[sethisamazing]

Ok, so I have a machine that is running xp, and the taskbar disappeared.

A few days ago, I installed AVG free edition so I could get rid of a virus (spybot or malwarebytes would not run) and it got rid of some stuff and started to work like normal again. Then one day I started it up and the taskbar wasn't there. I looked up online how to get it back, but every other problem like this has been accompanied by missing icons, not the case here. I can only access programs via task manager and no means of connecting to the internet will work. I found a program called "kill32.exe" in sys32 folder which I googled and deleted.

Any help on this situation would be great!

[Phantom010]

Please click here to download and install the HijackThis installer.

Run it and select Do a system scan and save a logfile.

The log will be saved in Notepad. Copy and paste the log in your next post.

Do not fix anything

Download the program from a working computer. Copy it to a USB flash drive and plug it into your faulty computer to run the program.

[Joanyoung]

Have you tried this fix

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

joan

[sethisamazing]

Phantom010, the install of HijackThis went fine, but about 5-10 seconds into the scan, it just stops and the program ends. Should I try Joanyoung's idea?

Thanks for the help, by the way.

[Phantom010]

Joanyoung's suggestion is a possible fix for the taskbar but you have much more serious issues. It's most likely that you are still infected since you can't run HijackThis or connect to the Internet.

Have you tried running Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware in Safe Mode?

I would click on the Report button and kindly ask for a malware removal expert's assistance.

[sethisamazing]

Ok, so I booted into safe mode, tried running (a)Malwarebytes, (b)Spybot, (c)AVG, (d)HijackThis, (e)Taskbar fixer.

All of these things failed within 5-10 seconds of scanning. And The taskbar fixer and Malwarebytes gave me runtime errors.

And am I allowed to report stuff like that? because it says to to report technical issues.

[Phantom010]

And am I allowed to report stuff like that? because it says to to report technical issues.

Yes if you need assistance with malware removal.

[dvk01]

when you download combofix, rename it to sethisamazing.exe

If you have previously or already installed Combofix, delete any existing version of ComboFix you have sitting on your desktop

Please read and follow all these instructions very carefully

Download ComboFix from Here to your Desktop.

**Note: It is important that it is saved directly to your desktop and run from the desktop and not any other folder on your computer**
--------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Close/disable all anti virus and anti malware programs so they do not interfere with the running of ComboFix.

• Very Important! Temporarily disable your anti-virus and anti-malware real-time protection and any script blocking components of them or your firewall before performing a scan. They can interfere with ComboFix or remove some of its embedded files which may cause "unpredictable results" or stop combofix running at all
• Click on THIS LINK to see instructions on how to temporarily disable many security programs while running combofix. The list does not cover every program. If yours is not listed and you don't know how to disable it, please ask.
• Remember to re enable the protection again after combofix has finished

--------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Close any open browsers and any other programs you might have running

Double click on combofix.exe & follow the prompts.

If you are using windows XP It might display a pop up saying that "Recovery console is not installed, do you want to install?"
Please select yes & let it download the files it needs to do this
When finished, it will produce a report for you.
Please post the "C:\ComboFix.txt" along with a new HijackThis log for further review


****Note: Do not mouseclick combofix's window while it's running. That may cause it to stall or freeze ****

Note: ComboFix may reset a number of Internet Explorer's settings, including making it the default browser.
Note: Combofix prevents autorun of ALL CDs, floppies and USB devices to assist with malware removal & increase security. If this is an issue or makes it difficult for you -- please tell us when you reply. Read HERE why we disable autoruns

Please do not install any new programs or update anything unless told to do so while we are fixing your problem.

[sethisamazing]

Woah, I got both the ComboFix AND the HijackThis to work!

Attached are both of the log files

And for the ComboFix, it says I didn't have the Recovery Console installed because I wasn't able to connect to the internet.

[dvk01]

that isn't fixable & needs to be formatted and a new windows installl

it is just too compromised

do you have your windows disks

[dvk01]

the only thing you can try is copy combofix from the usb drive to desktop as told to before

then install recovery console from windows cd

it isn't fixable in any other way

read here for how to install Recovery console

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/comb...anual_recovery

[sethisamazing]

Uh, I have both of the files, but I am unable to drag and drop...

Thank you for all of your help guys, it is much appreciated.

[dvk01]

why can't you drag & drop

[sethisamazing]

I have no idea, it just... won't.

I checked the registry, the drag and drop value is set to "1", and I don't have the xp disc so I think this machine is done for.

[dvk01]

there should be a way of runnig it using a command line

I'll check & get back to you