New virus or just the old malicious sons of bitches?

[Ibsen3]

[Restek]

[brad]

Check out forum thread.
Also, here's another solution, posted at the same forum:

The problem is in the registry it is usually not virus related but to fix it take these steps:
1. Start-Run and type in regedit, this will open the registry
2. Use Cntrl-F to do a find and type in "Not You"
3. A list will appear, towards the bottom of the list there will be a name file that says RegisteredOwner
4. Double-Click on this and change the Not You No Longer back to your name and the problem is solved

brad

[Ibsen3]

Thanks a lot for that guys. It's very much appreciated. I've recently tried to find some decent spyware software. Is there any freeware available or would I just have to plump for one of the packages?
A recent scan done from a trial version of Spyware Nuker resulted in a find of a lot of spyware components. I have a feeling that a lot of this is just to get you to buy the software, as most of the results came up as mere cookies, which anyone can delete. But if there is a total of around 2500 components on my system, as there apparently is, then do you think I should take some other, more in-depth, form of action?

Thanks for the help again, people.

[brad]

Here 'ya go, my best choice.

brad

[Ibsen3]

S*$t! I just downloaded ad-aware 6 on a friend's recommendation and it asked me about a bunch of files, besides the other 2000 or so, it wanted to delete. I clicked 'yes', not really understanding the thing and it crashed my PC. This damn heap of junk is more trouble than it's worth!
So now what it does is just bypass the Windows XP loading screen entirely and go to 'Invalid boot ini. file booting from C:/winnt/', then onto another screen saying 'windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: <Windows root>\system32\hal.dll'. My so-called 'friend' then recommended I follow some instructions that began with pressing the START button....on my inaccessible desktop.
POSER - Am I f*$£^d?

Please help. If you do I might reconsider my plans to become a hacker-killing vigilante.

[brad]

Can you boot into Safe Mode? Hold the F8 button while booting.
If Windows starts, click the Start button / Programs / Accessories / System Tools / System Restore. Follow the prompts to restore your computer to a time before you installed Adaware.
If it doesn't boot into Safe Mode, let us know.
Why didn't you download SpyBot as suggested?
brad

[Ibsen3]

Ah, I half-remembered some instructions last time something like this happened and I was pressing F4 by mistake.
As regards Spy-Bot, I didn't check the forums before my friend piped up with his 'solution'.
Nope. Safe Mode doesn't work either. It just gives me the message about the missing hal.dll file again. What about the other options? Can I do anything with them at all?
_______
Much thanx for your help,
Steve

[brad]

Try this:
"Boot from your CD and follow the directions below to start Recovery
Console.

Insert the Setup compact disc (CD) and restart the computer. If
prompted, select any options required to boot from the CD.
When the text-based part of Setup begins, follow the prompts; choose
the repair or recover option by pressing R.

If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot system, choose the
installation that you need to access from the Recovery Console.
When prompted, type the Administrator password. (if you didn't create
one try pressing enter).

At the system prompt, type Recovery Console commands; type help for a
list of commands, or help commandname for help on a specific command.

Most likely you will need to expand the file from the CD. The command
would be expand d:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll.
Substitute d: for the drive letter of your CD. Once you have expanded
the file type "exit" to exit the Recovery Console and restart the
computer."
Detais of the above: .
brad

[Gecko]

Microsoft has a step-by-step article on these exact error messages and how to repair them, you can read it

[Ibsen3]

Hmm, I'm having some problems following your instructions. When I use the restart disc, it doesn't give me the option of going to a command prompt and using that command. The only options, really, are reset factory settings and exit. Can I use F8 and go into the MS-DOS prompt with the disc still in? Will that do it, do you think? I didn't want to do anything that will wipe all my files.

[Restek]

[Ibsen3]

[Restek]

You could try getting in touch with microsoft and pleading your case, but I don't really know of any other LEGAL method of doing it, sorry

[Ibsen3]

Do you think it would be possible to use a Windows 98 CD to boot up? I've managed to get to a screen that asks if I want to set up Windows 98 or boot-up with/without CD Rom support, and I tried to boot up with CD support but I just ended up at a command prompt, where the expand command didn't work.
Meanwhile, sticking the company restart disk in resulted in the message that the factory image had been reset, without me actually giving any command to that effect.
Bearing in mind that I'm keen to get a hell of a lot of files back that haven't been backed up (mainly because of the sheer amount of stuff on there as much as any absentmindedness), would it be possible to do a full factory reset and still recover the lost files? I've known people who have done this before, but they're not around anymore. Anybody got any ideas?