Well about 2 weeks ago, started getting adware popups. tried to fix by myself, and can not find the root of the problem. When i start the comp, it immediately starts having memory usage. I open task manager, and I see the file explorer . exe keeps popping up and ending and poppping up and ending over and over. This is NOT explorer.exe, which is running constantly while this other file explorer .exe keeps doing its cycle. Here is the hijack this log:

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 7:48:24 AM, on 1/22/2008
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)
Boot mode: Normal

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\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\CTsvcCDA.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\rxoptmom.exe
c:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
C:\WINDOWS\System32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\WRSSSDK.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\System32\MsPMSPSv.exe
C:\Program Files\Canon\CAL\CALMAIN.exe
c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Center\SymWSC.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\wcescomm .exe
C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\wcescomm .exe
C:\PROGRA~1\MI3AA1~1\rapimgr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\?dobe\e?plorer.exe
C:\WINDOWS\WNSXS~1\explorer.exe
C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
C:\virus\HiJackThis.exe
C:\WINDOWS\WNSXS~1\explorer.exe
C:\WINDOWS\WNSXS~1\explorer .exe

R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.com/
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.yahoo.com/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Connection Wizard,ShellNext = http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = localhost
R3 - URLSearchHook: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\companion\Installs\cpn1\yt.dll
F2 - REG:system.ini: Shell=Explorer.exe,
F3 - REG:win.ini: load=C:\WINDOWS\system32\geedd.exe
O2 - BHO: Yahoo! Toolbar Helper - {02478D38-C3F9-4EFB-9B51-7695ECA05670} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\companion\Installs\cpn1\yt.dll
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: {f3b7d20a-fde5-a3f8-2a34-81a371decf81} - {18fced17-3a18-43a2-8f3a-5edfa02d7b3f} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\vdblvfwy.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {B0FEF264-46DE-4909-8B27-3BE679F60CE2} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\zrblxear.dll
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {CA4F0D8D-5F2B-4F16-838A-8D52249EAB21} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\rqrqomj.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Norton AntiVirus - {42CDD1BF-3FFB-4238-8AD1-7859DF00B1D6} - c:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\NavShExt.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Yahoo! Toolbar - {EF99BD32-C1FB-11D2-892F-0090271D4F88} - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\companion\Installs\cpn1\yt.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATIPTA] C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SpySweeper] "C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\SpySweeper.exe" /startintray
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [KernelFaultCheck] %systemroot%\system32\dumprep 0 -k
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TkBellExe] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [a8100fb5] rundll32.exe "C:\WINDOWS\system32\pllxenhk.dll",b
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [!AVG Anti-Spyware] "C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\avgas.exe" /minimized
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ATI Remote Control] C:\Program Files\ATI Multimedia\RemCtrl\ATIRW.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Weather] C:\Program Files\AWS\WeatherBug\Weather .exe 1
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AIM] C:\Program Files\AIM\aim.exe -cnetwait.odl
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [H/PC Connection Agent] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft ActiveSync\wcescomm .exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [msnmsgr] "C:\Program Files\MSN Messenger\msnmsgr.exe" /background
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Yahoo! Pager] "C:\PROGRA~1\Yahoo!\MESSEN~1\YAHOOM~1 .EXE" -quiet
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Skype] "C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone\Skype.exe" /nosplash /minimized
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [UnHackMe Monitor] C:\virus\UnHackMe\hackmon.exe
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\RunOnce: [RunNarrator] Narrator.exe (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\RunOnce: [RunNarrator] Narrator.exe (User 'Default user')
O8 - Extra context menu item: &AIM Search - res://C:\Program Files\AIM Toolbar\AIMBar.dll/aimsearch.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Yahoo! Search - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycsrch.htm
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MI1933~1\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Yahoo! &Dictionary - file:///C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common/ycdict.htm
O9 - Extra button: Create Mobile Favorite - {2EAF5BB1-070F-11D3-9307-00C04FAE2D4F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MI3AA1~1\INetRepl.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {2EAF5BB2-070F-11D3-9307-00C04FAE2D4F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MI3AA1~1\INetRepl.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Create Mobile Favorite... - {2EAF5BB2-070F-11D3-9307-00C04FAE2D4F} - C:\PROGRA~1\MI3AA1~1\INetRepl.dll
O9 - Extra button: ATI TV - {44226DFF-747E-4edc-B30C-78752E50CD0C} - C:\Program Files\ATI Multimedia\tv\EXPLBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: Yahoo! Services - {5BAB4B5B-68BC-4B02-94D6-2FC0DE4A7897} - C:\WINDOWS\System32\shdocvw.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MI1933~1\OFFICE11\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\Program Files\AIM\aim .exe
O9 - Extra button: PartyPoker.com - {B7FE5D70-9AA2-40F1-9C6B-12A255F085E1} - C:\Program Files\PartyGaming\PartyPoker\RunApp.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: PartyPoker.com - {B7FE5D70-9AA2-40F1-9C6B-12A255F085E1} - C:\Program Files\PartyGaming\PartyPoker\RunApp.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra button: WeatherBug - {AF6CABAB-61F9-4f12-A198-B7D41EF1CB52} - C:\PROGRA~1\AWS\WEATHE~1\Weather.exe (HKCU)
O15 - Trusted Zone:
O15 - Trusted Zone:
O16 - DPF: {30528230-99f7-4bb4-88d8-fa1d4f56a2ab} (YInstStarter Class) - C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Common\yinsthelper.dll
O18 - Protocol: skype4com - {FFC8B962-9B40-4DFF-9458-1830C7DD7F5D} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Skype\SKYPE4~1.DLL
O20 - Winlogon Notify: rqrqomj - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\rqrqomj.dll
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\System32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: ATI Smart - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2sgag.exe
O23 - Service: AVG Anti-Spyware Guard - GRISOFT s.r.o. - C:\Program Files\Grisoft\AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5\guard.exe
O23 - Service: Canon Camera Access Library 8 (CCALib8) - Canon Inc. - C:\Program Files\Canon\CAL\CALMAIN.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Event Manager (ccEvtMgr) - Symantec Corporation - c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccEvtMgr.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Password Validation (ccPwdSvc) - Symantec Corporation - c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccPwdSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Settings Manager (ccSetMgr) - Symantec Corporation - c:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\ccSetMgr.exe
O23 - Service: Creative Service for CDROM Access - Creative Technology Ltd - C:\WINDOWS\System32\CTsvcCDA.exe
O23 - Service: DomainService - - C:\WINDOWS\system32\rxoptmom.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11\Intel 32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: iPodService - Apple Computer, Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Norton AntiVirus Auto Protect Service (navapsvc) - Symantec Corporation - c:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\navapsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Pml Driver HPH11 - HP - C:\WINDOWS\system32\HPHipm11.exe
O23 - Service: PnkBstrA - Unknown owner - C:\WINDOWS\system32\PnkBstrA.exe
O23 - Service: SAVScan - Symantec Corporation - c:\Program Files\Norton AntiVirus\SAVScan.exe
O23 - Service: Symantec Network Drivers Service (SNDSrvc) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\SNDSrvc.exe
O23 - Service: Webroot Spy Sweeper Engine (svcWRSSSDK) - Webroot Software, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Webroot\Spy Sweeper\WRSSSDK.exe
O23 - Service: SymWMI Service (SymWSC) - Symantec Corporation - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared\Security Center\SymWSC.exe
O23 - Service: X10 Device Network Service (x10nets) - Unknown owner - C:\PROGRA~1\ATIMUL~1\RemCtrl\x10nets.exe (file missing)
O24 - Desktop Component 0: (no name) - C:\Program Files\WindowsUpdate\howyqyn.html
O24 - Desktop Component 1: (no name) - C:\Program Files\Common Files\kyzes.html

