Browser Hijack (about:blank)

[angel15wings]

Hi Everyone! I am new here but I have poked around and read all the threads I could find relating to my problem. I followed all the steps given to get rid of this, but nothing seems to apply specifically to what is happening to me. I am getting to my wits end on this :rolleyes:

The problem is that there are unremovable data files in my Cookies and History folders, Registry keys created that can be deleted, but come back on restart, and my homepage gets changed to about:blank.

Woops forgot to add required info about my computer:
OS: Windows XP 2002 Professional (Service Pack 1)

Here is my Hijackthis log:
Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 2:24:36 PM, on 5/24/2004
Platform: Windows XP (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2600.0000)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\logonui.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\navapw32.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_04\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\coolhand\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 3 for hijackthis.zip\HijackThis.exe

O1 - Hosts: 64.91.255.87 www.dcsresearch.com
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NAV Agent] C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\navapw32.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroCheck] C:\WINDOWS\system32\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_04\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward &Links - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cac&hed Snapshot of Page - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Si&milar Pages - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate into English - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console (HKLM)
O16 - DPF: {166B1BCA-3F9C-11CF-8075-444553540000} (Shockwave ActiveX Control) - http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/director/swdir.cab
O16 - DPF: {33564D57-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71} - http://download.microsoft.com/download/F/6/E/F6E491A6-77E1-4E20-9F5F-94901338C922/wmv9VCM.CAB
O16 - DPF: {56336BCB-3D8A-11D6-A00B-0050DA18DE71} (RdxIE Class) - http://software-dl.real.com/03aa669c247766dcfb19/netzip/RdxIE601.cab
O16 - DPF: {62475759-9E84-458E-A1AB-5D2C442ADFDE} - http://a1540.g.akamai.net/7/1540/52/20040427/qtinstall.info.apple.com/saba/us/win/QuickTimeInstaller.exe
O16 - DPF: {74D05D43-3236-11D4-BDCD-00C04F9A3B61} (HouseCall Control) - http://a840.g.akamai.net/7/840/537/7d90ae05585062/housecall.antivirus.com/housecall/xscan53.cab
O16 - DPF: {9A9307A0-7DA4-4DAF-B042-5009F29E09E1} (ActiveScan Installer Class) - http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/as5/asinst.cab
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/unicode/iuctl.CAB?38110.6061805556
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://active.macromedia.com/flash2/cabs/swflash.cab

Spybot says:
DSO Exploit: Data source object exploit (Registry change, nothing done)
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-18\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0\1004!=W=3
DSO Exploit: Data source object exploit (Registry change, nothing done)
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-1220945662-1757981266-725345543-1003\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0\1004!=W=3
DSO Exploit: Data source object exploit (Registry change, nothing done)
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0\1004!=W=3
DSO Exploit: Data source object exploit (Registry change, nothing done)
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-19\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0\1004!=W=3
DSO Exploit: Data source object exploit (Registry change, nothing done)
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Zones\0\1004!=W=3
It says it is getting rid of these but they come right back.

I also ran Adaware with a possible browser hijack warning, but nothing happens when it "removes" it.

Advanced thank you to anybody who can help me get rid of this once and for all. :mrgreen:

[crunchie]

Fix this one:

O16 - DPF: {56336BCB-3D8A-11D6-A00B-0050DA18DE71} (RdxIE Class) - http://software-dl.real.com/03aa669...ip/RdxIE601.cab

Download dllfix.exe from http://downloads.subratam.org/dllfix.exe . Create a folder on your desktop & click on the exe you downloaded. Direct the install into the new folder.
You will see there are two more folders inside and two BAT files. Run start.bat & select option 1 for the report. Once the search is complete a ".txt" file should pop up with the name "Output.txt". Keep it. You will see there is a random dll named there if found. Run the start.bat again after dll found. Run option 2 and choose correct option in submenu. Option 1 if the dll file was found, option 2 if the file wasn't found.
If no random named file was found & you run option 2, your system should reboot in about 15 seconds. Once it has rebooted & done it's cleaning up, download & update Adaware if you don't already have it. Run it & remove all it finds.
Run start.bat again choosing option 1 & post the log it creates along with another HJT log.

