Solved Seems Like Cascading Failure - Is Reinstall The Only Option?

[gregrocker]

These tend to block the only effective solutions against them IME. So since MBAM is so much more effective than MSE it really needs to have it or an equivalent run. So go ahead and run one of the bootable scans at least, then proceed to the Repair Install if you don't want to do the Clean Reinstall yet. When were you planning to do it, since its never been done?

 

[boweasel]

Created a bootable BitDefender CD - it's currently been scanning for 14 minutes, and has gone through over 60,000 files - no infected items, no suspected items, no I/O errors.

*****
Just wonderful - 169.521 files - No threats have been detected. I continue to remain dubious about your google search that told you that my CoCreateInstance error on the Malwarebytes install was viral...

 

[gregrocker]

Well it is corrupted nonetheless. You can also google the error text to read how others solved it instead of second-guessing my cursory read of them.

So I'd run either the Repair Install or Clean Reinstall now.

I gave you what's needed to have the best OS install in the world and am tired of having that discounted even as I was ready to help you every step of the way.

 

[boweasel]

I'm sorry I offended you, but you have to look at it from my perspective - if every single tool I've used thus far - TDSSKiller, Mbar, MSE, ComboFix, ESET scanner, and now BitDefender tells me that I have no infection, it's a leap of faith for me to take somebody else's word. Nonetheless, I am currently backing up the itunes music, the videos, the pictures, the favorites, the bookmarks, the documents and the desktop background for a reinstall.

 

[gregrocker]

Be sure to stick with the steps in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which compile what works best in tens of thousands of installs we've helped with here.

If you have any questions just ask back and we will help you through it. The results are amazing.

 

[boweasel]

Can't get past the itunes fubar. Apparently it has to be deauthorized before I can reinstall, and I can't deauthorize without signing in, and I can't sign in because of the original problem with this laptop. I also cannot uninstall itunes because of a problem with the Windows Installer.

 

[gregrocker]

It shows how to do that here: How to Deauthorize iTunes on Old or Dead Computers

 

[boweasel]

I bow before the altar of gregrocker - computer god. That whole de-authorizing process is a massive pain on a PC that can't access itunes - your link indicated that you have to use 4 other PCs and authorize each one of them for that account. When you get to 5 you do a deauthorize all. More trouble than I can handle so I just reinstalled using your links.

Finally got everything back in place (after virus scanning the external drive I used to hold her stuff) except for itunes which has to be reinstalled. Chrome would still not play youtube videos so I accessed the Chrome plugin page and disabled the built-in Shocwave Flash player so it would use the one from Macromedia.

I know it seemed like I was second guessing you at every step, but I learned a lot from this, and I sincerely thank you for your tutelage.

If you can continue to tolerate me, I've still got that HP All In One unit that we chatted about the other week...

 

[gregrocker]

Let us know how performance pans out for the reinstall as we can help you smooth out any bumps.

When ready for the HP, be sure to read the Note to HP Owners at the end of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 as you may have the Minimal Recovery Option on the F11 Recovery which is nearly as good as a Clean Reinstall. I would also boot into the ESC key to look for onboard Diagnostics to run those to check over the hardware. If it will run then I'd save the small OEM partition as well.

If you have any questions about these considerations post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image