about : blank - claims to be smitfraud

The problem is that access on the internet has been very limited, the PC keeps crashing and is slow, the hijacked non-changeable homepage is leading me only to sites that can sell me software to fix the problem but I would rather not buy from someone recommended by these people. The the text on the blue background to Windows desktop is telling me that smitfraud has caused a problem that has to be fixed, it looks to be the some as other people have with 'about: blank' problems. Originally there were a couple of toolbars that installed themselves too, however they could be fixed, apparently. Nothing I've tried seems to have the ability to fix the problem. The Hijackthis log looks to be different to other "about : blank" problems. Can anyone help, please..
Thanks,
Paul.

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.0
Scan saved at 21:49:29, on 21/06/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\csrss.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\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\alg.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee VirusScan\Avsynmgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Symantec\Norton Ghost 2003\GhostStartService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee VirusScan\VsStat.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee VirusScan\Vshwin32.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Network Associates\McShield\Mcshield.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee VirusScan\Avconsol.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\shnlog.exe
C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\sstray.exe
C:\Program Files\Symantec\Norton Ghost 2003\GhostStartTrayApp.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_06\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee Shared Components\Instant Updater\RuLaunch.exe
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Distillr\acrotray.exe
C:\Program Files\WinZip\WZQKPICK.EXE
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\intmon.exe
C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Local Settings\Temp\HijackThis.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\wuauclt.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = about:blank
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://www.updatesearches.com/search.php?qq=%1
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://www.updatesearches.com/bar.html
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.updatesearches.com/search.php?qq=%1
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.updatesearches.com/search.php?qq=%1
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch = http://www.updatesearches.com/search.php?qq=%1
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = http://www.updatesearches.com/search.php?qq=%1
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = http://www.updatesearches.com/
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {FFFFFFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFFFFFFFFFA} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\hp9C75.tmp
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AdaptecDirectCD] "C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nForce Tray Options] sstray.exe /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [GhostStartTrayApp] C:\Program Files\Symantec\Norton Ghost 2003\GhostStartTrayApp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_06\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSN Messenger] C:\WINDOWS\System32\msmsgs.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [McAfee.InstantUpdate.Monitor] "C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee Shared Components\Instant Updater\RuLaunch.exe" /STARTMONITOR
O4 - Global Startup: Acrobat Assistant.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Distillr\acrotray.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: WinZip Quick Pick.lnk = C:\Program Files\WinZip\WZQKPICK.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_06\bin\npjpi142_06.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_06\bin\npjpi142_06.dll
O9 - Extra button: Spyware Doctor - {2D663D1A-8670-49D9-A1A5-4C56B4E14E84} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYWAR~1\tools\iesdpb.dll
O9 - Extra button: Microsoft AntiSpyware helper - {CD17F92B-892A-4F9F-8191-47A50B30535C} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\wldr.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Microsoft AntiSpyware helper - {CD17F92B-892A-4F9F-8191-47A50B30535C} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\wldr.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\program files\bulletproofsoft.com\bps spyware & adware remover\apptoport.dll
O16 - DPF: {2359626E-7524-4F87-B04E-22CD38A0C88C} (ICSScannerLight Class) - http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/free/cm/ICSCM.cab
O16 - DPF: {41F17733-B041-4099-A042-B518BB6A408C} - http://a1540.g.akamai.net/7/1540/52/20041120/qtinstall.info.apple.com/pthalo/us/win/QuickTimeFullInstaller.exe
O16 - DPF: {4F1E5B1A-2A80-42CA-8532-2D05CB959537} (MSN Photo Upload Tool) - http://by10fd.bay10.hotmail.msn.com/resources/MsnPUpld.cab
O16 - DPF: {5F0C30E4-1E72-4DCC-85E5-57810F1CA97B} (McUpdatePortalFactory Class) - https://mysupport.nai.com/amiuptodate/bin/1,0,0,7/McUpdatePortal.cab
O16 - DPF: {99B6E512-3893-4155-9964-8EB8E06099CB} - http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/promotions/spywaredetector/WebSWK.cab
O16 - DPF: {9B03C5F1-F5AB-47EE-937D-A8EDA626F876} (Anonymizer Anti-Spyware Scanner) - http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/promotions/spywaredetector/WebAAS.cab
O23 - Service: AVSync Manager - Network Associates, Inc. - C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee VirusScan\Avsynmgr.exe
O23 - Service: GhostStartService - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Symantec\Norton Ghost 2003\GhostStartService.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: McShield - Unknown - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Network Associates\McShield\Mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Driver Helper Service - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor - Zone Labs, LLC - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe

1. You need to take care of one thing before we proceed:

C:\Documents and Settings\Admin\Local Settings\Temp\HijackThis.exe

The log entry above indicates that you are running HJT from within a Temp/Temporary folder. Please do the following:

Create a folder outside of any Temp/Temporary folders for HJT and move it there now. A folder such such as C:\HijackThis or C:\Spyware Tools\HijackThis will do.