[angel15wings]

Thank you for your reply Crunchie! :D I see your name all over the boards and I just have to say thank you for lending your time to help those that need it.

I followed all your steps and it found something but they asked me to submit it. Here's the message I got in my log:

Scanning For main hijacker.
Scanning for Hidden Dll in system32 1st pass
File was not found on first Pass.

Scanning for Hidden Dll in system32 2nd pass
File found was: The

Md5 Check of The

Md5 tested As
File was found but md5 didnt match
MD5 was:
Resetting file attributes
File was zipped for submission to Shadowwar
File is located at C:\\submit.zip
please Email a copy to spywaresubmit at aol.com
Please include a link to your post.
File is still in original location now unlocked.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here is the Output file I got after I did the Adaware scan, after using Option 2:

--==***@@@ FIND-ALL' VERSION 5.2 -5/18 @@@***==--

Tue 05/25/2004
11:11 AM

System Info:

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
C: "" (8813:E1FD) - FS:NTFS clusters:4k
Total: 24 708 706 304 [23G] - Free: 21 356 998 656 [20G]


*IE version and Service packs:
6.0.2600.0 C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Iexplore.exe

! REG.EXE VERSION 2.0

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
MinorVersion REG_SZ ;SP1;Q831167;

*Google Toolbar version and Attributes:
2.0.111.0 C:\Program Files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
Defaults: "A" ;"R"
File not found - C:\Program Files\google\googletoolbar2.dll
A R C:\Program Files\google\GoogleToolbar1.dll

*UserAgent:
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\User Agent\Post Platform]

*Wmplayer version:
8.0.0.4477 C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\wmplayer.exe
6.4.9.1120 C:\Program Files\Windows Media Player\mplayer2.exe

*M$Java version:


*PC uptime:
11:11am up 0 days, 0:07
Locked or 'Suspect' file(s) found...


*List of top level windows:
HWND PID PRIO TITLE
20106 1440 norm SysFader
20062 1900 norm Norton AntiVirus
10026 660 high NetDDE Agent
6010e 1428 norm C:\WINDOWS\System32\cmd.exe
200de 1440 norm dllfix
200ee 1440 norm Acrobat IEHelper
40048 1440 norm _Shell_TrayWnd
1009a 1864 norm logs - Notepad
100c0 2024 idle Tea Timer
100ae 2024 idle Spybot-S&D Resident
1016c 1440 norm MCI command handling window
100d2 1440 norm Connections Tray
100c4 1440 norm Power Meter
100b2 2016 norm MediaCenter
30064 1956 norm Notification Wnd for RNAdmin
100c2 1440 norm MS_WebcheckMonitor
30040 420 norm NVSVCPMMWindowClass
10086 1440 norm Program Manager
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows]
"DeviceNotSelectedTimeout"="15"
"GDIProcessHandleQuota"=dword:00002710
"Spooler"="yes"
"swapdisk"=""
"TransmissionRetryTimeout"="90"
"USERProcessHandleQuota"=dword:00002710
"Appinit_Dlls"=""

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects]
@=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3}]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F}]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7}]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Browser Helper Objects\{BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872}]
@="NAV Helper"

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PROTOCOLS\Filter]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PROTOCOLS\Filter\Class Install Handler]
@="AP Class Install Handler filter"
"CLSID"="{32B533BB-EDAE-11d0-BD5A-00AA00B92AF1}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PROTOCOLS\Filter\deflate]
@="AP Deflate Encoding/Decoding Filter "
"CLSID"="{8f6b0360-b80d-11d0-a9b3-006097942311}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PROTOCOLS\Filter\gzip]
@="AP GZIP Encoding/Decoding Filter "
"CLSID"="{8f6b0360-b80d-11d0-a9b3-006097942311}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PROTOCOLS\Filter\lzdhtml]
@="AP lzdhtml encoding/decoding Filter"
"CLSID"="{8f6b0360-b80d-11d0-a9b3-006097942311}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\PROTOCOLS\Filter\text/webviewhtml]
@="WebView MIME Filter"
"CLSID"="{733AC4CB-F1A4-11d0-B951-00A0C90312E1}"

*Security settings for 'Windows' key:

RegDACL 5.1 - Permissions Manager for Registry keys for Windows NT 4 and above
Copyright (c) 1999-2001 Frank Heyne Software ( http://www.heysoft.de )
This program is Freeware, use it on your own risk!