--
End of file - 8884 bytes

Any help would be great!!

Dani AI

Generated

The symptoms reported by — persistent adware popups, a non‑Explorer process repeatedly spawning, randomly named browser helper objects, and legacy ini/startup hooks — are typical of a persistent adware/trojan that installs itself into multiple startup locations and browser extensions to survive removal. ’s idea to remove suspicious BHOs and the odd desktop components is on the right track; the thread shows a mix of startup and browser hooks that need both a process‑level and registry cleanup.

A practical removal workflow (safe, stepwise):

  • Isolate the machine from the network (physical disconnect) to limit data leakage and stop live reinfection.
  • Boot to Safe Mode (F8) and run current on‑demand anti‑malware scanners (Malwarebytes/Spybot/SuperAntiSpyware or equivalent) and a full AV scan. Some AV suites miss stealthy items (as notes), so multiple independent scans are common.
  • Use Autoruns (Sysinternals) to export and then disable suspicious startup entries (Run keys, Winlogon Shell, legacy win.ini/system.ini load lines, scheduled tasks, services). Export before changing anything.
  • Use Process Explorer to identify the repeatedly spawning process, confirm its on‑disk path and digital signature, then kill the process from Safe Mode and remove the file. Unregister suspicious BHOs before deleting their DLLs.

Example unregister/delete pattern:

regsvr32 /u "C:\Windows\System32\example.dll"
del /f /q "C:\Windows\System32\example.dll"

Notes and cautions: back up the registry before edits; disabling System Restore and deleting old restore points prevents reinfection from saved snapshots (re‑enable and create a clean restore point after cleanup). HijackThis’s “Fix Selected” can remove entries but use it only after confirming targets — Autoruns and Process Explorer give safer context. If infections persist or critical system components are unclear, the safest outcome is a verified backup of personal data followed by a clean OS reinstall on this unsupported XP system.

Recommended Answers

All 3 Replies

place a check next to the following:

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {B0FEF264-46DE-4909-8B27-3BE679F60CE2} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\zrblxear.dll

O2 - BHO: (no name) - {CA4F0D8D-5F2B-4F16-838A-8D52249EAB21} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\rqrqomj.dll

O24 - Desktop Component 0: (no name) - C:\Program Files\WindowsUpdate\howyqyn.html

O24 - Desktop Component 1: (no name) - C:\Program Files\Common Files\kyzes.html


okay click fix selected and i want you to remove/uninstall weatherbug and spysweeper and restart your computer. Also i would suggest getting rid of PartPoker because it is a doorway for spyware. Then go to filehippo.com and download SpybotS&D and CCleaner and run scans with those and post a new hjt log here

Antivirus symantec sometimes cannot find viruses and I have to scan manually

i hate when people post once and dont follow up... i hope he fixed his problem

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