Solved Random Adobe update led to Microsoft SE disabled; infected?!

[BinkerNate]

Yup, 64. I'm dl-ing a 64 bit iso (I have Windows 7 Home Premium SP1). I'm reading the instructions now, but I will need confirmation if I got the jist of it nor not. Plus, repair install or clean install?

 

[DustSailor]

Installing from an ISO is a clean install. You don't have disks so repairing the computer is out of the question.

 

[BinkerNate]

Clean install complete, and now the firewall is back and running! Thanks, man for the help.

My computer looks brand new, since I also got a laptop last Friday, and I'm getting deja vu lol

But anyway, before we can successfully end this, all of my old stuff is in Windows.old, and I wanted to ask how can I get certain things back to how they were before the reinstall? Like my favorites on IE, or if Firefox can be placed back to my desktop, Norton Safelite on IE, VLC, Cyberlink PowerDVD, or if I can bring back SUPERAnti, and Malwarebytes, or do I have to redl those? If I do still have tm, what do I have to do to make sure that they can be used like normal? Etc. Because my remaining storage seems to indicate that it is all still here, I just need to put them back propertly, y'know?

I feel like, with that for example, I went a little backwards. For example, I can't seem to change the type of file from one thing to another. It seems like I really need to re-dl alot of things, like Wordpad, or whatever I had to view images. This is going to be a long night. I just need to know the right things to dl, and not spam or other problems.

PS If I were to use CCleaner (if I still have it, if not then its a re-dl), upon going though all this, what should I check to clean?

 

[Layback Bear]

Keep in mind; anything from the Windows old system could be infected and putting they back into your new clean and install will infect it again.

 

[BinkerNate]

Okay, so how can we tell if any are infected or not? BTW, it seems like I can bring back Malwarebytes, Cyberlink, etc. which is making me happy.

 

[Layback Bear]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/129976-hard-disk-space-free-up-recover.html
Go down to option 5
This removes Windows Old if you want to.

 

[BinkerNate]

Oh, no. I want to keep all this. I just want to bring it all back; from Owner to my new name on this computer. I mean, Malwarebytes is here; SUPERAnti-Spyware, Cyberlink PowerDVD, my pictures, downloads, documents, firefox; things that I need, that I don't have to re-dl, are here. And those pictures; I will never get them back if I get rid of them.

It's just that you said something in there might be infected, and I wanted to know how we could find out if there is before I do anything? Of course, if there isn't anything infected, I will put everything back; but I wanted to know how can I so it won't confuse nor give me double (two Problem Files for example) from the old to new? I hope you get what I meant here.

 

[DustSailor]

You'll have to redownload everything. And it shouldn't be infected, you've done many scans with many anti-malware programs. I'd leave Ccleaner alone as it is only helpful if you need to remove stubborn programs.

You should be able to view your pictures just by clicking them. If you want better, try MS live essentials free: Windows Live Essentials - Download Windows Live Essentials

You'll have to install things like adobe flashplayer and reader. Luckily they are all free.

I would think the windows media player is a lot better than powerDVD. But up to you

Don't forget the massive amount of updates you'll need doing. This should also make things work and run a lot better. Do you have all drivers installed?

 

[BinkerNate]

@Layback Bear: you were right. I was performing MSE on each folder of Windows.old, and I don't know where in
the Users folder (maybe Appdata), but it did find some malware there: Exploit:Java/CVE-2012-1723.F and Trojan:Java/Mugademel.B: I used Disk Cleanup and got rid of Windows.old, but not before I moved the things that I wanted to keep (downloads, music, pictures, documents, etc.) But hey, I got free 54GBs!

@DustSailor: I already have the photo viewer from MS Live essentials, but like before, I know that I'll hardly used it. What I did use, I can't remember.

I use PowerDVD for my external Blu-ray drive. Speaking of drivers: for your question; I would think so. To be quite honest, once I got my new Win7; I was so focused on what I was missing that I didn't check for other things.

Also, file extensions: obviously, once I get back more of my media players, but I want to know what I have to do to be able to change something like an .avi to a .mkv to a .flv, etc.?

And my favorites that were once on IE; how can I put (the folder with the info) back into IE?

 

[DustSailor]

I meant to mention the favorites thing in my last post. You can 'export' favorites from the old profile and 'import' them in, but you deleted your account before i was aware you wanted to keep them. I should have known to warn you before you deleted your profile, and for that, I am deeply sorry. You no longer have any favorites

to convert video, you might find a useful program here: http://download.cnet.com/windows/video-converters/

It is really strange that a virus keeps somehow popping up even after full scans with all of those anti-malware programs you had installed. I'd be weary in case somehow it infected the new install. Do a full scan again to check for it.

