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Discussion starter · #121 ·
Mark1956 - It looks like the pop up ads have been stopped in both yahoo and gmail. I think those last ones were enabled by the settings in Yahoo Mail and Gmail that allowed them to keep showing up after you cleared out all the other bad stuff. The computer is running much faster, better than I can remember - thank you for all of your help and patience.
In Gmail, I am still told that I need a more modern browser, but when I try to upgrade to a newer version IE tells me that I already am running the latest version. ? Also, that version that was temporarily running in my other user account was definitely an upgrade. I am confused by what happened. It was there running everything the way it should, with new upgraded features. Task manager was working, Google was there, and then it disappeared.

Throoper - I downloaded and replaced Airport Utility with the latest version, but it won't run. I don't know what to do. Somebody here thinks that bonjour might have something to do with a wireless connection to a printer, but I can't confirm that. There are two printers that are set up in this computer, one is my personal printer that I am wired to directly, and the other is a wireless connection to a printer that I set up but have never used. I think this whole bonjour problem has something to do with that. I feel stuck. I can't get rid of bonjour, and I can't run Airport Utility. I really just want to clean this up and eliminate that message when I start up.
 
Glad to hear the pop ups have stopped, but it is a bit odd the way things have gone. You have IE 8 which is as high as you can go with XP, versions above IE8 are not compatible with XP. As for the Gmal issue all you can do to stop the pop up telling you to use a more modern browser is to change to Firefox or Google Chrome.

Other than that and the problem Throoper is helping you with is everything else ok?
 
Since Airport Utilities doesn't run without Bonjour and it sounds like you don't need or use the Bonjour service, I would just uninstall the Utilities program.
I didn't see an entry for it in your installed programs list in Add/Remove (if it IS there, use that to uninstall it).
Otherwise, there should be an uninstaller for it in Start>Programs>Airport Utilities.
 
Discussion starter · #124 ·
I removed Airport Utility and the APAgent error message has not shown up again. It appears that maybe I don't need Airtport Utility after all, although I have doubts. I needed it before. ? Bonjour still won't go away, but I did find out that it is directly related to Airport/extreme and the associated printer. The error message is gone and that is good.
The reception I am getting from this Airport Exteme/Express set up is slow and inconsistent. Another computer(Apple) was just set up, about ten feet from me, and is running on the same Airport Extreme/Express as I am. It is running good and fast just like it should, while am plugging along significantly slower. This is not new. Until now I have just accepted it. I am hoping there is some place in TSG where someone familiar with this type of situation might offer some assistance to me. I welcome any ideas you might have. Now that the other problems have been dealt with this issue has become isolated and is more recognizable.

I am still at a loss about IE and task manager problems that I mentioned before.
 
Mathcheck: I think you might get help with the router and the Apple software in the Networking forum.
Start a new thread there and link back to this thread so they can check what you've been doing so far.

I'm glad to see you got rid of the APAgent error. I don't see where you would need the Utilities program.
My understanding of it is it's just a manager for peripherals on the network. I would think Windows would be capable of doing that without the Apple software ( I also question the need for the entire Airport program). I'm sure someone in the Networking forum could advise you better on that.
 
Discussion starter · #126 ·
Throoper - Ok great, I'll try to put together a thread and do just what you suggested. I really want to believe that there is something out there that can make this faster. Sometimes it goes fast like it should, but most of the time I am waiting. It's really nice to have a that other junk cleaned out. However, I am wary of downloading anything in fear of inviting in unwanted things like I had before. That includes trying to upgrade IE, and getting my system completely up to date. How do you really know. Thanks for all your valuable help.
 
We need to do a quick check on your security and clean up the tools used before finishing up here.

Download Security Check by screen317 from Here or Here.
Save it to your Desktop.
Double click SecurityCheck.exe (Vista or Windows 7 users right click and select "Run as Administrator") and follow the onscreen instructions inside of the black box. Press any key when asked.
A Notepad document should open automatically called checkup.txt; please Copy & Paste the contents of that document into your next reply.

To uninstall ComboFix, press the WINKEY + R keys on your keyboard or click
> Run... and in the Open dialog box, type: ComboFix /Uninstall



  • Press OK.
    -- Vista/Windows 7 users refer to these instructions.
  • If you encounter any problems using the switch from the Run dialog box, just rename ComboFix.exe to Uninstall.exe, then double-click on it to remove.
  • This will delete ComboFix's related folders/files, reset the clock settings, hide file extensions/system files, clear the System Restore cache to prevent possible reinfection and create a new Restore point.
  • When it has finished you will see a dialog box stating that "ComboFix has been uninstalled".
  • After that, you can delete the ComboFix.exe program from your computer (Desktop).

  • Next
  • Run OTM and click on the Cleanup button.
  • Restart your computer when prompted.

-- Doing this will remove any specialized tools downloaded and used. If OTM does not delete itself, then delete the file manually when done.
-- Any leftover folders/files related to ComboFix or other tools which OTC did not remove can be deleted manually (right-click on it and choose delete).


Please post back when this is complete and let me know if you have had any problems.
 
Discussion starter · #128 ·
When I pressed Winkey + R and got the open: box, I typed Combofix/uninstall and got "Windows cannot find Combofix/uninstall." From the instructions, I am not sure what to do next.