Access Control List for Registry key hklm\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows:
(NI) ALLOW Read BUILTIN\Users
(IO) ALLOW Read BUILTIN\Users
(NI) ALLOW Read BUILTIN\Power Users
(IO) ALLOW Read BUILTIN\Power Users
(NI) ALLOW Full access BUILTIN\Administrators
(IO) ALLOW Full access BUILTIN\Administrators
(NI) ALLOW Full access NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
(IO) ALLOW Full access NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
(NI) ALLOW Full access BUILTIN\Administrators
(IO) ALLOW Full access CREATOR OWNER

Effective permissions for Registry key hklm\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows:
Read BUILTIN\Users
Read BUILTIN\Power Users
Full access BUILTIN\Administrators
Full access NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hijackthis log after Adaware scan:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 11:22:37 AM, on 5/25/2004
Platform: Windows XP (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2600.0000)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\NOTEPAD.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\navapw32.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_04\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
C:\Program Files\Windows NT\Accessories\WORDPAD.EXE
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE
C:\Documents and Settings\coolhand\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 3 for hijackthis.zip\HijackThis.exe

O1 - Hosts: 64.91.255.87 www.dcsresearch.com
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NAV Agent] C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\navapw32.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroCheck] C:\WINDOWS\system32\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_04\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward &Links - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cac&hed Snapshot of Page - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Si&milar Pages - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate into English - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console (HKLM)
O16 - DPF: {166B1BCA-3F9C-11CF-8075-444553540000} (Shockwave ActiveX Control) - http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/director/swdir.cab
O16 - DPF: {33564D57-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71} - http://download.microsoft.com/download/F/6/E/F6E491A6-77E1-4E20-9F5F-94901338C922/wmv9VCM.CAB
O16 - DPF: {56336BCB-3D8A-11D6-A00B-0050DA18DE71} (RdxIE Class) - http://software-dl.real.com/03aa669c247766dcfb19/netzip/RdxIE601.cab
O16 - DPF: {62475759-9E84-458E-A1AB-5D2C442ADFDE} - http://a1540.g.akamai.net/7/1540/52/20040427/qtinstall.info.apple.com/saba/us/win/QuickTimeInstaller.exe
O16 - DPF: {74D05D43-3236-11D4-BDCD-00C04F9A3B61} (HouseCall Control) - http://a840.g.akamai.net/7/840/537/7d90ae05585062/housecall.antivirus.com/housecall/xscan53.cab
O16 - DPF: {9A9307A0-7DA4-4DAF-B042-5009F29E09E1} (ActiveScan Installer Class) - http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/as5/asinst.cab
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/unicode/iuctl.CAB?38110.6061805556
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://active.macromedia.com/flash2/cabs/swflash.cab

The about:blank is still here after all the scans and homepage change. :sad:

[crunchie]

fix this one with HJT.
O16 - DPF: {56336BCB-3D8A-11D6-A00B-0050DA18DE71} (RdxIE Class) - http://software-dl.real.com/03aa669...ip/RdxIE601.cab

Download CWShredder from here & run it. Select the fix button & it will get rid of everything related to CoolWebSearch that is stored in it's database. Close ALL windows, including IE, before running CWShredder. Reboot.

To help prevent this from happening again, install the patches for the vulnerabilities that this hijacker exploits by going here for your critical updates.

Reboot after doing this & post another log please.

I don't see the about:blank in your log. What exactly is happening?

[angel15wings]

Hi again =)

What is happening exactly is that my homepage gets changed with every reboot to about:blank.
There are 2 registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER: Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MainStart Page"about:blank"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE: Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MainStart Page"about:blank"
that I can delete manually, but they come back on reboot, and several Index.dat files located in Cookies, History, Local settings folders that are unremovable unless I go into another user profile and delete them that way. But as soon as I come back to my regular profile, they come back.

I have done what you asked me, and the CWShredder says that my system is completely clean.

