Some Vista Personalize windows won't open

[charlieccm]

Hi Richard,

I did as you asked. Just to be sure, I pasted in the Custom Scan box the following:

/md5start x86_dba062876c956a25f1d4f8086b2e73f6_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16908_none_6fafa4d8103afc8e.manifest
/md5stop

with a space between '/md5start' and 'x86'.

Attached is the text file. Please note that my hard disk has two partitions, C and L. C drive is the system drive.

Your description says you are a developer. Do you work for Microsoft?

Charlie

 

[Lorien]

Hi Richard,

Your description says you are a developer. Do you work for Microsoft?

Charlie

Hi Charlie,

That badge honors those here who have used development skills in the forum itself or to help others in the forum. Sadly, I do not (as you can see), but Richard does in spades - and in even more ways than you're seeing here.

Although it will still be a while before he enters the workforce full-time, I've no doubt that even now Microsoft would scoop him up in a second if they knew his skills and if he were in Redmond instead of the UK (though I suspect they have remote sites all over the world). In fact, I don't believe a single person here actually works for Microsoft (I could be wrong, but I know of none), and even if there were, this work would be completely voluntary and unpaid - we do this because we enjoy helping people and learning new things (which I do every day).

You're lucky to have him working the case - I specifically requested he take a look at it when I reached the point earlier where I was out of ideas myself (and being as he is, he was more than happy to assist). I did not want you to have to live with that problem if there was another alternative you could accept. I do not have the skills to be attempting what he is doing (but I watch every time he does and I'm slowly learning).

Best wishes! I'm still watching and if I see a point where I can assist, I will do so (but at the moment things are in areas a bit beyond my skills and training). He's exceptional and if it can be done, I'm sure he'll find a way - but sometimes there are limits where the problem is simply too extreme. He'll let you know if it reaches that point - it's not yet a complete guarantee. But then you'll know everything that could be tried had been done and only solutions you did not want to consider will remain (though those will almost certainly work if you change your mind and we'll help you do them in the safest manner where we preserve as much as possible).

 

[niemiro]

Hi Richard,

I did as you asked. Just to be sure, I pasted in the Custom Scan box the following:

/md5start x86_dba062876c956a25f1d4f8086b2e73f6_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16908_none_6fafa4d8103afc8e.manifest
/md5stop

with a space between '/md5start' and 'x86'.

Attached is the text file. Please note that my hard disk has two partitions, C and L. C drive is the system drive.

Your description says you are a developer. Do you work for Microsoft?

Charlie

As Lorien has said, I don't work for Microsoft. Unfortunately, something has gone wrong. As you posted:

/md5start x86_dba062876c956a25f1d4f8086b2e73f6_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16908_none_6fafa4d8103afc8e.manifest
/md5stop

is absolutely correct. Could you please have one more attempt?

Paste it in > Click None > Click RUN SCAN

Thanks!

 

[Lorien]

What went wrong I think was the space (or maybe call it line feed). Looking at other examples, none have that. I suspected when I saw the report, but wasn't sure.

Charlie, copy it exacly as in Richard's last post (not like it was in the first one) and I'll bet it works this time.

Good luck!

 

[charlieccm]

Hi Lorien,

I am fortunate to have you, Richard and others look at my problem. I earlier gave up on finding a solution. Thank you.

This Forum is pretty good. I have joined other forums but most of them give superficial answers or useless remarks.

In some forums, I help and give advice to others. And others were helpful. This is the good side of the Internet.

BTW, how do I find the link to post private messages to members?

Charlie

 

[richc46]

Welcome
If you have been here long enough, you can left click on the members name and then send private message

 

[Lorien]

Hi Charliecom,

Thank you for the kind words, but we still have more to do (and there's no guarantee yet) - but you are getting our best effort (as we try to do with everyone).

It is our pleasure to help - that's why we're here doing what we do. A case like yours is very difficult to solve this way (I would probably have re-installed myself), but also challenging (and an excellent way to learn more ourselves - which is another reason many of us are here) and that drives some of us even harder.

I believe you have found the best forum of its kind on the internet (and should bookmark it in case you ever need answers or assistance again - and to get to us quicker now while this issue still remains open - although being actively worked, we can't yet absolutely guarantee a fix but it is quite possible and it's not yet time to give up - we won't let you yet - LOL!).

While it is perfectly fine to send private messages (especially if off-topic or you just want to say something privately - I do so frequently and you may PM me anytime you wish), if what you want to send is related to the problem (unless specifically asked to do so because we know it contains sensitive insfomation that shouldn't be made public), you should post it in the thread so everyone involved can see it and benefit from the information and perhaps it will spark a useful idea from someone else that might otherwise go unnoticed. It also helps others later who review the thread seeking answers that have already been posted to see the exchange of ideas that led to the solution (or what was tried and didn't work).

Please remain optimistic and if we can fix it, we will do so (of course, with your help since you must do the work as we aren't there).

Thanks again, good luck and best wishes!

 

[charlieccm]

Welcome
If you have been here long enough, you can left click on the members name and then send private message

Thanks, got it.

 

[charlieccm]

Thanks, Lorien. I remember Richard attached a file but told me to ignore it for the moment till he confirms that my OS is corrupt. So I am confident he can solve it.

