafe applications
    • Enable Anti-Stealth Technology
  • Click Scan
  • Wait for the scan to finish
  • If any threats were found, click the 'List of found threats' , then click Export to text file....
  • Save it to your desktop, then please copy and paste that log as a reply to this topic.

STEP 07
Please download the Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop.

Note: You need to run the version compatibale with your system. You can check here if you're not sure if your computer is 32-bit or 64-bit

  • Double-click to run it. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
  • Press the Scan button.
  • It will make a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory the tool is run. Please copy and paste it to your reply.
  • The first time the tool is run, it also makes another log (Addition.txt). Please attach it to your reply as well.
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  • Root Admin

Please Run TFC by OldTimer to clear temporary files:

  • Download TFC from here and save it to your desktop.
  • http://oldtimer.geekstogo.com/TFC.exe
  • Close any open programs and Internet browsers.
  • Double click TFC.exe to run it on XP (for Vista and Windows 7 right click and choose "Run as administrator") and once it opens click on the Start button on the lower left of the program to allow it to begin cleaning.
  • Please be patient as clearing out temp files may take a while.
  • Once it completes you may be prompted to restart your computer, please do so.
  • Once it's finished you may delete TFC.exe from your desktop or save it for later use for the cleaning of temporary files.
  • RESTART the computer.

 

 

 

 

Next, Please download the attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop.
NOTE. It's important that both files, FRST or FRST64 and fixlist.txt are in the same location or the fix will not work.

NOTICE: This script was written specifically for this user, for use on this particular machine. Running this on another machine may cause damage to your operating system.

Run FRST or FRST64 and press the Fix button just once and wait.
If the tool needs a restart please make sure you let the system restart normally and let the tool complete its run after restart.
The tool will make a log on the Desktop (Fixlog.txt). Please attach or post it to your next reply.

Note: If the tool warned you about an outdated version please download and run the updated version.

 

 

fixlist.txt

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  • Root Admin

Please visit each of the following sites and lets reset all of your browsers back to defaults to prevent unexpected issues.
If you are not using one of the browsers but it is installed then you may want to consider uninstalling it as older versions of some software can pose an increase in the potential for an infection to get in.

Internet Explorer
How to reset Internet Explorer settings

Firefox
Click on Help / Troubleshooting Information then click on the Reset Firefox button.

Chrome
Chrome - Reset browser settings

Opera
How to Perform a (really) clean Reinstall of Opera
 
 
 

Then let me know if you're still getting a search provider error or not.

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Reset IE. I thought that Firefox, and Chrome were removed, and I have never heard of Opera. I searched the computer, and it showed all three in both Trend and Malwarebytes. It also showed them in some folders in C:. I went to those folders and they were not there, at least not hidden, and I did not think hidden files would show up in search and not the folders.

 

Upon resetting IE I still have the problem.

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I do not know how to get a screen shot of this error. It will only allow me to click okay. Below is what it says exactly.

 

In the border it says:

Internet Explorer-Search Provider Default

 

Inside the box it says:

A program on your computer has corrupted your default search provider setting for Internet Explorer.

 

Internet Explorer has reset this setting to your original search provider, Bing (www.bing.com)

 

Internet Explorer will now open Search Settings, where you can change this setting or install more search providers.

 

After clicking Okay it opens up Search Setting, where all I can do is add and delete all providers but Bing. I can not change the default from Bing, and even thought Bing is the default provider the error message continues to come up every time I open IE. This started a little over a month ago when I had Win 8 and IE 10. After about a week I uploaded Win 8.1 and IE 11 thinking that might fix it, and yes I know now that I shouldn't have.

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  • Root Admin

Try to right click over Internet Explorer and select "Run as administrator" then go to Tools/Internet Options/Advanced and click on the "Restore advanced settings"

Then go to the Programs tab and click on the "Manage add-ons" button.

 

Then click the Search Providers and remove all except for Bing.

Then click on the "Find more search provider" link on bottom left side.

 

post-2065-0-56634900-1398153871_thumb.jp

 

Clicking that link should launch this site for you

http://www.iegallery.com/en-us/addons?callback=true&featuretype=2

Then find Google and add it in.  It should offer to allow you to set Google as the default Search Provider click to make that happen.

 

Then close IE and then relaunch IE and see if the error remains.

 

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  • Root Admin

Well if this was Windows XP or 7 it would be a lot easier to possibly fix it.  Windows 8.1 limits the tools that can run on it and the knowledge base of fixes for it are also quite limited due to it's newness.

 

Please download Process Monitor from Microsoft and we'll look at using that to see if the Registry is being blocked for some reason.

 

Please read the following post and watch the video (different issue but it shows now to use Process Monitor)

Runtime error 0, 440, and 339 automation errors

 

You can download Process Monitor from the link here

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896645.aspx

 

Then basically set a filter to show ACCESS DENIED and then run IE and try to change, add, manipulate the Search Provider and look for the access denied messages.

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I did as you ask. When I filtered by access denied it came up with a real long list of them. I could not tell if anything was added to the list when I tried to change the search provider. I was able to remove Bing, and just have Google, which I hadn't been able to. What should I exactly look for to fix?

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Root Admin

Well no smoking gun that I'm seeing for this. 

 

Let's try another way.  On your menu find the Internet Explorer shortcut.  Right click over it and choose "Run as administrator" then go to Tools/Internet Options/Advanced and again click on the RESET button and tell it to remove all personal settings.  Then restart the computer and now see if you can change the provider information or if you're still getting this error or not and let me know.

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  • Root Admin

Well not really sure what's going on at this point Mike. I've even seen this exact error message on a computer from one of my users and the general cleanup steps we've used here fixed it for them. If I had to guess I would say there is some type of permissions issue but finding, fixing that is not easy.

Let me have you try the AdwCleaner and JRT again, and then run new FRST scan and post back all logs and we'll try again. Make sure antivirus is disabled when running all tools.

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