Windows XP Registry Problem

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Hi

Have you virus-checked your system if you think that it may have been
infected with a virus? Also check for any spyware that may be on your
system:

Ad-Aware - www.lavasoftusa.com
Spybot - http://www.safer-networking.or­g/
CWShredder - http://forum.aumha.org/downloa­ds/cwshredder.zip
Spy Sweeper - www.webroot.com

Try SpyWareBlaster to stop intrusions:

http://www.javacoolsoftware.co­m/spywareblaster.html

Also see the following links:

http://aumha.org/a/parasite.ht­m
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/un­wanted.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/secur­ity [...] pyware.asp

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups


"Jaymx" <Jaymx@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5639328D-D791-4F07-AAE3-87CE5A098FA2@microsoft.com...
>I keep on getting error messages saying that there are internal problems
>with
> the registry and "Alert" this and that. I have just installed broadband
> and I
> think a virus slipped through.
>
> Would a registry fix program help? And if so which one.
>
> Or do I need to clean and restart Windows.
>
> In which case, I have the recovery disc but need to know how to boot from
> it.
>
> Cheers in advance.

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Cheers for the quick response.

I have used spybot, i have AVG, MS Anti Spyware and ZoneAlarm.

They pick up viruses and delete/quarantine them but I still have problems.

E.g firefox and IE both crash with errors at different times when I use them
to go online.

"Will Denny" wrote:

> Hi
>
> Have you virus-checked your system if you think that it may have been
> infected with a virus? Also check for any spyware that may be on your
> system:
>
> Ad-Aware - www.lavasoftusa.com
> Spybot - http://www.safer-networking.or­g/
> CWShredder - http://forum.aumha.org/downloa­ds/cwshredder.zip
> Spy Sweeper - www.webroot.com
>
> Try SpyWareBlaster to stop intrusions:
>
> http://www.javacoolsoftware.co­m/spywareblaster.html
>
> Also see the following links:
>
> http://aumha.org/a/parasite.ht­m
> http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/un­wanted.htm
> http://www.microsoft.com/secur­it [...] pyware.asp
>
> --
>
> Will Denny
> MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
> Please reply to the News Groups
>
>
> "Jaymx" <Jaymx@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:5639328D-D791-4F07-AAE3-87CE5A098FA2@microsoft.com...
> >I keep on getting error messages saying that there are internal problems
> >with
> > the registry and "Alert" this and that. I have just installed broadband
> > and I
> > think a virus slipped through.
> >
> > Would a registry fix program help? And if so which one.
> >
> > Or do I need to clean and restart Windows.
> >
> > In which case, I have the recovery disc but need to know how to boot from
> > it.
> >
> > Cheers in advance.
>
>
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Cheers Guys.

One of the error messages I keep getting up is:

Messenger Service

Message FROM SYSTEM ALERT

Windows has found 47 critical system errors

go to www.ms-fix.com.

..

Sorry if I am being a fool here, but if someone could give me a more idiots
guide to dealing with this I would really appreciate it.

I have a zonealarm firewall and other spyware programs working at the moment.

"Bruce Chambers" wrote:

