Windows Sidebar & Objectdock issues

I recently found there was some ad ware and what-not on my computer, so I ran a scan with Malwarebytes/Spyware Doctor. The routine went well and they cleared my computer (So I think). Afterward, though, the gadgets in my Windows Sidebar were non-functioning.

Also, Object Dock (Software program that allows for quicker access to programs) would not allow me to open any paths or programs. It gave me an error stating that, "Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item."

Suggestions?

UPDATE: Seems like I can't access items from the download tab in Firefox either...

Hi Madandfrustrate,

At the risk of re-installing the adware, I recommend you do a System Restore to try to fix this current problem and get you back to when things were working OK and then we will re-address the adware issue (and hopefully not cause the same thing to happen again). Hopefully you are correct that you did clear the problem - but as Richard emphasizes below, it's best to be as sure as possible first - so do the scan as he recommends.

Do you know when this problem began? Try a System Restore to a point in time BEFORE the problem began. Here's the procedure: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html. Be sure to check the box to show more than 5 days of restore points. If the first attempt fails, then try an earlier point or two. NOTE: You will have to re-install any software and updates you installed between now and the restore point, but you can use Windows Update for the updates.

Let us know if that resolved the problems - then we'll work on the adware issue separately (if they have returned despite the precautions of re-scanning).

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

The quick answer would be to run a system resotore if you are certain that all spyware and virus are gone
Run the full malwarebytes, after update and update and run a full antivirus scan, first.

Be advised, do not run system restore unless you are certain it does not contain any virus or malware or it will make matters worse

Before anything try an SFC, just to see if it works, but I doubt it.
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html

It may give the precise nature of the problem

No help with the SFC, the document was blank. The only real problem right now is my sidebar malfunctioning, and some of my programs not working properly. I'm fairly certain I've cleaned my computer.

Well, if SFC did not help and you are sure there are no Virus or Malware in the restore point, go for System Restore.
The SFC should give a log of what checked and then indicate that there are no problems. It was not blank
I would actually run the virus and malwarebytes scan and not just be certain.

Oh, one more thing, my email inbox does not work either. When I try to open it from messenger, it just sends me to the web page...also, I did remove some infected registry data, so that could be the problem. Guess I'll have to restore.

Restore is great, it will fix registry, too. Be sure to go back far enough to fix all problems. Do not use if it has Virus in the restore points.

Hi Madandfrustrate,

Knowing now that you modified the registry (which is almost certainly at least partially the reason for all these troubles), makes a System Restore an even more appropriate solution than I realized when I first recommended it since, as Richard said, one of its main features is restoring the registry to how it was before it was modified.

I am, however, concerned about the adware. If it was removed by modifying the registry among other things that together or separtely caused your current problems (such as those programs you used though they rarely if ever cause this level of problem), then a System Restore to before those modifications and changes is practically certain to bring back that original problem. I'm not sure how to see it any other way and I cannot believe a restore point before this happened won't contain what you were trying to remove and that initially caused all of this. And yet, if it's simple adware and not a serious malware or virus infection (and you were able to eliminate it before even if doing so may have caused all these problems), perhaps it may still be the best option as it is likely we can identify and remove it again if it does come back - and then we can truly scan your system and find any and all infections and remove them the right way (and modifying the registry is not apt to be one of the first choices at all). If necessary, we can even call in a Security Expert to assist with the problem if our normal methods don't work (and I'm certain she will be be able to resolve any such issues IF they exist).

I hope this helps. I'm not trying to contradict Richard in any way here - I'm merely saying that I see no way to guarantee that a restore point before the problem started will be clean and believe it is almost certain to contain the adware (unless you go back to the furthest point possible which may possibly also pre-date the infection - but that's not a guarantee either unless you know when you were infected). That said, I feel certain we can deal with it properly if it does return and that this will not make things worse even though we may have more work to do after the System Restore - perhaps a lot more work.

