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Desktop background locked out
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 1
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Hey,
I got a nasty virus about a week ago which my virus protection took care of. The virus had put a picture on my desktop that said something like, computer has been infected please run so and so spyware removal (their virus program lol). My virus protection got rid of it, but I'm still unable to change my desktop background. When I goto display properties background is grayed out and i'm unable to scroll up or down in the box of pictures. The only thing I can do is set the color of my blank background. Does anyone know how to fix this? I remember once you could go into the registry and there was a place that had a value of 0 or 1, 0 being disabled and 1 being enabled. If anyone knows where this is or a way to fix it other then that it would be great. Thanks! :lol:
I got a nasty virus about a week ago which my virus protection took care of. The virus had put a picture on my desktop that said something like, computer has been infected please run so and so spyware removal (their virus program lol). My virus protection got rid of it, but I'm still unable to change my desktop background. When I goto display properties background is grayed out and i'm unable to scroll up or down in the box of pictures. The only thing I can do is set the color of my blank background. Does anyone know how to fix this? I remember once you could go into the registry and there was a place that had a value of 0 or 1, 0 being disabled and 1 being enabled. If anyone knows where this is or a way to fix it other then that it would be great. Thanks! :lol:
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Originally Posted by trevari
Hey,
I got a nasty virus about a week ago which my virus protection took care of. The virus had put a picture on my desktop that said something like, computer has been infected please run so and so spyware removal (their virus program lol). My virus protection got rid of it, but I'm still unable to change my desktop background. When I goto display properties background is grayed out and i'm unable to scroll up or down in the box of pictures. The only thing I can do is set the color of my blank background. Does anyone know how to fix this? I remember once you could go into the registry and there was a place that had a value of 0 or 1, 0 being disabled and 1 being enabled. If anyone knows where this is or a way to fix it other then that it would be great. Thanks! :lol:
I would post a log of HiJackThis. in the spyware section. One of our spyware experts will be able to tell you if you are completley Clean. I would imagine you still have parts of the virus on your computer. And that is what is causing your problems.
Get hijackthis
here
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download3155.html
-T
Firefox
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Originally Posted by trevari
Hey,
I got a nasty virus about a week ago which my virus protection took care of. The virus had put a picture on my desktop that said something like, computer has been infected please run so and so spyware removal (their virus program lol). My virus protection got rid of it, but I'm still unable to change my desktop background. When I goto display properties background is grayed out and i'm unable to scroll up or down in the box of pictures. The only thing I can do is set the color of my blank background. Does anyone know how to fix this? I remember once you could go into the registry and there was a place that had a value of 0 or 1, 0 being disabled and 1 being enabled. If anyone knows where this is or a way to fix it other then that it would be great. Thanks! :lol:
6 rules to be happy:
Free your heart from hatred; Free your mind from worries; Live simply; Expect less; Give more & always have me as Ur Friend.
Free your heart from hatred; Free your mind from worries; Live simply; Expect less; Give more & always have me as Ur Friend.
Hi trevari, welcome to DaniWeb 
1. I've moved your thread to the appropriate forum.
2. The problem you describe is a symptom of the SpySheriff/Smitfraud group of infections; here's the specific fix for regaining full functionality of your desktop properties:
Download the smitfraud.reg file by right-clicking on this link and choosing "Save link as..." or "Save target as..." from the resulting pop-up menu. Save the file to your desktop.
- Double-click the smitfraud.reg file you saved, and when it asks if you want to merge with the registry, click YES.
- Reboot your computer; your display properties should be returned to normal.
3. As the others have suggested, post a HijackThis log for us to review:
Download the (free) HijackThis utility:
http://www.stevewolfonline.com/Downl...HijackThis.exe
Once downloaded, follow these instructions to install and run the program:
Create a folder for HJT outside of any Temp/Temporary folders and move/extract HijackThis to that folder now. A folder such such as C:\HijackThis or C:\Spyware Tools\HijackThis will do.
Run HijackThis, but do not have HJT fix anything yet; only have it scan your system! Once the scan is complete, the "Scan" button will turn into an option to "Save log...".
Save the log in the folder you created for HijackThis; the saved file will be named "hijackthis.log". Open the log file with Windows Notepad, and cut-n-paste the entire contents of the Notepad file here.
The log contents will tell us a lot about what "nasties" have crept into your system, and once we analyse the log we can tell you what to do from there.

