REMOVAL
The following instructions pertain to all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.
- Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP).
- Restore system files deleted by the threat.
- Use the Security Response "Tool to reset shellopencommand registry subkeys."
- Reinstall your Symantec antivirus program
- Update the virus definitions.
- Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected.
- Delete any values added to the registry.
For specific details on each of these steps, read the following instructions.
1. To disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP)
If you are running Windows Me or Windows XP, we recommend that you temporarily turn off System Restore. Windows Me/XP uses this feature, which is enabled by default, to restore the files on your computer in case they become damaged. If a virus, worm, or Trojan infects a computer, System Restore may back up the virus, worm, or Trojan on the computer.
Windows prevents outside programs, including antivirus programs, from modifying System Restore. Therefore, antivirus programs or tools cannot remove threats in the System Restore folder. As a result, System Restore has the potential of restoring an infected file on your computer, even after you have cleaned the infected files from all the other locations.
Also, a virus scan may detect a threat in the System Restore folder even though you have removed the threat.
For instructions on how to turn off System Restore, read your Windows documentation, or one of the following articles:
Note: When you are completely finished with the removal procedure and are satisfied that the threat has been removed, reenable System Restore by following the instructions in the aforementioned documents.
For additional information, and an alternative to disabling Windows Me System Restore, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article:
Antivirus Tools Cannot Clean Infected Files in the _Restore Folder (Article ID: Q263455).
2. To restore system files deleted by the threat
This threat attempts to delete system files that are needed to remove the threat. To restore these files, please follow the instructions below.
Note: This step may be skipped if the location of your Windows installation folder is something other than the "C:" drive.
The following documents provide general instructions on how to extract files. This information is provided for your convenience. The exact steps may vary slightly depending on the configuration of your operation system, the location of the files, and so on. For additional information, read the Help files, contact Microsoft, or refer to the following Windows documentation:
3. Using the Security Response "Tool to reset shellopencommand registry subkeys."
This risk makes changes to the Windows registry that may prevent you from running executable files. Security Response has developed a tool to reset these values to the default settings. This
tool is the easiest way to fix this. Once you have run the
tool, return to this page and continue with the removal. If you cannot obtain the tool, refer to the "Additional Information" section for information on manually reversing the changes.
4. To reinstall your Symantec antivirus program
As this virus attempts to remove the files and registry subkeys that your Symantec antivirus program uses, you may need to reinstall the program. If your Symantec antivirus program is not working properly, uninstall, and then reinstall it.
5. To update the virus definitions
Symantec Security Response fully tests all the virus definitions for quality assurance before they are posted to our servers. There are two ways to obtain the most recent virus definitions:
- Running LiveUpdate, which is the easiest way to obtain virus definitions: These virus definitions are posted to the LiveUpdate servers once each week (usually on Wednesdays), unless there is a major virus outbreak. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by LiveUpdate, refer to the document: Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate).
- Downloading the definitions using the Intelligent Updater: The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are posted daily. You should download the definitions from the Symantec Security Response Web site and manually install them. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by the Intelligent Updater, refer to the document: Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater).
The latest Intelligent Updater virus definitions can be obtained here: Intelligent Updater virus definitions. For detailed instructions read the document: How to update virus definition files using the Intelligent Updater.
6. To scan for and delete the infected files
- Start your Symantec antivirus program and make sure that it is configured to scan all the files.
- Run a full system scan.
- If any files are detected, click Delete.
Note: If your Symantec antivirus product reports that it cannot delete a detected file, Windows may be using the file. To fix this, run the scan in Safe mode. For instructions, read the document: How to start the computer in Safe Mode. Once you have restarted in Safe mode, run the scan again.
After the files are deleted, restart the computer in Normal mode and proceed with the next section.
Warning messages may be displayed when the computer is restarted, as the threat has not been fully removed at this point. Please ignore these messages and just click OK. These messages will not appear when the computer is restarted after the removal instructions have been fully completed. The messages displayed may be similar to the following:
Title: [File path]
Message body: Windows cannot find [file name]. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search.
7. To delete the value from the registry
Important: Symantec strongly recommends that you back up the registry before making any changes to it. Incorrect changes to the registry can result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Modify the specified subkeys only. For instructions refer to the document:
How to make a backup of the Windows registry.
- Click Start > Run.
- Type regedit
- Click OK.
Note: If the registry editor fails to open the threat may have modified the registry to disable the registry editor. Security Response has developed a tool to resolve this problem. Download and run this tool, and then return to this page and continue with the removal.
- Navigate to the subkey:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionRun
- In the right pane, delete the values:
"BootsCfg" = "wscript.exe C:WINDOWSUserAll Users.vbs %"
"BootsCfg" = "wscript.exe C:WINDOWSAccountsAll Users.vbe %"
- Navigate to the subkey:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion
PoliciesExplorer
- In the right pane, delete the values:
"NoAddPrinter" = "1"
"NoDeletePrinter" = "1"
"NoDrives" = "1"
"NoDrives" = "0x03FFFFFF"
"NoNetHood" = "1"
- Navigate to the subkey:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion
PoliciesSystem
- In the right pane, delete the values:
"DisableRegistryTools" = "1"
"NoAdminPage" = "1"
"NoVirtMemPage" = "1"
"NoFileSysPage" = "1"
- Navigate to the subkey:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion
PoliciesWinOldApp
- In the right pane, delete the value:
"Disabled" = "1"
- Navigate to the subkey:
HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion
PoliciesNetwork
- In the right pane, delete the value:
"NoFileSharingControl" = "1"
- Exit the Registry Editor.