> Jaymx wrote:
> > I keep on getting error messages saying that there are internal problems with
> > the registry and "Alert" this and that. I have just installed broadband and I
> > think a virus slipped through.
> >
> > Would a registry fix program help? And if so which one.
> >
> > Or do I need to clean and restart Windows.
> >
> > In which case, I have the recovery disc but need to know how to boot from it.
> >
> > Cheers in advance.
>
>
> What specific kind of pop-ups are you seeing? There are at least
> three varieties of pop-ups, and the solutions vary accordingly.
>
> 1) Does the title bar of these pop-ups read "Messenger Service?"
>
> This type of spam has become quite common over the couple of
> years, and unintentionally serves as a valid security "alert." It
> demonstrates that you haven't been taking sufficient precautions while
> connected to the Internet. Your data probably hasn't been compromised
> by these specific advertisements, but if you're open to this exploit,
> you may well be open to other threats, such as the Blaster Worm that
> swept across the Internet last year and the currently active Sasser
> Worm. Install and use a decent, properly configured firewall.
> (Merely disabling the messenger service, as some people recommend,
> only hides the symptom, and does little or nothing to truly secure
> your machine.) And ignoring or just "putting up with" the security
> gap represented by these messages is particularly foolish.
>
> Messenger Service of Windows
> http://support.microsoft.com/defau [...] -us;168893
>
> Messenger Service Window That Contains an Internet Advertisement
> Appears
> http://support.microsoft.com/?id=330904
>
> Stopping Advertisements with Messenger Service Titles
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp [...] opspam.asp
>
> Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
> http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
>
> Oh, and be especially wary of people who advise you to do nothing
> more than disable the messenger service. Disabling the messenger
> service, by itself, is a "head in the sand" approach to computer
> security. The real problem is not the messenger service pop-ups;
> they're actually providing a useful, if annoying, service by acting as
> a security alert. The true problem is the unsecured computer, and
> you've been advised to merely turn off the warnings. How is this
> helpful?
>
> 2) For regular Internet pop-ups, you might try the free 12Ghosts
> Popup-killer from http://12ghosts.com/ghosts/popup.htm, Pop-Up Stopper
> from http://www.panicware.com/, or the Google Toolbar from
> http://toolbar.google.com/. Alternatively, you can upgrade your WinXP
> to SP2, to install IE's pop-up blocker. Another alternative would be
> to use another browser, such as Mozilla or Firefox, which has pop-up
> blocking capabilities. (But I'd avoid Netscape; it carries too much
> extraneous AOL garbage.)
>
> 3) To deal with pop-ups caused by any sort of "adware" and/or
> "spyware,"such as Gator, Comet Cursors, Xupiter, Bonzai Buddy, or
> KaZaA, and their remnants, that you've deliberately (but without
> understanding the consequences) installed, two products that are
> quite effective (at finding and removing this type of scumware) are
> Ad-Aware from www.lavasoft.de and SpyBot Search & Destroy from
> www.safer-networking.org/. Both have free versions. It's even
> possible to use SpyBot Search & Destroy to "immunize" your system
> against most future intrusions. I use both and generally perform
> manual scans every week or so to clean out cookies, etc.
>
> Additionally, manual removal instructions for the most common
> varieties of scumware are available here:
>
> PC Hell Spyware and Adware Removal Help
> http://www.pchell.com/support/spyware.shtml
>
> More information and assistance is available at these sites:
>
> Blocking Ads, Parasites, and Hijackers with a Hosts File
> http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
>
> The Parasite Fight
> http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
>
> Neither adware nor spyware, collectively known as scumware,
> magically install themselves on anyone's computer. They are almost
> always deliberately installed by the computer's user, as part of some
> allegedly "free" service or product.
>
> While there are some unscrupulous malware distributors out there,
> who do attempt to install and exploit malware without consent, the
> majority of them simply rely upon the intellectual laziness and
> gullibility of the average consumer, counting on them to quickly click
> past the EULA in his/her haste to get the latest in "free" cutesy
> cursors, screensavers, "utilities," and/or wallpapers.
>
> If you were to read the EULAs that accompany, and to which the
> computer user must agree before the download/installation of the
> "screensaver" continues, most adware and spyware, you'll find that
> they _do_ have the consumer's permission to do exactly what they're
> doing. In the overwhelming majority of cases, computer users have no
> one to blame but themselves.
>
> There are several essential components to computer security: a
> knowledgeable and pro-active user, a properly configured firewall,
> reliable and up-to-date antivirus software, and the prompt repair (via
> patches, hotfixes, or service packs) of any known vulnerabilities.
>
> The weakest link in this "equation" is, of course, the computer
> user. No software manufacturer can -- nor should they be expected
> to -- protect the computer user from him/herself. All too many people
> have bought into the various PC/software manufacturers marketing
> claims of easy computing. They believe that their computer should be
> no harder to use than a toaster oven; they have neither the
> inclination or desire to learn how to safely use their computer. All
> too few people keep their antivirus software current, install patches
> in a timely manner, or stop to really think about that cutesy link
> they're about to click.
>
> Firewalls and anti-virus applications, which should always be used
> and should always be running, are important components of "safe hex,"
> but they cannot, and should not be expected to, protect the computer
> user from him/herself. Ultimately, it is incumbent upon each and
> every computer user to learn how to secure his/her own computer.
>
>
> To learn more about practicing "safe hex," start with these links:
>
> Protect Your PC
> http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/default.asp
>
> Home Computer Security
> http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/
>
> List of Antivirus Software Vendors
> http://support.microsoft.com/defau [...] n-us;49500
>
> Home PC Firewall Guide
> http://www.firewallguide.com/
>
> Scumware.com
> http://www.scumware.com/
>
>
> --
>
> Bruce Chambers
>
> Help us help you:
> http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
> You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
> both at once. - RAH
>