Results of screen317's Security Check version 0.99.62
Windows XP Service Pack 3 x86
Internet Explorer 8
``````````````Antivirus/Firewall Check:``````````````
Windows Firewall Enabled!
AVG PC TuneUp
AVG PC TuneUp Language Pack (en-US)
SonicStage Mastering Studio Audio Filter Custom Preset
Microsoft Security Essentials
`````````Anti-malware/Other Utilities Check:`````````
AVG PC TuneUp
AVG PC TuneUp Language Pack (en-US)
Adobe Reader XI
````````Process Check: objlist.exe by Laurent````````
Microsoft Security Essentials MSMpEng.exe
Microsoft Security Essentials msseces.exe
`````````````````System Health check`````````````````
Total Fragmentation on Drive C:: 2%
````````````````````End of Log``````````````````````
 
Did you type in Combofix /uninstall without a space before the forward slash? If so try it again with the space.

Security Check shows you still have AVG PC TuneUp, I thought you uninstalled that earlier, if not please do so as the program and its language pack are not required.
 
Discussion starter · #130 ·
There is no sign of AVG in All Programs or Add or Remove Programs.?
When I retried Combofix /uninstall it started running, asked if I wanted an updated version, told me to deactivate antivirus protection. I said no to the updated version and it kept running. I exited at the next convenient opportunity. There was no indication that anything was being uninstalled.?
 
Please start the Combofix uninstall again and allow it to finish uninterrupted, when it offers an updated version answer yes and allow it to continue to completion, you should soon get a message that the uninstall has completed.

Security Check must be picking up a remnant of AVG PC TuneUp so you can leave that as is, remnants of the program will do no harm.
 
My mistake, I thought we had used OTM, but on checking I see we didn't. Please follow this below to use OTC to clear out the tools used.

  • Next
  • Download OTC by OldTimer and save it to your desktop.
  • Double click
    icon to start the program.
    If you are using Vista or Windows 7, please right-click and choose Run as Administrator
  • Then Click the big
    button.
  • You will get a prompt saying "Begin Cleanup Process". Please select Yes.
  • Restart your computer when prompted.

-- Doing this will remove any specialized tools downloaded and used. If OTC does not delete itself, then delete the file manually when done.
-- Any leftover folders/files related to ComboFix or other tools which OTC did not remove can be deleted manually (right-click on it and choose delete).
 
Discussion starter · #134 ·
Ok, that is done. It did leave a number of things behind, and I am wondering if I should keep some of them: like adwcleaner, Rkill, Security check, Sysinfo in case I detect problems in the future. This makes me wonder what should I expect in the future as far as staying safe. Right now I am concerned everytime I make a move that involves something new with the internet. I want to try to get my Internet Explorer situation fixed and completely up to date, including Task Manager - that doesn't work - but I am afraid to follow instructions from sources I know nothing about that involve downloading files from the internet and changing things. Maybe I'm being paranoid. This is important because I don't want to end up like I was before, and I do not have the insite to know when I might be getting into trouble with this. This whole process that you (Throoper included) have taken me through has been enlightening and extremely educational, and I know I don't want to continue stumbling around blindly hoping and praying that something terrible doesn't happen whenever I encounter a problem and try to fix it, or want to make an improvement.
 
ADWCleaner is a good tool to run on a regular basis to keep your system free of Adware, but RKill should really be used with the guidance of a Malware expert as it may produce information that you cannot interpret. The other tools can be kept if you wish, but with all the tools be aware that updated versions are released on a regular basis, especially with respect to ADWCleaner which is updated frequently, so you should always check you have the most up to date version in order to get the most accurate results.

As for your remaining problems I would suggest you start a new thread in the XP forum where all helpers can give assistance, I will now rap this one up and mark it as solved and leave you with some security advice. You can post back here if you have any remaining questions in respect of Malware issues.

There are many places where you will find security advice, but most are biased towards a particular item of software that they are trying to promote. I have given some unbiased advice below that should help keep you better protected. Unfortunately there is no "best protection", new Malware is being produced every minute of the day so it is a cat & mouse game for all security software vendors to keep up with the latest infections.

It has always been the case that what one Anti Virus program will detect another one will miss and vice versa. That being said, never be tempted to install more than one Anti Virus program thinking that will give you better protection as in fact the reverse is true. Two or more AV programs will (in most cases) conflict with each other, slow your system down and actually reduce your security level. Don't assume that your present Anti Virus is no good on the grounds that you got infected, if I have seen you are using a poor Anti Virus I will have advised you earlier in the thread. There are a lot of nasty infections out there waiting to jump onto a PC and with some of the newest infections there is very little that will block them. Fortunately there are those who dedicate their spare time, for little reward, in making the tools we use here to remove these infections. It is those people that we have to thank as without them a reinstall would often be the only way out.

Some additional security measures.
If your present security software does not include a third party Firewall or AntiSpyware.

Go Here for a selection of third party Firewalls.

Go Here or Here for Anti Spyware.

Malwarebytes free version (which you may have used during this thread) is worth having for regular scans of your system, always check for updates before using it. If you can afford the Malwarebytes Pro version it will provide even better protection with a full time active scanner. Never have more than one active anti virus, anti spyware or firewall running on your system as it can cause conflicts and slow down the PC. You can safely run the Pro version of Malwarebytes with any Anti Virus software.

WOT (Web OF Trust) Will warn you (in most cases) about dangerous web sites. (This is only available for use with Internet Explorer).

Secunia PSI is a FREE security tool designed to detect vulnerable and out-dated programs and plug-ins which expose your PC to attacks. Attacks exploiting vulnerable programs and plug-ins are rarely blocked by traditional anti-virus and are therefore increasingly "popular"among criminals.

WinPatrol is a useful facility to have. WinPatrol takes snapshots of your critical system resources and alerts you to any changes that may occur without your knowledge. It can also be used to control all your start up programs.

Finally, make sure that Windows Update is turned on as many updates are to fix newly discovered security holes in the Windows Operating System. You should also make sure that any Java or Adobe products are kept up to date and any old versions are uninstalled. Never use Registry Cleaners as they can and do damage the systems registry and stay well clear of P2P file sharing sites as these are one of the best places to get your PC infected.
 
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