"Preparing Security Options" Errors

[Spector]

At least once a month over the past 8 months, the message "Preparing Security Options" appears on my screen. These three words of the message are displayed in large white letters on a Microsoft Blue background.

My question is whether anyone has experienced the same issue, particulalry on a recurring basis; and how did you overcome it without reimaging?

The symptoms I experience during each occurrence include all or some of the following:

• My system freezes momentarily and my mouse and keyboard are non-responsive.
• I find my AV client (Microsoft Security Essentials) and/ or my Windows Firewall disabled (both of which had previously been running). My AV found no viruses in real-time or during a full system scan.
• Different system services that had been running cannot be restarted (i.e. SQL Server).
• USB device drivers associated with my mobile devices cannot be installed/re-installed.
• My Windows OS may not restart
• Windows updates cannot be installed because essential Windows systems files become corrupted.

My system environment is:

• Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit (build 7600)
• Microsoft Security Essentials (AV)
• HP Pavilion, 2 Ghz, 2GB RAM

Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[Corrine]

Hi, Spector. Welcome to Seven Forums.

To determine whether the issue that you are experiencing is caused by one or more system files that are used by Windows, run the System File Checker tool. The System File Checker tool scans system files and replaces incorrect versions of the system files by using the correct versions.

To run the System File Checker tool, follow these steps:

• Click Start, and then type cmd in the Start Search box.
• Right-click cmd in the Programs list, and then click Run as administrator.
• If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type your password or click Continue
• At the command prompt, type the following line, and then press ENTER:
  sfc /scannow (note the space before the backslash)
• If errors are found, run the tool again (up to 3 times) with a restart between each run.

 

[Spector]

Hi Corrine;

Thanks for your suggestion. I ran that System File Utility several times and I'm happy to report that it didn't find any incompatible or corrupted system files. Concerned about a possible virus, I also ran Kasperksy's "tdskiller", followed by a deep scan with my Microsoft Security Essentials client; however, neither AV tool detected any malware. As previously mentioned, dealing with corrupted system files and my system registry has been a recurring problem, despite clean system reimaging and re-installing software bits directly from the original product DVDs.

Please suggest any additional tools/utilities that you think might help me.

Best regards

 

[Corrine]

Hi, Spector.

I'm going to consult with the folks that deal with Crashes and Debugging because in my research I've seen the "Preparing Security Options" related to hardware problems.

 

[karlsnooks]

Spector,

Carry out following. When finished, and yes it will take more than 1 hour for sure, attach the log files mentioned in the following to your next post.

PUT SYSTEM SWEEPER ON A USB STICK
System Sweeper, https://connect.microsoft.com/systemsweeper, allows you to start an infected PC and perform an offline scan to identify and remove viruses, rootkits and other advanced malware. System Sweeper is a free standalone, bootable malware and virus remover from Microsoft.
NOTE: A fine tutorial on the System Sweeper is:
How to use the Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper

Download System Sweeper (about 576 kB):
https://connect.microsoft.com/systemsweeper

Insert 256 MB or larger USB stick into a usb port.
Run the downloaded program--mssstool64.exe or mssstool32.exe
Choose the option to install to USB.
Caution: The install program will format the usb stick.

The install program will download about 200 mB more.
After the install is finished, leave the stick in the usb slot.

Run the program you downloaded once again.
This 2nd run, and any subsequent runs, will download the very latest anti-virus definitions (about 60 mB).

To keep System Sweeper up-to-date, simply reinsert the usb stick and run the installation program, mssstool64.exe or mssstool32.exe, again.

The initial, full scan by System Sweeper can easily take several hours, but subsequent quick scans will be shorter.
Remember, your computer is being very thoroughly checked for all types of malware.

The results of System Sweeper will be in:
\Windows\Standalone System Sweeper\Support as one or more files with a LOG extension which can be viewed with Notepad.

 

[Layback Bear]

Do you use any programs for tuning up Windows 7 or repairing the registry?

