Word, Excel, Firefox, IE7, etc. problems

[jworthgar]

After Norton Internet Security 2009 fixed some virus problems, programs do not start up correctly. Examples are: at startup, Word 2000 gives a warning box that the correct path cannot be found; when you okay this box, Normal.dat loads up fine and the program works correctly. Another example is: at startup, Firefox loads the page "file:///C:/Program%20Files/Mozilla%20Firefox/" instead of the home page in options; the browser works fine otherwise. It seems that any program that is opened won't load the correct beginning page, but works fine otherwise.

Have been running NIS 2009. Also ran Spybot. No viruses found on computer. Dell Latitude D505 running Windows XP Home edition.

[Michael York]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jworthgar

After Norton Internet Security 2009 fixed some virus problems, programs do not start up correctly. Examples are: at startup, Word 2000 gives a warning box that the correct path cannot be found; when you okay this box, Normal.dat loads up fine and the program works correctly. Another example is: at startup, Firefox loads the page "file:///C:/Program%20Files/Mozilla%20Firefox/" instead of the home page in options; the browser works fine otherwise. It seems that any program that is opened won't load the correct beginning page, but works fine otherwise.

Have been running NIS 2009. Also ran Spybot. No viruses found on computer. Dell Latitude D505 running Windows XP Home edition.

Hi jworthgar,

This is Mike from the Norton Authorized Support Team.

What infections did Norton Internet Security find? You can find this information under the "History" link under the "Computer" heading. This problem could be an indication of a root-kit or other serious infection.

Run Windows Update to make sure you have the latest patches applied to Windows XP.

Although Pulse Updates should be grabbing new definition files continually, you can still click on "Run LiveUpdate" to make sure that you have the latest definition and product updates applied. After you do this, reboot into Windows Safe Mode, launch Norton Internet Security and run a "Full System Scan" which will do a more complete scan of your system.


Thanks,
Mike

[jworthgar]

Mike,

Thank you for replying. I know just enough about this to be dangerous. I ran both Windows and Norton update. I tried to do a full scan in safe mode, but NIS would not load. I was able to do a spybot scan, but only problems were tracking cookies.

The following is a list of the high risk items found in history that were detected and removed by Virus scanner. Not sure exactly what you wanted. There are lots of low level intrusions that were blocked and a lesser amount of medium ones.

Thanks.

Jane

detected by Virus scanner and Removed

Spyware PCProwler
Trojan Zlob
Adware Look2Me
VBS.Zodgila
Adware DesktopMedia
Spyware.SpyMyPC

9/30 this is a list of some that were removed on this date. There were probably around 100 high risk alone on this date.


Dialer.BaciamiStupido
Backdoor.Botex
Spyware.ElpowKeylogger
W32.Mubla.B
Backdoor.Berdew.G
Downloader.Lop
Spyware Ardakey
Adware.FlashEnhancer
W32 Netsky BG
Trojan Perfcoo
Dialer.usval
Trojan.Leega
Backdoor.Berbew.H.
Backdoo Darkmoon

[Michael York]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jworthgar

Mike,

Thank you for replying. I know just enough about this to be dangerous. I ran both Windows and Norton update. I tried to do a full scan in safe mode, but NIS would not load. I was able to do a spybot scan, but only problems were tracking cookies.

The following is a list of the high risk items found in history that were detected and removed by Virus scanner. Not sure exactly what you wanted. There are lots of low level intrusions that were blocked and a lesser amount of medium ones.

Thanks.

Jane

detected by Virus scanner and Removed

Spyware PCProwler
Trojan Zlob
Adware Look2Me
VBS.Zodgila
Adware DesktopMedia
Spyware.SpyMyPC

9/30 this is a list of some that were removed on this date. There were probably around 100 high risk alone on this date.


Dialer.BaciamiStupido
Backdoor.Botex
Spyware.ElpowKeylogger
W32.Mubla.B
Backdoor.Berdew.G
Downloader.Lop
Spyware Ardakey
Adware.FlashEnhancer
W32 Netsky BG
Trojan Perfcoo
Dialer.usval
Trojan.Leega
Backdoor.Berbew.H.
Backdoo Darkmoon

Hi Jane,

Thanks for providing me with the details of the infections that were found. Trojan infections, especially, are very dangerous and can compromise the overall integrity of the data on your system, even after the threat has been removed. It is this reason, along with the fact that you had many infections, that the easiest and recommended action here would be to do the following.

1. Backup your important data onto another drive or other media.
2. Use Windows F Disk to reformat your hard drive.
3. Use the restore disks that came with your computer to reinstall Windows and apply all currently available patches.
4. Reinstall Norton Internet Security 2009, run LiveUpdate the first time manually.
5. Restore your data and then perform a "Full System Scan" to make sure there are no more infected files.

Thanks,
Mike

Michael York
Norton Authorized Support Team
Symantec Corporation
Symantec

[Martoch]

I wouldn't recommend step 4, but that's just me. Norton was decent in the good ol' days, but lately, all it seems to do is more harm than good. It seems to miss viruses, hog up the system resources, etc...many on this site have experienced the same.


Give Avast a shot for free.
Download FREE antivirus software - avast! Home Edition

I would try an Office repair and reinstall Firefox before you go reinstalling the whole OS.
Detect and Repair: Find and fix errors in Office programs

[jworthgar]

Thanks for the suggestions. Already tried the Office repair as well as reinstalled Firefox, but did no good. I tend to agree about Norton. Have used it for the last 5 years and somehow it didn't protect me this time. I'll have to think seriously before I format and reinstall everything on my hard drive.

[jworthgar]

I just download the free version of Malware. I ran it in safe mode and it found and quarantined several trojans in the registry. Voila, I was then able to load Norton in safe mode and it found some others. When I restarted in normal mode, everything was working correctly. All progams now load the correct startup page with no error. Hopefully, I won't have to format and reinstall the hard drive. Thanks for all your help.

[Fizur2002]

is it just me, or did this feel like a one sided conversation?

[rt]

Jane,

where did you download Malware from? I am experiencing similar problems with firefox, IE7 etc.

R.

[vass0922]

this maybe it
Malwarebytes.org