Solved Security Center and Program Permissions

[brack]

I'm trying to help out my sister on her laptop (Compaq Vista 32bit). Here are the problems:

1. Can not access Windows Security Center.. It comes up on the tool bar red with the X. When you try to open it either off the tool bar or even through the Control Center you get: A "open with" window to select the program to open "rundll32.exe". I have tried the tutuorial on this site to change security center from disabled to automatic, this did not work, it defaults back to disabled.
2. Will not start up the Microsoft Security Essentials antivirus program automatically on startup. You must manaul start and either run as adminstrator to start or go through the "open with window" process.
3. All program starts require to go through the "open with window" approach and some that does not work and you need to right click on the program and "run as administrator" to start the program (i.e. intenet exployer).

I have manually run Microsoft Security Essentials and removed numerous virus and trojans.

I am familar with XP and Windows 7, not Vista...

Any assistance will be appreciated

 

[mitchell]

Hallo Brack, It sounds like you could have corrupted system files from malware & more than likely still have active malware.
First off try these and see if the make any difference with things such as the Security Center not starting;

Check Disk - chkdsk

After this run System files command this will check for and attempt to repair any corrupted System files, please note that this can only fix one problem at a time so you may have to run it several times;

System Files - SFC Command

Next a good place to start is to download Malwarebytes free standalone scanner, update it & run a Scan;

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware: Malwarebytes

IF malwarebytes will not install, update or run then look at these other options see if your computer will allow you to run this free online scan;

Free ESET Online Antivirus Scanner

If not you may have to go to a friends computer Super anti spyware has a portable scanner you can run from a USB stick Caution:( any of your USB sticks may be infected so it would pay to borrow or purchase a new one, please do not infect your friends computer)
This portable scanner has a file name that malware is not supposed to recognize so it may give you enough leeway to get things running again;


SUPERAntiSpyware.com - SUPERAntiSpyware Portable Scanner

The next option is a rescue disk which you can download and burn to a CD on another computer then insert the disk in your computer & Restart so the disk can scan before Windows loads.
There area number of links for these disks in this blog;

Removing Viruses from a PC That Won’t Boot — Krebs on Security

I hope this is enough to get things running again

 

[brack]

Mitchell,

Thanks for your assistance.. It was the malware.. Up and running!

 

[mitchell]

Mitchell,

Thanks for your assistance.. It was the malware.. Up and running!

Glad you got it sorted, what worked to remove the malware removal?


When you are sure your O.S. is clean of malware & your computer seems to be running OK you should run disk clean up;

Disk Cleanup

Then turn System Restore off (this will delete all restore points which may still be infected) & then turn System Restore back on & create a new Restore point;

System Restore

Then run check disk;

Check Disk - chkdsk

After this run System files command this will check for and attempt to repair any corrupted System files, please note that this can only fix one problem at a time so you may have to run it several times;

System Files - SFC Command

To finish things off run your disk defragmenter;

Disk Defragmenter

 

[brack]

Malwarebytes did the job. Thanks again

 

[mitchell]

Malwarebytes did the job. Thanks again

Thanks for posting back it is good to know for future reference