This Forum is 'Windows Vista Forum'. Does this Forum handle problems or issues relating to Windows 7 or beyond?

 

[niemiro]

Thanks, Lorien. I remember Richard attached a file but told me to ignore it for the moment till he confirms that my OS is corrupt. So I am confident he can solve it.

This Forum is 'Windows Vista Forum'. Does this Forum handle problems or issues relating to Windows 7 or beyond?

Our sister website owned by the same person does: Windows 7 Forums

It is just as great as this one is!

If you want to discuss Windows 8 (just in case you do ) Windows 8 Forums

 

[niemiro]

Hello!

I have received your OTL log. There is still not custom scan Please download the attached scan.txt to your Desktop. Make sure it is saved there. Open up OTL. Click NONE once, so that the text now says Standard. Click NONE, so it changes to Standard. Then double click in the white Custom Scans Text box at the bottom of the window, and click OK. Navigate to your Desktop, and select the scan.txt file. Click Open, followed by RUN SCAN.

Then post the log.

Sorry to be so pedantic.

P.S. I had a quick look over the whole log, since you provided it, and there are some unwanted entries, and stuff bordering on Adware and above. Nothing to worry about, I just need to look at it properly.

Thanks!

P.P.S: OTL should look like this, just before clicking RUN SCAN.

 

[charlieccm]

Hi Richard,

I think you forgot to attach the scan.txt file.

The last OTL file I sent to you was run under Standard scan but in Custom Scan box, '/md5start' and the rest was in one line as I didn't understand how it should be pasted.

I am now attaching another OTL file following every setting in your screenshot. Also attached is my OTL program screenshot.

If this OTL.txt file is correct, please ignore my last one.

Charlie

 

[charlieccm]

Our sister website owned by the same person does: Windows 7 Forums

It is just as great as this one is!

If you want to discuss Windows 8 (just in case you do ) Windows 8 Forums

This is great. We can discuss problems even if we upgrade.

But what about Microsoft software like Windows Live Mail and MS Office? I have a query about the Windows Live Mail. Can I post it in this Forum under a new post?

 

[richc46]

It would be to your benefit to place a new topic in the proper forum. Members with expertise in particular areas look for posts in the Forums where they can be the most help.

 

[Lorien]

There are two meanings to "Forums". The first refers to the overall Forum (like Vista Forum or Sevenforums and concerns the Operating System). If you have Vista, use this overall Forum. We don't have Forums at this level for other products or programs.

The second refers to the sub-forums within the main OS Forum (you might think of them as categories). For Office issues, post in the Microsoft Office Forum. For issues with Windows Live Mail, you could post either in the Windows Live Forum or the Browsers and Mail Forum.

As Richard said, we tend to focus on those areas where we are most familiar and have the greatest expertise, so if you choose the right sub-Forum, you will get replies from people who are more qualified to answer those questions.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

 

[niemiro]

Basically, as Lorien has said, different sub section. However, in theory at least, Forum should not have two meanings. One should be "Board" and the other "Forum" but I forget which way round. Anyway:

Thank you so much for that log! Sorry about forgetting to upload the file! I always end up doing that! It was done perfectly! However, I don't think that it is actuallu corrupt. I need to have a short think about why SFC dosen't check those components, when I think that it really should.

In the mean time, we will disinfect you. First, we will run MBAM. Then we will ask for a new log, either OTL, or another tool, we will create a special fix to remove anything left over from MBAM, and then you will be disinfected.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware a.k.a. MBAM - Download Free Version (freeware) - Homepage
Why? Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware is very good at removing the zlob trojan, virtumonde, and most other current infections. This single tool has replaced multiple tools that have been required in the past.

• Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
• At the end, confirm a check mark is placed next to the following:
  • Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
  • Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
• Then click Finish.
• If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
• Once the program has loaded, select Perform FULL scan, then click Scan.
• When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
• Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
• When completed, a log will open in Notepad. The rogue application should now be gone.

When completed, a log will open in Notepad. If you need to create a new topic, please paste this log with it.

Note: Some infections will prevent MBAM from running. If MBAM won't run, try renaming the file mbam-setup.exe to a random name, and then try again.

We need to see at least one full MBAM run.

What with those Weather Gadget reports in SFC, I have a feeling that they are not corrupt. I will spot check the MD5s of about three of them, just to make sure, but then I feel we will be getting back into your COMPONENTS hive, and manifests.

Richard

 

[charlieccm]

Thanks Lorien, niemiro & richc46. I will post in the relevant sub-forums.

 

[richc46]

LOL, with 3 explanations, I guess you understood what we were trying to say. Good luck

 

[niemiro]

LOL, with 3 explanations, I guess you understood what we were trying to say. Good luck

Hopefully so. Maybe Lorien will now agree, also.

 

[charlieccm]

Hi Richard,

I did a full scan with MBAM and it detected MyWebSearch items.

I do have MyWebSearch toolbar and its related components installed but MyWebSearch claims it is not spyware. See http://helpint.mywebsearch.com/intlinfo/help/notspyware.jhtml.

In any case, I removed all the items detected by MBAM and rebooted as asked but my problem is still not solved. I believe it is not due to malware but some Windows files or registry keys got corrupted.

Also, my Windows Sidebar is working fine.

Charlie