One of the normal steps in eliminating malicious programs is to entirely delete the contents of all Temp folders. Given that, if HijackThis (and other data that you care about) is living in those Temp folders, it will be erased along with everything else!
Temp/Temporary folders are just that- Temporary. They are not meant for permanent storage, as their contents are often delete in the course of troubleshooting, by running disk clean-up utilities, etc.


2. I see reference (the "010" entry) to the BulletProof "anti-spyware" software in your log; uninstall that program. In addition to the fact that the product itself is of dubious reliability, the Bulletproofsoft company actually partners with known adware distributors and bundles that adware with downloads from the bulletproof.com site.

Before downloading/buying/installing any product touted as an anti-spyware/anti-adware program, you should consult the list of reputable vs. disreputable utilities at the following site:

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm


3. Download and run LSPFix.

In LSPFix, if you see a file named "apptoport.dll" listed in the left-hand Keep column, put a check in the "I know what I'm doing" box, hilight apptoport.dll, and click the ">>" button to move apptoport.dll to the "Remove" window. Click Finish and then OK to complete the fix.

If you do not see apptoport.dll listed, just click Finish and then OK.


4. You definitely have signs of infection by a variant of the smitfraud family. Please follow the removal instructions at this site.

- In step #10 of the instructions at the site above, include the following file in their list of files to delete:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\hp9C75.tmp

- In step #15 of the instructions at the site above, have HijackThis fix the following entries in your log instead of the example entries given in the instructions:

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = about:blank
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://www.updatesearches.com/search.php?qq=%1
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Bar = http://www.updatesearches.com/bar.html
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://www.updatesearches.com/search.php?qq=%1
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = http://www.updatesearches.com/search.php?qq=%1
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch = http://www.updatesearches.com/search.php?qq=%1
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL,(Default) = http://www.updatesearches.com/search.php?qq=%1
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = http://www.updatesearches.com/
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {FFFFFFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFF-FFFFFFFFFFFA} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\hp9C75.tmp
O9 - Extra button: Microsoft AntiSpyware helper - {CD17F92B-892A-4F9F-8191-47A50B30535C} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\wldr.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Microsoft AntiSpyware helper - {CD17F92B-892A-4F9F-8191-47A50B30535C} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\wldr.dll


5. After completing the above fix, run HJT again and post a new log here.

Many thanks…. That's certainly fixed a whole lot of problems - at least I can post this reply on our PC and can use the internet again!

The name of the hp9C75.tmp file seemed to change at each power up so I used "delete C:\WINDOWS\System32\hp*.tmp"
The "Download, install, and run CleanUp!" couldn't be performed as the site appears to be suspended, and after reading the
"http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm" text I wasn't reassured that locating another
source to download from was a good idea at the moment.
Also, "http://www.zerosrealm.com/" seemed unavailable.


Odd things that occurred:
The CHKDSK function fixed something after rebooting when the machine crashed when trying to operate in safe mode by
pressing F8.

The 'Appearance and Themes' list for one of the users has lost the tabs that enable the desktop background
and the computer's theme to be selected. Only options are to change resolution or select a screen saver. Any clues as to what this is?

I ran hijackthis as the 'user' where the 'Appearance and Themes' list has lost the tabs.
There was an extra line in the "Running processes":
"C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe"
Other than that all the entries for that user were contained in the log below.


Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.0
Scan saved at 20:26:26, on 27/06/2005
Platform: Windows XP SP1 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

