System32 folder window appears on startup - exhausted all known remedies

I initially addressed this problem in another similar thread submitted 28-04-2006 by thedoc: System32 Folder

A friend's initial complaint to me was that his PC always froze at the signon screen. Believe it or not, he was running WinXP Pro on a 3GB drive! My hard drive diagnostics CD found and disabled a bad sector, which resolved the logon issue but, not wanting to work with a failing drive, I cloned it to another, expanded the partition to 20GB and then proceeded to repair the OS and apply the standard updates, which had never been done.
With the help of Bitdefender, Panda Activescan, Ad-aware and Spybot S&D, I next identified and removed 2 trojan dialers and your typical amount of spyware objects.

Now this system works fine but for one highly annoying problem: The system32 folder window persistently appears on startup - definitely not a cool place to welcome novice users to poke around in!

All efforts to isolate the problem via limited startup options failed (only safe boot is unaffected), a careful check for invalid registry entries that typically cause this problem reveal nothing amiss and log files appear to hold no clues. I'm stumped. Any suggestions?


Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 7:14:21 PM, on 6/7/2006
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v7.00 (7.00.5346.0005)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLAcsd.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\TopSpeed\2.0\aoltsmon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\inetsrv\inetinfo.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsrte.exe
c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcshield.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsshld.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\AOLDial.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
c:\progra~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsescn.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\1128057188\ee\AOLHostMana ger.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\1128057188\ee\AOLServiceH ost.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
c:\progra~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsftsn.exe
c:\progra~1\common~1\aol\1128057188\ee\services\an tiSpywareApp\ver2_0_7\AOLSP Scheduler.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\1128057188\ee\AOLServiceH ost.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0\waol.exe
C:\Program Files\America Online 9.0\shellmon.exe
C:\DOCUME~1\AUGUST~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\Temporary Directory 1 for hijackthis.zip\HijackThis.exe

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54729
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=55245&clcid={SUB_CLCID}
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O3 - Toolbar: AOL Toolbar - {4982D40A-C53B-4615-B15B-B5B5E98D167C} - C:\Program Files\AOL Toolbar\toolbar.dll
O3 - Toolbar: McAfee VirusScan - {BA52B914-B692-46c4-B683-905236F6F655} - c:\progra~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsshl.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VSOCheckTask] "c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcmnhdlr.exe" /checktask
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [VirusScan Online] "c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsshld.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroCheck] C:\WINDOWS\System32\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MCUpdateExe] C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee.com\Agent\McUpdate.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MCAgentExe] C:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\agent\mcagent.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HostManager] C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\1128057188\ee\AOLHostMana ger.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AOLDialer] C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\AOL\ACS\AOLDial.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] C:\PROGRA~1\Messenger\msmsgs.exe /background
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Translate English Word - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmwordtrans.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar Pages - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate Page into English - res://c:\program files\google\GoogleToolbar2.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {85d1f590-48f4-11d9-9669-0800200c9a66} - %windir%\bdoscandel.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Uninstall BitDefender Online Scanner v8 - {85d1f590-48f4-11d9-9669-0800200c9a66} - %windir%\bdoscandel.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O11 - Options group: [INTERNATIONAL] International*
O16 - DPF: {17492023-C23A-453E-A040-C7C580BBF700} (Windows Genuine Advantage Validation Tool) - http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=39204
O16 - DPF: {5D86DDB5-BDF9-441B-9E9E-D4730F4EE499} (BDSCANONLINE Control) - http://download.bitdefender.com/reso...an8/oscan8.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsu...?1143429099780
O16 - DPF: {6E32070A-766D-4EE6-879C-DC1FA91D2FC3} (MUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/microsof...?1143435190296
O16 - DPF: {89D75D39-5531-47BA-9E4F-B346BA9C362C} (CWDL_DownLoadControl Class) - http://www.callwave.com/include/cab/CWDL_DownLoad.CAB
O16 - DPF: {9A9307A0-7DA4-4DAF-B042-5009F29E09E1} (ActiveScan Installer Class) - http://acs.pandasoftware.com/actives...ree/asinst.cab
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O23 - Service: AOL Connectivity Service (AOL ACS) - America Online - C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLAcsd.exe
O23 - Service: AOL TopSpeed Monitor (AOL TopSpeedMonitor) - America Online, Inc - C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\TopSpeed\2.0\aoltsmon.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee.com McShield (McShield) - Unknown owner - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee SecurityCenter Update Manager (mcupdmgr.exe) - Networks Associates Technology, Inc - C:\PROGRA~1\McAfee.com\Agent\mcupdmgr.exe
O23 - Service: McAfee.com VirusScan Online Realtime Engine (MCVSRte) - Networks Associates Technology, Inc - c:\PROGRA~1\mcafee.com\vso\mcvsrte.exe

Hi,

I'm stumped also.


