Having troubles opening .exe files

[Crazy Flamer]

So a few days ago I got the "Vista Home Security" Virus. a quick google search and I found out its a fake security screening that produces fake results as it scans your computer. It wouldn't let me open any anti-virus software or start up msconfig.

I forget how, but I somehow got Ad-Aware open and it got rid of the virus. But now I can't seem to open up any files.

I tried opening up Full Tilt Poker and I get a window saying :Choose a program you want to open this file with." I get that for a lot of my applications, including firefox. The only way I am able to open up my browser is because I have a link to some Live PC Help and that opens up firefox for me.

Any clues as to what I should do?

[cKy]

So a few days ago I got the "Vista Home Security" Virus. a quick google search and I found out its a fake security screening that produces fake results as it scans your computer. It wouldn't let me open any anti-virus software or start up msconfig.

I forget how, but I somehow got Ad-Aware open and it got rid of the virus. But now I can't seem to open up any files.

I tried opening up Full Tilt Poker and I get a window saying :Choose a program you want to open this file with." I get that for a lot of my applications, including firefox. The only way I am able to open up my browser is because I have a link to some Live PC Help and that opens up firefox for me.

Any clues as to what I should do?

My neighbor got this a few weeks back - it was an absolute pain in the but to get rid of. This is what I did.

The trick i found to run any exe's was to get a cmd prompt. I did this by going start - run - typing CMD and hitting enter. it asked how to open it and I selected explorer.exe (in windows\system32). At that point I was able to install Malwarebytes (which I had on a USB Key). As long as you know some DOS that shouldnt be an issue. I installed and updated the Malware bytes and then booted into Safe Mode. Once in safe mode I had to once again open the command prompt and then run the malwarebytes EXE (the one in program files). I did a full scan and deleted what it found. My neighbor hasnt egged my house since so I assume it worked.

Good luck, it's an absolute pig.

[SebC]

Don't know about this virus specifically, but turn on file extensions for all files (including known file types). Your .exes might not really be .exes.

[Crazy Flamer]

When I try to open up the cmd prompt I get a message saying:

C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe

Application not found.



I get that for most of my applications. Not sure what's going on there...

[Crazy Flamer]

Don't know about this virus specifically, but turn on file extensions for all files (including known file types). Your .exes might not really be .exes.

Ok I'm not very computer savvy. How do I do this? They all worked before I got the virus.. Now nothing.

[3 Justin 3]

This virus is a bitch. I got it and just decided to re-format the hard-drive and kill it that way. It screwed up my registry so when I tried to re-start my computer it wouldn't let me, I couldn't boot into safe mode and it took 2 hours of fooling around in "Repair mode" to get it to boot, only for the virus to wipe the registry again.

I hope you can somehow get rid of it without swiping your hard-drive, but this virus is a mofo to get rid of.

BTW, stop looking at porn. ;)

[Ducay]

Google "vista home security (or whatever its called) registry fix"

Wife got this last week, you just need to create a quick text file which yo then run to make it so it stops forcing all .exe files to open that program.

Once that registry fix is run, you reboot into safe mode, run malwarebytes and it should be cleared.

[kirant]

Google "vista home security (or whatever its called) registry fix"

Wife got this last week, you just need to create a quick text file which yo then run to make it so it stops forcing all .exe files to open that program.

Once that registry fix is run, you reboot into safe mode, run malwarebytes and it should be cleared.
I think I've heard of this before. I think you can basically run into safe mode, cancel the proper registry files, then run Malwarebytes.

[Weiser Wonder]

Vista security is a terrible virus that can be extremely difficult to get rid of, you are probably still infected.

Download: http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/grinler/rkill.scr (Warning: clicking the link will automatically download the program) and http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/anti-virus/combofix

Run Rkill.scr. That should allow you to run executables. Then run Combofix.

I did that today on a computer and it worked. Combofix is a powerful program and not something you want to use a lot on your computer but it worked wonders in this case.

After that run tdss killer, you can download it at this site: http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/solutions?qid=208280684

If your computer has TDSS, Vista security will just reappear in a few days. Only tdss killer removes it tdss effectively.

[SebC]

Ok I'm not very computer savvy. How do I do this? They all worked before I got the virus.. Now nothing.Open any folder. Go tools -> folder options -> click the "view" tab -> uncheck "show file extensions for known file types"

While you're there you may also want to select "show hidden files, folders, and drives", and uncheck "hide protected operating system files" (though you'll want to turn that one back on once you've solved this thing).

The reason you might want to do that is that I've seen a virus create new files with the same names as the actual files you want, but with the wrong extensions, and hide the real files... IIRC, it also labeled them as protected OS files.

If you can't find "tools", press Alt.