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\McAfee\McAfee VirusScan\Avsynmgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Symantec\Norton Ghost 2003\GhostStartService.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee VirusScan\VsStat.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee VirusScan\Vshwin32.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Network Associates\McShield\Mcshield.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee VirusScan\Avconsol.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\sstray.exe
C:\Program Files\Symantec\Norton Ghost 2003\GhostStartTrayApp.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_06\bin\jusched.exe
C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe
C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee Shared Components\Instant Updater\RuLaunch.exe
C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Distillr\acrotray.exe
C:\Program Files\WinZip\WZQKPICK.EXE
C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
C:\Extracted Program Software\Hijackthis\hijackthis.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\wuauclt.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\wuauclt.exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/How_to_remove_the_Smitfraud_Quicknavigate_VirtualMaid-tx17258-0.html
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\System32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AdaptecDirectCD] "C:\Program Files\Roxio\Easy CD Creator 5\DirectCD\DirectCD.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nForce Tray Options] sstray.exe /r
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [GhostStartTrayApp] C:\Program Files\Symantec\Norton Ghost 2003\GhostStartTrayApp.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_06\bin\jusched.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [MSN Messenger] C:\WINDOWS\System32\msmsgs.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [MSMSGS] "C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [McAfee.InstantUpdate.Monitor] "C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee Shared Components\Instant Updater\RuLaunch.exe" /STARTMONITOR
O4 - Global Startup: Acrobat Assistant.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Distillr\acrotray.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Microsoft Office.lnk = C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office10\OSA.EXE
O4 - Global Startup: WinZip Quick Pick.lnk = C:\Program Files\WinZip\WZQKPICK.EXE
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~2\Office10\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_06\bin\npjpi142_06.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:\Program Files\Java\j2re1.4.2_06\bin\npjpi142_06.dll
O16 - DPF: {2359626E-7524-4F87-B04E-22CD38A0C88C} (ICSScannerLight Class) - http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/free/cm/ICSCM.cab
O16 - DPF: {41F17733-B041-4099-A042-B518BB6A408C} - http://a1540.g.akamai.net/7/1540/52/20041120/qtinstall.info.apple.com/pthalo/us/win/QuickTimeFullInstaller.exe
O16 - DPF: {4F1E5B1A-2A80-42CA-8532-2D05CB959537} (MSN Photo Upload Tool) - http://by10fd.bay10.hotmail.msn.com/resources/MsnPUpld.cab
O16 - DPF: {5F0C30E4-1E72-4DCC-85E5-57810F1CA97B} (McUpdatePortalFactory Class) - https://mysupport.nai.com/amiuptodate/bin/1,0,0,7/McUpdatePortal.cab
O16 - DPF: {99B6E512-3893-4155-9964-8EB8E06099CB} - http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/promotions/spywaredetector/WebSWK.cab
O16 - DPF: {9A9307A0-7DA4-4DAF-B042-5009F29E09E1} (ActiveScan Installer Class) - http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/as5/asinst.cab
O16 - DPF: {9B03C5F1-F5AB-47EE-937D-A8EDA626F876} (Anonymizer Anti-Spyware Scanner) - http://download.zonelabs.com/bin/promotions/spywaredetector/WebAAS.cab
O23 - Service: AVSync Manager - Network Associates, Inc. - C:\Program Files\McAfee\McAfee VirusScan\Avsynmgr.exe
O23 - Service: GhostStartService - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Symantec\Norton Ghost 2003\GhostStartService.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: McShield - Unknown - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Network Associates\McShield\Mcshield.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Driver Helper Service - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\WINDOWS\System32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: TrueVector Internet Monitor - Zone Labs, LLC - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ZoneLabs\vsmon.exe


Does this look OK?

Many thanks again..

Paul

That's a clean log now. :)

The name of the hp9C75.tmp file seemed to change at each power up so I used "delete C:\WINDOWS\System32\hp*.tmp"

Yes; good call. Many infections "morph" the names of their files on reboot to make it harder to detect and remove them.


The "Download, install, and run CleanUp!" couldn't be performed as the site appears to be suspended... Also, "http://www.zerosrealm.com/" seemed unavailable.

Right on both counts- the sites are down. As an alternative to the Cleanup! program, you can use CCleaner instead.

Odd things that occurred:
The CHKDSK function fixed something after rebooting when the machine crashed when trying to operate in safe mode by
pressing F8.

CHKDSK will run automatically after the system crashes in certain ways and try to fix any data/filesystem corruption that might have occured because of the shutdown. This is normal.

The 'Appearance and Themes' list for one of the users has lost the tabs that enable the desktop background
and the computer's theme to be selected. Only options are to change resolution or select a screen saver. Any clues as to what this is?

That alteration to your Display properties is the work of the smitfraud infection. See if this fixes the problem:


1. Download the following reg file by right-clicking on the link and choosing Save As. Save this file to your Desktop.

Smitfraud Fix Reg File

2. When it is finished downloading, double-click on the smitfraud.reg file on your Desktop. When it asks if you want to merge the information, allow it to do so.

3. Reboot. You should then be able to change your desktop properties back to the way you want to. If you have trouble with some settings, click on the Themes tab in the display settings and change the theme to Windows XP to use the default settings.
I ran hijackthis as the 'user' where the 'Appearance and Themes' list has lost the tabs.
There was an extra line in the "Running processes":
"C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe"
Other than that all the entries for that user were contained in the log below.

Let us know if that fixes the display tabs.

There was an extra line in the "Running processes":
"C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe"

That entry is most likely legit; C:\windows\system32\userinit.exe is a valid Winodws file which manages certain tasks at startup.

Hi,
Thanks for the reply.

The smitfraud.reg update didn't function correctly, message provided was

"Cannot import c:\DOCUM~1\PaulD\Desktop\Smitfr~1.REG:Not all data was successfully written to the registry.
Some keys are open by the system or other processes."

If I click on the "appearance and themes" category the
'Pick a Task' menu has only 2 items. They are
'Choose a screensaver', and 'Change the screen resolution'
The "change the computer theme" and "change the desktop background" are missing.

Also tried from the admin area. The reg update was OK but there was no change to the problem.

Just a thought - should I have been in 'Safe mode' to do this?

Best regards,
Paul

Yes- try the reg fix again in Safe Mode.

Fantastic...used Safe mode and with the 'user' reset as an administrator cured the problem :)
Many thanks for your help!
Paul.

You're welcome; glad that worked for you. :)

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