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Admin cannot start applications except in safe mode

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by tom.foale

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I have a desktop running Windows XP Professional with SP2. I recently (Easter) changed from McAfee to AVG antivirus and Comodo Firewall Pro. Now none of the accounts can start any applications, including the admin accounts. I can start applications successfully in Safe Mode. I have run AVGSCANX with the /COMP and /CLEAN options so I know it isn't a virus. Looking at the policies doesn't seem to show any changes except two new users called SUPPORT_388945a0 and *S-1-5-21- etc.

However, the Application log of the Event Viewer shows a sequence of MSIInstaller error messages of the type "Detection of product '{3D13B5F1-8FE4-4829-AA6E-6461D4B0B7E8}', feature 'DefaultFeature' failed during request for component '{3207D1B1-80E5-11D2-B95D-006097C4DE24}'"

Can anyone help with ideas on what could be causing this?

5 replies

by Former member

Go into the "registry" to get rid of "McAfee", WARNING CHANGES MADE TO THE REGISTRY COULD MAKE YOUR COMPUTER UNUSABLE OR UNSTABLE. PLEASE MAKE A BACKUP FIRST: In the registry look under "edit" and then "find" and input "McAfee", and slowly read and i mean "slowly read" to make sure you delete the right settings. Once done reboot your computer. Hope this helps you.

Please post back if you have more problems or questions.

by tom.foale

Thanks for your advice guys. I tried both of those suggestions in the order they arrived - MCPR 'could not get permission' to deinstall some components which may have been due to me previously deleting registry entries. There is now no McAfee directory in the Program Files directory.

The error messages when I try to start applications suggest that in normal mode even admin doesn't have permission to access any applications at all. I can open any folders, just not start any applications even if I try to start them from their Program Files directory. It doesn't even start the programs that normally autostart on login.

by rob miners

Run a thorough check for hijackware.

Download HijackThis v2.0.2

http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe is the preferred tool to use.

It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware with
assistance from an expert. Post your hijackthis log
to an appropriate forum.

http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html
http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30

Helpful Sites

Checking for Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_R...:_Introduction
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware

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