I was starting to like vista when this happened...

Hello all,


The Problem

[FONT=&quot]I've been getting this error message when I try to open certain control panel functions from the RUN command line or through the MMC console itself.

Other functions like performance information, user accounts and parental controls don't respond when clicked. Windows update might flash up the beginnings of a window for a split second but wont load. I've got the update icon on my task bar saying it cant update.

Other than some key function being inaccessible the PC runs fine (apart form Firefox has started crashing out every now again)
I can install software ok.

What I tried.
I've run the SVG /scannow thing and it found no problem
Its my home PC sp I am setup as administrator. This problem is effecting another vanilla admin account AND the hidden Admin account.
I've virus scanned in safe mode.
System restore went through the motions but after it had restarted the PC it said it couldn't actually restore... [/FONT][FONT=&quot]

the windows malicious software tool found and removed win32/Vundo

spybot found a few tracking cookies and thats about it.

THis feels like a virus, but it might be a Vista thing.

I'm preparing my self to reinstall EVERYTHING but thought I'd try here as a last resort
(I have searched the thread here and big chunk of the internet for this problem but have not found the identical problem)


Thanks in advance for any help offered.
[/FONT]

Try looking here;
Fixing MMC Errors - Matt Broadstock at myITforum

thanks but that relates to XP. (2005)

If mmc.exe is corrupt how would I go about fixing it in vista?

THe only user based reference to mmc i can find is

C:\Users\*user*\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\MMC
and its just an xml file called eventvwr which doesn't tell me much...


MMC.exe is present in system32 and loads some snapins fine.

I still haven't fixed this problem, and judging by the tumble weeds in this thread nobody has heard of anything similar hapening to other users.

I've run several more virus scans in safe mode (after that conflicker worm got on the news)

the Malicious(sp) Software Tool found a vundo trojan that is gone now. But I still do not have access to bits of my control panel.

• Windows update
• Windows defender update
• User accounts
• Parental Controls
• System and Maintenance
• Performance Information and Tools

Do those functions belong to a certain set of admnistrative rights?

I'm staring at the abyss of a windows reinstall( reinstalling all apps and games is going to take sooo long) and would like to able to fix this instead.


please and thank you

Have you tried lusrmgr.msc.> Users> hidden admin> take the tick out of Disable.

Apply

Task manager> Swap.
Will show a logon screen

Oh dear. The Vundo family of malware is a particularly nasty one that is difficult to successfully remove - even if scans say that your system is clear, there may still be traces lurking on your system. A reinstallation of the OS is a good way of ensuring that your system is clean.

olly23 said:

Its my home PC sp I am setup as administrator. This problem is effecting another vanilla admin account AND the hidden Admin account.

Click to expand...

You should have no more than 2 administrative accounts on your machine - these being the built-in administrator account which is disabled by default and the account you created when installing Vista. All other accounts should be created as a standard account and they should be used for day-to-day work as this can really help your system security. Unfortunately, by running as an administrator, you automatically give all programs that you install and run administrative privileges. This also includes programs which try to install themselves in the background without your knowledge whilst browsing the Internet. It is possible that the Vundo trojan installed itself on your system this way.

Sounds like a repair would be the first thing to try. After that, a full reinstall sounds prudent. Sorry for all the trouble.

~Lordbob

Best of luck with the reinstallation, and remember this advice about user accounts:

Dwarf said:

You should have no more than 2 administrative accounts on your machine - these being the built-in administrator account which is disabled by default and the account you created when installing Vista. All other accounts should be created as a standard account and they should be used for day-to-day work as this can really help your system security.

Click to expand...

Biting the bullet next weekend.

I was just going to copy the two user folders but the last thing I want to do is bring the problem over to the new install
(theres about 100GB, alot of saved games, recorded tv and other odds and sods that I don't want to loose but a/the virus could easilly hide in there)

Any time saving advice????

I've already wasted a chunk of my life installing NT and 98 (othere OSs not so myuch) countless times and would like this to be quick'ish and painless.

I have USB external drives and a few spare IDE drives knocking about

You can still try to scan for any vundo crud left, although you may not get it all. Worth a try. Try these three apps. And always have a good Antivirus program actively monitoring your system.

VundoFix by Atribune
Malwarebytes.org
The home of Spybot-S&D!


