Windows 7: New Ad aware problems

So I have been trying to solve a redirect problem on my Windows 7 64 bit. I ran malebytes, MSE, Norton online scan, and spybot. All came back clean, and I have run all of these for a week now everyday trying to solve this problem. So I downloaded the new ad aware and ran it. It found 4 items, I hit the recommend fix and rebooted as per ad aware upon reboot none of my 32bit programs would run not even internet explorer. So I am in the process of running a repair install of windows. Just thought I would post my issue to help others who may be having the same problems.

Hi, blackramair.

As an Administrator at the former Lavasoft Support Forums, I can honestly say that I have not used Ad-Aware since 2004. That said, instead of random scans with multiple scanners, perhaps the next time you'll seek assistance here or at one of the well known security forums.

Well I have searched several forums, and followed the advice of multiple threads I came across. Do be honest I could have done more in terms of asking but what is done is done. I only posted to let others know to maybe not follow my mistakes. All seemed fine while running scans checking for my trouble. Once adaware was installed it stopped the redirects so I followed with a scan. Once it was complete I used the recommended settings and reboot. Upon reboot was my issue of no program except IE 64 bit would start. This included adaware so I could undo it's actions. This seemed like a pit fall to me thus the reason for the thread.
With every dumb action comes knowledge to not make the action again.

You could have probably done a system restore, provided it is not turned off, to fix you problem. Any restore point before the reboot you mentioned would have gotten everything working again and we could help make sure you did not let Adaware remove any false positives.

Also, if you do turn system restore off, please turn it back on. It is one thing to turn it off to clear it out if you thing viruses could have been backed up to it, but it should not be turned off permanently. On almost a daily basis I read a thread where someone had a problem that they themselves caused through an honest mistake or random occurance that they could have easily fixed with a system restore, but could not because they turned it off.

System restore was turned off to try to rid computer of the virus/ maleware. So that option was not there. As per instructions from other sites system restore was to be turned off. Great feature but sucks when you have to turn it off due to maleware reinstalling itself from your restore point.

Hi, blackramair.

What ever sites you went to were wrong. Malware will not reinstall itself from a restore point unless you restore the computer to an infected point. However, an infected restore point is better than none at all -- most particularly for those who do not do a proper backup or have managed to lose the CD. The correct method is to clean the computer, create a fresh restore point and then use Disk Cleanup to remove all but the most recent restore point.

The most affective redirect fix I've seen doesn't require a scan or download fix at all.
In the folder options "view" tab, place a dot next to "Show hidden files and folders". Close folder options.
Next, navigate to C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc. Open the "Hosts" file in notepad. At the bottom, look for
127.0.0.1 localhost

There should be no other data below this line. It should look like this, or something similar:



Delete the data below that line and save and exit notepad. Restart your browser and try again.

The host file was clean. When you had any browser open for about 10-15 minutes it would randomly open another window an go to random url's sometimes opening three tabs in the process. This was the reason for multiple scans and with different what I thought was trusted programs. I haven't used ad aware in years but after nothing found by mse, norton or malewarebytes. I thought as suggested by google searching to give ad aware a try. After scanning with it, it found something and recommended placing it in quarantine so I did and revolted as the program said. Upon boot it cleaned the files and started my computer. Once restarted only my 64 bit programs would open nothing else. I could not even open ad aware to undo what it had done. What's done is done. No big harm as I keep all my personal files on a separate partition just for that reason. I only posted to let others no that ad aware may not be a viable program anymore and to use at your own risk. It could have just been a fluke with my system but felt it was worth mentioning. This is a first time I have ever had to reinstall due to a virus or maleware.

If you don't want to use system restore, you can always create 'images' of your drives using tools like Macrium Refect or even with the windows's inbuilt system image tool and restore with within minutes in case of any serious trouble.

I apologize, I thought you had a redirect issue.