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General discussion

Network Connections folder suddenly empty

Mar 20, 2005 10:19PM PST

Was recently hit by viruses.

Managed to run trend micro and remove
may of bad file.

Somewhere along the line I may have
inadvertenly deleted Network Connections folder
(Windows XP Home Edition) contents and now
I can't get the Network creation link to take me
to creating a new network connection because
this fold remains empty time after time.

What files should be in the Network connections
folder. also, what network services should be running.

thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Virus damage.
Mar 20, 2005 10:27PM PST

Since it's Windows ME there are NO REPAIR TOOLS since Microsoft was sure that with the SFP (Systme File Protection) that SFC and such were never required. History proved that idea wrong.

Sadly, outside of a new OS install since it has heavy virus damage I would try this first.

1. Run IEFIX. Hint: google.com that to find it.

2. Remove the networking components in add/remove software or the network control panel. Reboot and add them back in.

Bob

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It is XP not ME
Mar 20, 2005 10:36PM PST

Just to make sure you were aware,
I'm running XP Home edition and
on your reply you said..

"since it's ME"

Same response?

Thanks.

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Sorry, missed it.
Mar 20, 2005 10:50PM PST

I must have just replied to a too similar post.

The fixes are the same, but with XP, IEFIX will perform SFC for you without you having to do any extra work.

The second step is ... the same.

-> If only the name of the virus was known we could look for notes about REGISTRY ENTRIES that are changed such as we read about at http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/vbs.jer.html But many don't know to keep notes about the names and end up with a complete wipe and install of the OS.


http://www.sml.hw.ac.uk/computing/documentation/w95microlab/poledit1.rpt.html shows you a possible list of the NO words I look for in the registry.

Bob

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Just a follow up
Mar 20, 2005 10:55PM PST

I posted the follwoing and it quickly got over-run by
a few other posts.

It is related to this thread.

Can you address too, please? Thanks.

After cleaning up after a virus
attack, a pop up wont go away and I was
wondering if anyone has heard of how to
deal with ith.

The title bar of this pop up reads
"winbo32" and the text box reads
"doh". I click ok to get rid of it and
it keeps returning.

I searched the hard drive high and low to
try and find and delete it but to no avail.

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I use the usual.
Mar 20, 2005 10:58PM PST

Turn off System Restore (pests now hide there). Run Adaware, Spybot, Cwshredder, Stinger and Housecall. ALL and I mean all they find is tossed. If it persists, then you find the HIJACKTHIS forums.

Bob

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Norton AV
Mar 20, 2005 11:07PM PST

Okay, after all this is past,
how to best protect ones system?

Thanks.

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Probably Linux.
Mar 20, 2005 11:14PM PST

But that's a whole 'nother story.

Here's what I do.

1. XP SP2 with all critical patches.

2. I don't use IE/OE/Outlook except for Windows Update.

3. ZoneAlarm and Free AVG.

4. POPFILE for the spam blocker.

5. Email I don't know is never opened, viewed, except through POPFILE (it has an ascii viewer).

Nothing happens here.

Bob

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Right
Mar 20, 2005 11:23PM PST

At least for me, it's already done.

I have dual-booted my laptop and run
Mandrake on the "second" partition.

Codeweavers works great, although
still have to tweak unsupported windows
apps that aren't "the latest" from Microsoft.

Just no virus problems with Linux, that's
all but after this latest attack, I want to
try and get them up to speed with Linux.

That too, is another story.

Thanks again.