Vundo/Virtumonde is like Dwarf says, a very nasty thing. It likes to replicate itself over and over and go deep into your system.

Dwarf said:

You should have no more than 2 administrative accounts on your machine - these being the built-in administrator account which is disabled by default and the account you created when installing Vista. All other accounts should be created as a standard account and they should be used for day-to-day work as this can really help your system security. Unfortunately, by running as an administrator, you automatically give all programs that you install and run administrative privileges. This also includes programs which try to install themselves in the background without your knowledge whilst browsing the Internet.

Click to expand...

G'Day Dwarf.

Q. How do I check that this is the case? Help and Support quick answers useless.

Answer by line thread is easiest for me. ie. L/c Start>Computor.R/c>select ***>L/c etc.

Cheers. sassofalco

Hi Tony,

Click the Start Orb and type Control Userpasswords2 into the search box and press enter/return. You will need to provide administrative credentials. When you do, the following dialogue will appear:

This shows the current active users (I have removed the user names for security). I only have 2 accounts on my system, these being an Administrators account created when I installed Vista and a Users account which I created for daily use. It is very rare that I actually log directly in to my administrator account - instead I use the UAC when I require these privileges.
An alternative method is to download and install the Belarc Advisor (Belarc - System Management For The Internet Age). When you run this, you will again need to provide administrative credentials. This useful program checks your security status and also whether your system is fully upto date with the updates. This image shows the relevant section pertinent to your question:

Dwarf said:

Hi Tony,
An alternative method is to download and install the Belarc Advisor (Belarc - System Management For The Internet Age). When you run this, you will again need to provide administrative credentials. This useful program checks your security status and also whether your system is fully upto date with the updates. This image shows the relevant section pertinent to your question:
View attachment 9721

Click to expand...

Thanks Dwarf for the personal tutorial.

I could not get access with the first part via Userpassword2, so I used the Belarc Advisor instead. What a great little tool that is, and what a wealth of information that it gives of the entire system. There's only one word for it.....stunning!!

Everyday, a little more learned.:D

Thanks again. Tony

Hi Tony,

I made a typo with the first command, missing an s It should read Control Userpasswords2. I have corrected the above post to make it clearer.

Dwarf said:

Hi Tony,

I made a typo with the first command, missing an s It should read Control Userpasswords2. I have corrected the above post to make it clearer.

Click to expand...

G'Day Dwarf,

Ahhhhhhhhhh! That's better, as you can see from the shots below. Still, something positive came from the error. Had I been successful first time around with your advice, it is likely that I would never have downloaded Belarc Advisor, and will have missed out on its' awesome capabilities.....and it's so fast!

First screen-snip is Control Userpasswords2 result for User Accounts;

Hi Tony,

The difference between local user accounts and local system accounts is that the latter are in-built in Vista, whereas the former are those that you create yourself.

There is only one active account showing, and that is an Administrators account. You really need to create a standard account for daily use. This Tutorial will show you how: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/93009-user-account-create.html

Dwarf said:

Hi Tony,

The difference between local user accounts and local system accounts is that the latter are in-built in Vista, whereas the former are those that you create yourself.

There is only one active account showing, and that is an Administrators account. You really need to create a standard account for daily use. This Tutorial will show you how: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/93009-user-account-create.html

Click to expand...

OK Dwarf.

I've managed to create a new User Account;


Advice please that I need for short term is;

Can I disable need for Password to open the User Account?

How do I give 'permission' for this account to have access to all programs etc. currently available to the Admin., or does this then compromise the security issue?

I'm guessing the same applies to all my email accounts?

Mate, this is like going right back to the start, 18 months ago......when I knew absolutely nothing about set-up, and I guess set-up by sheer fluke as Admin. Been that way ever since.

Your help in this much appreciated.

I've done my reinstall now - what fun that was...

Now after catching up with 72 updates my vista remote won't work

batteries are fine, the IR reciever flashes so its getting signal.

is this a known issue?

Also is there anything I can do, other than a restore point, to save this virginal install state?

Hi olly23,

You could make an image in a few minutes that can be restored later -returning your system to exactly the state it is in now.

This free app. is very good for that.

Macrium Reflect Free Edition - Free software downloads and reviews - CNET Download.com


You need to store the image somewhere and make another every now and again so it's up to date. Can be stored on another partition , but external media is safer still.

Hope it helps

SIW2