 

[MvdB]

I would think the HDD is suspect if this is a recurring problem. If up to it, try a good test of the HDD:
See HD Diagnostic

 

[Spector]

Thanks to everyone for your responses and recommendations. In addition to your suggestions, advice that I have also gotten outside this forum has drawn me to the following conclusion:

The recurring error, "Preparing Security Solutions" that has been surfacing on several of my systems is NOT a valid Windows 7 error. It is a message that is being generated by a virus that has been cleverly engineered to masquerade as a valid system program. And according to the intelligence that I've gotten, this is the reason that the virus was not detected with the latest anti-malware signatures of AV tools that I've been running (Security Essentials/Kaspersky) in real-time and deep scanning modes. Disabled boot sectors, systems files and system processes have been fatal symptoms of the virus.

This virus has been so cleverly devised that normally effective anti-malware tools like MalwareBytes have not been useful in detecting/removing the problem.

So, rather than further pursuing what appeared to be OS related issues, I am now laser focused on pinpointing this virus, so the appropriate AV signatures can be created.

Thanks again for your suggestions.
​

 

[karlsnooks]

follow my advice in thread post #5.

 

[zanpaku]

Hi,

I get the problem once or twice a day, and it's realy ennoying.
I did the system sweeper and here is the log file.

I hope you guys can help me.

2shared - download Support.rar

Thank you,
Zanpaku

 

[karlsnooks]

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html#post93869

 

[Layback Bear]

Spector could you please tell us if you did as karlsnooks has advised and what was found.

 

[zanpaku]

sorry,
didn't know there was a rule of uploading files.
But here are they now

View attachment MPLog-10022011-104941.log

View attachment msssWrapper.log

 

[karlsnooks]

Your total time for a full, not a quick scan, of all drives on your computer was rather short.

Did you run a full scan of all of your drives?

Let''s not worry about your message on various computers.

Let us go at this one computer at a time.

Do your system specs reflect the system with the problem?

If not, then change the system specs to reflect the system that is under test.

On the system under test, please carry out the following:

list of STARTUP PROGRAMS
CCleaner | Tools icon | Startup button |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side)

Attach the startup.txt file generated by CCleaner
CCleaner - Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download

List of INSTALLED PROGRAMS
CCleaner | Tools icon | Uninstall button |
click on Save to text file button (bottom right side)

Attach the install.txt file generated by CCleaner.
CCleaner - Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download

Post a File or Screenshot in Seven Forums

 

[zanpaku]

It was indeed a full system scan.
Long live SSD

And there can't realy be a lot of malware on it, since it's a new one since 2 weeks ago

And last few days my system didn't freeze yet, so don't know if that scan solved smth

 

[Layback Bear]

Well you are gaining on it. It takes less than a m/s to get infected. Just to make sure your machine is clean I suggest using these two programs. Reason for this is no one program does it all.
Malwarebytes Anti Malware and Super Anti Spy Ware. They are also free. When you download them update them and run full scans one program at a time. Let us know if anything was found and what it was.

 

[karlsnooks]

It was indeed a full system scan.
Long live SSD

And there can't realy be a lot of malware on it, since it's a new one since 2 weeks ago

And last few days my system didn't freeze yet, so don't know if that scan solved smth

Glad that the system is clean. You will find MSE (Microsoft Security Essentials) sufficient for your needs.

I've seen some poor devils infect their systems within the first hour of operation. They also had not installed MSE.

 

[Scottypc]

Preparing Security Options...

After days of chasing this issue on my own system, the error turned out to be a bad cluster on the Hard Drive. Replaced the Hard Drive- no more error.

 

[Graeme2709]

The message appears if I engage ctrl Alt del before the desktop appears after logon. My drive is fine, I've run sweeper CC Cleaner and Malware Bytes, system file checker, nothing found so any suggestions?

 

[Layback Bear]

Because this thread is so old I would recommend starting a new thread and stipulating your exact problem.