Unfortunately, for some reason, the Microsoft Update Center finds my product key to be invalid, so I can't update anything. Also, I realized that while I have the IE6 SP1, I don't have the actual Windows SP1, and when I went to look for it on the Microsoft Download site, they say it is no longer available for download, so I am not sure what I should do.

Spybot still comes up with the 5 DSO Exploits that I listed previously.

And here is my new HJT log:

Logfile of HijackThis v1.97.7
Scan saved at 1:05:37 PM, on 5/26/2004
Platform: Windows XP (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2600.0000)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\navapw32.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_04\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\TeaTimer.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\coolhand\Local Settings\Temp\Temporary Directory 5 for hijackthis.zip\HijackThis.exe

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O2 - BHO: NAV Helper - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - C:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: &Google - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - c:\program files\google\googletoolbar1.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NAV Agent] C:\PROGRA~1\NORTON~1\navapw32.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NeroCheck] C:\WINDOWS\system32\NeroCheck.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_04\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward &Links - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cac&hed Snapshot of Page - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Si&milar Pages - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate into English - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console (HKLM)
O16 - DPF: {166B1BCA-3F9C-11CF-8075-444553540000} (Shockwave ActiveX Control) - http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/director/swdir.cab
O16 - DPF: {33564D57-0000-0010-8000-00AA00389B71} - http://download.microsoft.com/download/F/6/E/F6E491A6-77E1-4E20-9F5F-94901338C922/wmv9VCM.CAB
O16 - DPF: {62475759-9E84-458E-A1AB-5D2C442ADFDE} - http://a1540.g.akamai.net/7/1540/52/20040427/qtinstall.info.apple.com/saba/us/win/QuickTimeInstaller.exe
O16 - DPF: {74D05D43-3236-11D4-BDCD-00C04F9A3B61} (HouseCall Control) - http://a840.g.akamai.net/7/840/537/7d90ae05585062/housecall.antivirus.com/housecall/xscan53.cab
O16 - DPF: {9A9307A0-7DA4-4DAF-B042-5009F29E09E1} (ActiveScan Installer Class) - http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/as5/asinst.cab
O16 - DPF: {9F1C11AA-197B-4942-BA54-47A8489BB47F} (Update Class) - http://v4.windowsupdate.microsoft.com/CAB/x86/unicode/iuctl.CAB?38110.6061805556
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) - http://active.macromedia.com/flash2/cabs/swflash.cab

[crunchie]

Are you setting your own home page to whatever & then hitting 'apply' in internet options? If you are then try the following:
We will try the dllfix again & run it as if it never found the hidden file & see if that remedies the problem. Run start.bat again and choose option '2', then '2'. You must reboot after doing so. It will then (hopefully) do some fixes, so when done you will have to reboot again, then set your home page after running Adaware.
Can you try to get the Windows SP1 on CD from a friend? Microsoft released it in February.

[angel15wings]

I will be able to get a copy of the SP1 from a friend.

I did the scan again but to no avail :(

I got really irritated because this has been going on so long that I tried uninstalling IE from the Control Panel > Add/Remove Windows Components. Did all the deleting of registry keys and index files, cleared out all the cookies, all the history pages,changed the homepage, but that too did nothing. As soon as I reinstalled and rebooted, I had about:blank again, hehe :cry:

Something happened today. I got a message from Spybot that said things were changing, something wanted to download for Windows Media Player, and did I want to keep the new changes? I chose No, to not allow the changes but I guess they took place anyway. Now when I reboot I get Windows Media Player opening at startup. Another thing I noticed is that all those index.dat files have been changed to Windows Media Player files. They are still unremovable though.

I ran all the various spyware scanners I have and they couldn't find anything.

Tell me, is there any way to completely clear out the existance of IE on my computer to start over? Also, is there any way to remove and reinstall the Windows Media Player? Just brutally start over?

Hehe, this is driving me crazy. :rolleyes: I appreciate everything you've done to try to help me :mrgreen: thank you.

[crunchie]

Hi again. You can uninstall WMP from add remove programs & then add/remove windows components & get rid of it from there. If it's WMP 9 you may have to do it just from add/remove programs. I don't believe you can totally rid yourself of IE, as it's built in to the OS. Even if you could, your problem would remain.
Anyway, grab the update CD & install it & post back when done.