Nasty Trojan- Can't Run Any .exe Files

[Juliette]

First, thanks for reading this. I did read and attempt to go through the steps listed in the Malware Removal Guide. However, although I can download the file for Malwarebytes, I can't actually run it. I get an error saying that it "is not a valid Win32 application".

I have a new (I've had it for less than a month) HP laptop running Windows 7. I somehow acquired a Trojan, despite having Norton AntiVirus running on my system. I downloaded a few set-up files for programs such as HijackThis and Cleaner7, but I cannot run any of them. I get the "is not a valid Win32 application" error when trying to to do.

I restored my laptop to the original factory settings, but that didn't help. Because I did this, I lost the name of the evil program (I had searched Google for it)... the name sounded something like "animal", and it pretended to find threats on my computer in order to get me to pay for "removal" of them. I tried to remove it in my control panel but of course that didn't work. I thought that since it didn't show up in Programs when I restored it was gone, but I could tell my computer was still infected.

[Gammo]

Hi,

Please download ComboFix from: Here to your Desktop.

**Note:**In the event you already have Combofix, this is a new version that I need you to download. It is important that it is saved and renamed following this process directly to your desktop**

1. If you are using Firefox, make sure that your download settings are as follows:
   
   • Tools->Options->Main tab
     
   • Set to "Always ask me where to Save the files".
     

[*]During the download, rename Combofix to the name provided in the image below:

[*]It is important you rename Combofix during the download, but not after.

[*]Please do not rename Combofix to other names, but only to the one indicated.

[*]Close any open browsers.

[*]Close/disable all anti virus and anti malware programs so they do not interfere with the running of ComboFix.

• Very Important! Temporarily disable your anti-virus, script blocking and any anti-malware real-time protection before performing a scan. They can interfere with ComboFix or remove some of its embedded files which may cause "unpredictable results".
  
• Click on this link to see a list of programs that should be disabled. The list is not all inclusive. If yours is not listed and you don't know how to disable it, please ask.
  
• Close any open browsers.
  

[*]Double click on the renamed version of ComboFix.exe & follow the prompts.

[*]When finished, it will produce a report for you.

[*]Please post the ComboFix log which can be found in the root drive (usually the C: Drive) for further review.

**Note: Do not mouseclick ComboFix's window while it's running. That may cause it to stall**

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you can't run the renamed version of ComboFix, then please tell me if you can run any of these:

http://oldtimer.geekstogo.com/OTL.exe

http://oldtimer.geekstogo.com/OTL.com

http://oldtimer.geekstogo.com/OTL.scr

http://www.forospyware.com/sUBs/dds/dds.pif

[Maurice Naggar]

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