1. I've moved your thread to the appropriate forum.
2. The problem you describe is a symptom of the SpySheriff/Smitfraud group of infections; here's the specific fix for regaining full functionality of your desktop properties:
Download the smitfraud.reg file by right-clicking on this link and choosing "Save link as..." or "Save target as..." from the resulting pop-up menu. Save the file to your desktop.
- Double-click the smitfraud.reg file you saved, and when it asks if you want to merge with the registry, click YES.
- Reboot your computer; your display properties should be returned to normal.
3. As the others have suggested, post a HijackThis log for us to review:
Download the (free) HijackThis utility:
http://www.stevewolfonline.com/Downl...HijackThis.exe
Once downloaded, follow these instructions to install and run the program:
Create a folder for HJT outside of any Temp/Temporary folders and move/extract HijackThis to that folder now. A folder such such as C:\HijackThis or C:\Spyware Tools\HijackThis will do.
Run HijackThis, but do not have HJT fix anything yet; only have it scan your system! Once the scan is complete, the "Scan" button will turn into an option to "Save log...".
Save the log in the folder you created for HijackThis; the saved file will be named "hijackthis.log". Open the log file with Windows Notepad, and cut-n-paste the entire contents of the Notepad file here.
The log contents will tell us a lot about what "nasties" have crept into your system, and once we analyse the log we can tell you what to do from there.
"May the Wombat of Happiness snuffle through your underbrush."
- Ancient Aborigine blessing
Please do not contact me by email or PM for help. We're all volunteers here, and only have so much free time to dedicate to our efforts.
However, if I've been working on a thread with you already, and seem to have "forgotten" your thread, please do send me a message. I try not to let things slip through the cracks, but it does happen sometimes.
- Ancient Aborigine blessing
Please do not contact me by email or PM for help. We're all volunteers here, and only have so much free time to dedicate to our efforts.
However, if I've been working on a thread with you already, and seem to have "forgotten" your thread, please do send me a message. I try not to let things slip through the cracks, but it does happen sometimes.
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1
Reputation:
Solved Threads: 0
Hi,
If you got resolution to your problem, can you please share with me. I am also facing similar problem.
Thx,
Ashwani.
If you got resolution to your problem, can you please share with me. I am also facing similar problem.
Thx,
Ashwani.
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Originally Posted by trevari
Hey,
I got a nasty virus about a week ago which my virus protection took care of. The virus had put a picture on my desktop that said something like, computer has been infected please run so and so spyware removal (their virus program lol). My virus protection got rid of it, but I'm still unable to change my desktop background. When I goto display properties background is grayed out and i'm unable to scroll up or down in the box of pictures. The only thing I can do is set the color of my blank background. Does anyone know how to fix this? I remember once you could go into the registry and there was a place that had a value of 0 or 1, 0 being disabled and 1 being enabled. If anyone knows where this is or a way to fix it other then that it would be great. Thanks! :lol:
•
•
•
•
Originally Posted by ashwani77
Hi,
If you got resolution to your problem, can you please share with me. I am also facing similar problem.
Thx,
Ashwani.
Welcome to Daniweb
. Please start a new topic in this section and post a HijackThis log in that topic. "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
-Albert Einstein.
-Albert Einstein.
Hi maraniba,
First of all- welcome to DaniWeb
We ask that members not tag their questions on to a thread previously started by another member (regardless of how similar your problem might seem). Not only does it divert the focus of the thread away from the original poster's problem, but it also makes it less likely that you yourself will get the individual attention that you need.
In light of the above, I've split your post into its own separate thread, which can be found here: http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforum...ad.php?t=38916. We'll follow up on your problem in that thread.
For a full description of our posting guidelines and general rules of conduct, please see this page:
http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforum...niweb_policies.
Thanks for understanding.
First of all- welcome to DaniWeb

We ask that members not tag their questions on to a thread previously started by another member (regardless of how similar your problem might seem). Not only does it divert the focus of the thread away from the original poster's problem, but it also makes it less likely that you yourself will get the individual attention that you need.
In light of the above, I've split your post into its own separate thread, which can be found here: http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforum...ad.php?t=38916. We'll follow up on your problem in that thread.
For a full description of our posting guidelines and general rules of conduct, please see this page:
http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforum...niweb_policies.
Thanks for understanding.
"May the Wombat of Happiness snuffle through your underbrush."
- Ancient Aborigine blessing
Please do not contact me by email or PM for help. We're all volunteers here, and only have so much free time to dedicate to our efforts.
However, if I've been working on a thread with you already, and seem to have "forgotten" your thread, please do send me a message. I try not to let things slip through the cracks, but it does happen sometimes.
- Ancient Aborigine blessing
Please do not contact me by email or PM for help. We're all volunteers here, and only have so much free time to dedicate to our efforts.
However, if I've been working on a thread with you already, and seem to have "forgotten" your thread, please do send me a message. I try not to let things slip through the cracks, but it does happen sometimes.
No worries on the "piggybacked" post; it's a common and totally understandable thing for people who are new to online forums to do. 
As for your problem with running the smitfraud.reg file, check out the suggestion I posted in your new thread, and post a follow up there.

As for your problem with running the smitfraud.reg file, check out the suggestion I posted in your new thread, and post a follow up there.
"May the Wombat of Happiness snuffle through your underbrush."
- Ancient Aborigine blessing
Please do not contact me by email or PM for help. We're all volunteers here, and only have so much free time to dedicate to our efforts.
However, if I've been working on a thread with you already, and seem to have "forgotten" your thread, please do send me a message. I try not to let things slip through the cracks, but it does happen sometimes.
- Ancient Aborigine blessing
Please do not contact me by email or PM for help. We're all volunteers here, and only have so much free time to dedicate to our efforts.
However, if I've been working on a thread with you already, and seem to have "forgotten" your thread, please do send me a message. I try not to let things slip through the cracks, but it does happen sometimes.
Hello fuz47, and welcome to DaniWeb. I have split your post into its own topic. As we ask that members not tag their questions on to a thread previously started by another member (regardless of how similar your problem might seem).
You can find your knew thread here.
http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread49211.html
To prevent furthger bumps\Piggybacks, this thread has been locked. - Anyone with a similar problem, please start your own thread
You can find your knew thread here.
http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread49211.html
To prevent furthger bumps\Piggybacks, this thread has been locked. - Anyone with a similar problem, please start your own thread
Last edited by tayspen; Jul 3rd, 2006 at 12:43 pm.
Firefox
Ewido
Tune up windows
Get detailed system information
My Fixes
Member - Alliance of Security Analysis Professionals - Since 2006
Ewido
Tune up windows
Get detailed system information
My Fixes
Member - Alliance of Security Analysis Professionals - Since 2006
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