Do this first(ewido)



Please download, install, and update the NEW free version of Ewido trojan scanner:

When installing, under "Additional Options" uncheck "Install background guard" and "Install scan via context menu".

When you run ewido for the first time, you may get a warning "Database could not be found!". Click OK. We will fix this in a moment.

From the main ewido screen, click on update in the left menu, then click the Start update button.

After the update finishes (the status bar at the bottom will display "Update successful")

Click on the Scanner button in the left menu, then click on Complete System Scan. This scan can take quite a while to run.

If ewido finds anything, it will pop up a notification. We have been finding some cases of false positives with the new version of Ewido, so we need to step through the fixes one-by-one. If Ewido finds something that you KNOW is legitimate (for example, parts of AVG Antivirus, pcAnywhere and the game "Risk" have been flagged), select "none" as the action. DO NOT check "Perform action with all infections". If you are unsure of an entry, select "none" for the time being. I'll see that in the log you will post later and let you know if ewido needs to be run again.

When the scan finishes, click on "Save Report". This will create a text file. Make sure you know where to find this file again.

Post the log Ewido makes back here please and a new hijackthis log. Thanks.




http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner

Please do an online scan with Kaspersky WebScanner

Click on Kaspersky Online Scanner

You will be prompted to install an ActiveX component from Kaspersky, Click Yes.

* The program will launch and then begin downloading the latest definition files:
* Once the files have been downloaded click on NEXT
* Now click on Scan Settings
* In the scan settings make sure that the following are selected:
o Scan using the following Anti-Virus database:
- Extended (if available otherwise Standard)
o Scan Options:
- Scan Archives
- Scan Mail Bases
* Click OK
*Now under select a target to scan:
o Select My Computer
* This program will start and scan your system.
* The scan will take a while so be patient and let it run.
* Once the scan is complete it will display if your system has been infected.
o Now click on the Save as Text button:
* Save the file to your desktop.
* Copy and paste that information in your next post.

__________________
Stalking and killing Spyware

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MALWARE: READ FIRST Procedures:
|_ SpyBot V1.5 _|_ HijackThis Log __V2.0.2 _|



ASAP: promoting a high standard and quality of security support no matter where you seek help.

Ewido found a few more tracking cookies but Kaspersky Online Scanner turned up nothing.

---------------------------------------------------------
ewido anti-malware - Scan report
---------------------------------------------------------

+ Created on: 4:11:06 PM, 6/11/2006
+ Report-Checksum: BA6FD199

+ Scan result:

C:\Documents and Settings\augusto Sr\Cookies\augusto_sr@ad.yieldmanager[2].txt -> TrackingCookie.Yieldmanager : Cleaned with backup
C:\Documents and Settings\augusto Sr\Cookies\augusto_sr@adtech[2].txt -> TrackingCookie.Adtech : Cleaned with backup
C:\Documents and Settings\augusto Sr\Cookies\augusto_sr@as-us.falkag[1].txt -> TrackingCookie.Falkag : Cleaned with backup
C:\Documents and Settings\augusto Sr\Cookies\augusto_sr@microsofteup.112.2o7[1].txt -> TrackingCookie.2o7 : Cleaned with backup
C:\Documents and Settings\augusto Sr\Cookies\augusto_sr@msnportal.112.2o7[1].txt -> TrackingCookie.2o7 : Cleaned with backup
C:\Documents and Settings\augusto Sr\Cookies\augusto_sr@tribalfusion[1].txt -> TrackingCookie.Tribalfusion : Cleaned with backup


::Report End

Apparently this is not a malware problem and that is all I do.


I read on all the research you've done with no results. Wished I could help, might try XPHelp forum again.

__________________
Stalking and killing Spyware

Have we helped you? Please consider a donation to help keep D-A-L free. Click on donate below



MALWARE: READ FIRST Procedures:
|_ SpyBot V1.5 _|_ HijackThis Log __V2.0.2 _|



ASAP: promoting a high standard and quality of security support no matter where you seek help.