 

[BinkerNate]

I meant to mention the favorites thing in my last post. You can 'export' favorites from the old profile and 'import' them in, but you deleted your account before i was aware you wanted to keep them. I should have known to warn you before you deleted your profile, and for that, I am deeply sorry. You no longer have any favorites

to convert video, you might find a useful program here: Video Converters - CNET Download.com

It is really strange that a virus keeps somehow popping up even after full scans with all of those anti-malware programs you had installed. I'd be weary in case somehow it infected the new install. Do a full scan again to check for it.

Yeah I do; I got it before I deleted Windows.old. I've been grabbing my anti-virus/malware stuff back, so I'll do a full scan afterwards. Just wanted to ask; please link me the trusted site of Adobe Flash, so I can get Flash, please?

BTW, I also had Windows Movie Maker, not Live Movie Maker though; how can I get that?

ANd not just vids, or even music files, but files in general like documents from wps to notepad (without the encpyted looking text that results from that). Etc

UPDATE: Did Malwarebytes; no virus/malware found.

 

[DustSailor]

http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

I don't think I know a windows movie maker aside from the live version. And not sure what you're asking here:

not just vids, or even music files, but files in general like documents from wps to notepad (without the encpyted looking text that results from that). Etc

import IE9 favorites: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Import-or-export-favorites-in-Internet-Explorer

 

[Layback Bear]

This is a free little program I use and it has always worked for me.
FileHippo.com Update Checker - FileHippo.com

This is my way of thinking if it was my computer.
You did several security scans on the Old System and still had problems. So everything from the Old Windows is suspect. That includes anything you stored one external media from the Old Windows, CD's/DVD's/Backup Hard Drives ect.
Keeping in mind if you know the date you got infected,(which is not always easy to find out) then anything before that date you put to storage most likely is safe. Take your time and do a little research what happened when and then you have to decide. I also try to keep in mind that the people that create these bad things are very good at it. There are virus that infect everything from Windows and the programs in it, routers, motherboard bios, some printers that have memory ect.

 

[BinkerNate]

import IE9 favorites: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Import-or-export-favorites-in-Internet-Explorer[/QUOTE]


Hmm, it's not doing it. It says it has to be a valid file name; well a folder as the link would work, right?

And not sure what you're asking here:

not just vids, or even music files, but files in general like documents from wps to notepad (without the encpyted looking text that results from that). Etc

Well, before all this happened, every file I had showed the type in its name (.avi, .txt, etc) and now it doesn't. I didn't know if that meant I couldn't change if I retyped the file name.

This is a free little program I use and it has always worked for me.
FileHippo.com Update Checker - FileHippo.com

This is my way of thinking if it was my computer.
You did several security scans on the Old System and still had problems. So everything from the Old Windows is suspect. That includes anything you stored one external media from the Old Windows, CD's/DVD's/Backup Hard Drives ect.
Keeping in mind if you know the date you got infected,(which is not always easy to find out) then anything before that date you put to storage most likely is safe. Take your time and do a little research what happened when and then you have to decide. I also try to keep in mind that the people that create these bad things are very good at it. There are virus that infect everything from Windows and the programs in it, routers, motherboard bios, some printers that have memory ect.

Thanks for the heads up on FileHippo.

After I got hit, I didn't dl anything after that. So, anything before it was most likely fine. I still think it was that Adobe message that was actually a sake that gave me the virus. I was at a site, and a message stated that "would you let adobe access to your computer", normal message, right?So, I did. Then, a thought hit me on the logo that wasn't quite right, and the dl that started which I stopped in a panic, then I realized something was wrong.

That's what I think, anyway.

 

[DustSailor]

show file name extensions: Show or hide file name extensions

If you want to add a site you are at to your favorites, click the star and click 'add to favorites'. Otherwise I'm not entirely sure what is wrong. Perhaps you have the wrong exported file and it wont allow you to import it?

You can turn on automatic driver installation through windows if you don't want to download anything extra: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/82137-drivers-turn-off-automatic-driver-installation.html

 

[BinkerNate]

On or off? Because that link you gave me, I just clicked and saved it as "Never install driver software from Windows Update"

 

[DustSailor]

Lol the link just shows you where it is located. You decide if it is on or off, up to you mate.

This would probably have been a better tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2803-device-installation-settings.html - created by Brink

 

[BinkerNate]

Better question: which is safer?

 

[DustSailor]

Which, between windows downloads and the aforementioned program? I would think that any safety concern is minimum to none between windows and the program. The program probably updates more than windows would update, as windows only would provide drivers. But if you are able to keep your programs updated on your own, you won't need to install extra software. If not, I would install it. I personally do not know how well that program functions but I've seen it recommended more than once.

 

[BinkerNate]

Okay, thanks.

I guess that's it, then. I'll keep my virus scans updated and running, even while I'm getting my programs back. Thank you guys for all of your help, and of course if something happens I'll probably post here or PM you guys (unless if its a different matter, of course).

And with that, this thread is solved.