Re: Recovery from Virus Infection

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David's advice is good. I'm only presenting a different point of view...just my opinion.

If my computer had 8 separate malware infections, I would probably not try to remove them. That's a seriously compromised computer, and it's possible that it will never be completely right again. Instead, I would copy my user files and then erase my hard disk and start fresh. Of course, it's easy for me to say that because I backup my system partition daily (sometimes more often than that) so I can easily restore a good backup.

Just one more reason to recommend regular backups.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

David H. Lipman wrote:
From: "J. Lynn" <jlynn@xxxxxxxxxxx>

| My Anti Virus program notified that it had detected 8 viruses and
| quarantined them. Then a box popped up on my screen which said: “Files
| that are required for Windows to run properly have been replaced by
| unrecognized versions. To maintain system stability, windows must restore
| the original versions of these files. Insert your Windows XP Home Edition
| Service Pack 3 CD now.”



| I ran a virus scan and identified the 8 viruses and deleted them. I also
| restored my system to an earlier day. My problem now is that I do not have
| a Service Pack 3 CD, since I downloaded SP3 from the Microsoft site. I have
| tried my SP2 CD and my original XP Operating System CD and neither work.
| After I restarted my computer, the box requesting the SP3 CD had
| disappeared. What should I do next?



| Any help is appreciated.

| J. Lynn

I STRONGLY DOUBT you had "8 viruses". Malware in the form of trojans yes, but not viruses.

Copy the i386 folder from the Windows SP2 CD to the root of C: such as c:\i386

Download the administrators WinXP SP3 EXE file
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en

Rename the EXE file to; WinXP-SP3.exe

Run the following command line which will slipstream the C:\i386 folder to SP3 level...

WinXP-SP3.exe -u -s:c:\

Run; REGEDIT.EXE

go to...

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup

find; SourcePath

set; SourcePath to be; C:\

When the OS next determines "windows must restore the original versions of these files..." it will find them in; c:\i386 and will NOT need to prompt you for the CD.


.

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