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Inactive In program list..program is empty

Discussion in 'Malware and Virus Removal Archive' started by wyobison, 2011/05/25.

  1. 2011/05/25
    wyobison

    wyobison Inactive Thread Starter

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    [Inactive] In program list..program is empty

    I have a client computer that had many viruses, one was called Windows XP Recovery. No Icons on desktop and no programs in the start..program list. I removed the virus using Combofix. Icons showed up on the desktop and the program list is back. But when selecting a program it shows "empty" grayed out.
    For example if I click on "Google Earth" and the side bar pops out which usually shows the executable file to start the program now shows "empty ".
    Is there anyway to get back? This is happening to all programs
    Thanks
     
    wyobison,
    #1
  2. 2011/05/25
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    Download and run UnHide

    Note. If you ran some temporary file cleaner since the infection started, the above won't work
     
    broni,
    #2


  3. to hide this advert.

  4. 2011/05/25
    wyobison

    wyobison Inactive Thread Starter

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    After posting this I realized the only way to resolve this issue is to create short-cuts for all the programs and put the short-cuts in the start menu program folders.
     
    wyobison,
    #3
  5. 2011/05/25
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    That's pretty painful way, so try the above tool first.
     
    broni,
    #4
  6. 2011/05/25
    wyobison

    wyobison Inactive Thread Starter

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    The only program I ran other than Combofix was SuperAntiSpyware. I never used any file clean tool and disabled anti-virus and the Unhide tool did not work. Any other ideas or do I take the long way around?
     
    wyobison,
    #5
  7. 2011/05/25
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    Sometimes, UnHide may work on a second run. Try it.

    If still no go.....

    Please download SystemLook from one of the links below and save it to your Desktop.
    Download Mirror #1
    Download Mirror #2
    64-bit users go HERE
    • Double-click SystemLook.exe to run it.
    • Vista\Win 7 users:: Right click on SystemLook.exe, click Run As Administrator
    • Copy the content of the following box into the main textfield:
      Code:
      :dir
%Temp%\smtmp /s
    • Click the Look button to start the scan.
    • When finished, a notepad window will open with the results of the scan. Please post this log in your next reply.
    Note: The log can also be found on your Desktop entitled SystemLook.txt
     
    broni,
    #6
  8. 2011/05/26
    wyobison

    wyobison Inactive Thread Starter

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    Below is what popped up in notepad...

    SystemLook 04.09.10 by jpshortstuff
    Log created at 06:54 on 26/05/2011 by Bill
    Administrator - Elevation successful

    ========== dir ==========

    C:\DOCUME~1\Bill\LOCALS~1\Temp\smtmp - Unable to find folder.

    -= EOF =-
     
    wyobison,
    #7
  9. 2011/05/26
    wyobison

    wyobison Inactive Thread Starter

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    Just got another computer same problem. This computer is Windows 7. Did not run any programs and ran the unhide. It restored the list of programs but not the shortcut to the program files. Shows "empty" in gray. Any suggestions?
     
    wyobison,
    #8
  10. 2011/05/26
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    Computer #1 - unfortunately, it looks like you ran something, which removed temporary files and you'll be forced to recreate shortcuts manually.

    You can restore the defaults for the Start Menu, Accessories and Administrative Tools as follows:

    As for other shortcuts, it'll be more time consuming...

    To manually recreate "All Programs" entries, follow these steps...

    • Download App Paths
    • Double click on AppPaths.exe to run the program.
    • Keep the program open.

    In this example I'll recreate an entry for Avast antivirus program.
    • Go Start>All Programs.
    • Right click on Avast entry, click "Properties ".

    [​IMG]
    NOTE. Make sure, you right click on Avast program, NOT on Avast folder.

    • You'll see this window:

    [​IMG]

    Due to the damage caused by the infection, you'll find "Target" box empty.

    • Go back to AppPaths window and find Avast entry.
    • Right click on Avast line, click "Edit ".
    • A pop-up window will open:

    [​IMG]

    • Highlight everything in "Path" box, right click on it, click "Copy "
    • Go back to Avast "Properties" window, right click inside "Target" box, click "Paste ".
    • IMPORTANT! Add quotation marks at the beginning of the path and at the end
    • Click OK and you're done.

    [​IMG]


    Computer #2 - try to re-run UnHide one more time.
    If still same problem, follow my reply #6 to post System Look log.
     
    broni,
    #9
  11. 2011/05/26
    wyobison

    wyobison Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks a bunch for all the information. Computer #1 I ended up just manually fixing. Didn't really take that long, the client only had about 10 programs. Computer #2 restored back to a previous point. I will print out your suggestion and use in the future.
    Thanks again
     
    wyobison,
    #10
  12. 2011/05/26
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst

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    You're very welcome :)
     
    broni,
    #11

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