But the choice and the risk is yours. It may be possible to repair all these problems and whatever was done to the registry some other way (perhaps by reviewing the files more closely - though I don't have adequate skills to get into that very deeply myself - or even if we need to do a system repair/upgrade or even a clean install). If I were you, though, I would do a full backup of everything you want to save before you try anything - just to be on the safe side.

Good luck!

You have been given advice on how to correct the problem and the potential downside, you must decide for yourself on the best approach.

ACK. System protection was disabled, so I don't have any restore points. I might have to wipe my hard drive.

Have stuff you want to save, first
Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer - How-To Geek

It goes without saying that if you might have had a virus, dont save your stuff or the new install may inherit the old problems.

We may be able to do a system repair/upgrade instead of wiping the drive using the genuine Windows Vista Installation Disk (one you own or one you can borrow from ANYONE). To do this you have to also be able to boot normally. Here's the procedure: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html. Although this will not affect your data, settings, or programs, you should still backup your data before starting just to be on the safe side. You may have a lot of updates to re-install (including any service packs you had to remove). If the version on the system came with SP1 or SP2 pre-installed and the disk is an earlier version, then you'll need to make a slipstream disk as follows: http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/151606-vista-sp1-slipstream-installation-dvd.html.

I don't know if it will solve all the problems, but it may be a better first option than a clean install unless you're sure you're still infected and just want to be rid of that problem for good and don't mind losing everything (though normally it's safe to backup just data even if you are infected - and Jacee typically allows this even when she recommends a clean install). It's possible we may be able to resolve any problems that remain after doing this (if any - possibly including any infections) and make recovery quite a bit simpler than a clean install - but again, the choice is yours.

Good luck!

I don't have the retail disk though, it came preinstalled. I do have a PC recovery though, so I could just reset my system to the default factory software/drivers/hardware. I also don't have an external hard drive, so I'll probably have to reinstall my programs/data. I think the malware was from websites, I haven't installed any harmful or untrustworthy software lately. My brother has been playing on my computer and such, where the problems started a few days ago.

Madandfrustrate, you have the opinions of two members. Each giving what he feels is the best for your situation. Although our resident security expert does allow saving certain files etc., I know that on my computer, unless my stuff was of great personal or monetary, I would let it go. Based upon, your post, however all my be academic, based on your last post.
Malware is usually from websites and not from software obtained reliable, knowledgable sources. That being said, anyone can make a mistake, and if you got any software, from a friend, via thumb drive etc, it may be infected.

WOW. Everything is fixed now. Fixed the sidebar, no more errors and such either. :D

Good for you, glad that it was fixed.

Madandfrustrate said:

WOW. Everything is fixed now. Fixed the sidebar, no more errors and such either. :D

Click to expand...

Congratulations and I'm pleased to hear it. That's great news. How did you do it? From the posts, it seemed quite hopeless short of a clean install - or is that how you did it? If some other way, please post how so maybe it will help others who find themselves in a similar situation (it will certainly help at least me as I can't see how you did it any other way).

Thanks for letting us know.

Good luck and best wishes!

No clean install needed. I found a fix for the sidebar, but that seemed hopeless, since the effects took a few days for some reason. I ran a bunch of scans (Several times), ran a registry cleaner, found a file that was actually a trojan, deleted it, and the next day everything was fine.

Thanks for the information. I would never have tried a registry cleaner (unless I was already resigned to a clean install anyway). I'm surprised it detected a Trojan. While I'm happy the issue seems resolved, with a Trojan it's sometimes hard to tell - they can hide or install things that aren't revealed or removed with cleaners or standard malware-removal software. I would post this in the Security Forum here along with the name of the trojan (and the report that revealed it if still available) and have our Security Expert Jacee take a look to make sure you really are OK (she has better tools than we do) - but that's entirely up to you.

I appreciate you posting.

Good luck and best wishes!