suspicious programs?

[suzyq]

checking out installed programs I see some things .... which I do not like or recognize. Now that I have a son that is gone off to college a good cleaning of the computer was in order, OH BOY, what a surprise - it has been a never ending battle here. Please take a look at the programs. I am most concerned with the following:

1. Bufferchm
   
   
2. 3100_3200_3300_Help
   
3. 3100_3200_3300_trb
   
4. 3200
   
5. Aio_Scan_CDA
   
6. Canon G.7.26 WMP Decoder
   
7. Instant Share Devices
   
8. Market Research
   
9. Scanner Copy
   
10. Solution Center
    

None of these even seem to have a way to "delete" the program, so how do I even get rid of it?

http://

http://

http://

OK, can someone take a look at the programs installed on my computer and see what I can do about these suspicious ones. Doing a search on "bufferchm" I don't like what I see about it, although I didn't find out how to get rid of it. I use the following spyware programs: noadware, nortons systemworks virus, ad-aware se personal and xp tools - if that stuff will not get rid of spyware and viruses "lordy help me!". There is always someone and something coming out with something that claim is a better product.

OK, I've attached the first 2 files - IP 1 and 2 as well as I don't know for sure that the links above are going to work as I haven't used this site yet. If you need to see the last file of the installed programs let me know. Any help here is greatly appreciated!

[Ludwig Von Cookie Koopa]

Turn on the PC

When the desktop comes up press the Ctrl+At+Del keys fast as you can once to get into the manager. Write down any program you see that is not sappose to be there. esc and repeat this until you are happy with results.

Afterwards go into Msconfig. Disable any start up items ( since any virus starts up only the fact that it is tied to the startup list or program ) that is not common. If you have to restart then restart.

use find files and search for the programs are located on your HD. If you can delete them then do so. Make sure you are not deleting a regular program also.

If this is not working or there is still something left. Turn off the PC take your sons HD out and hook it as a second drive. Do not worry about viruses jumping from your sons HD to yours or anything like that.

Now search again for the program names and delete them and all should be well.

When you hook you sons HD backup check to see if anything is appearing again or even trying to load into the internet. You can use any virus tools to check for anything else.

[Tarun]

Welcome to the forums, suzyq. Please refer to this thread and go ahead with a cleanup of your computer. After you're done, please post a HijackThis log here.

[Jeremy]

The first thing I'd suggest you do is reformat that poor HDD of yours. There is a lot of bloatware installed and on top of that just too many things installed that can be replaced by much better software. For example, why do you have so many Canon thing installed when you also have Picasa (which detects USB connected digital cameras and automatically transfers the images, creates a library of them and categorizes them for you? I see Symantec there. Replace that with freeware Avast. That's only the tip of the iceberg.

[suzyq]

OK, I'm back! I took Tarun's suggestion and went to the other thread and followed the directions there for cleaning out my computer.

I have attached the files. I guess I still have a concern about the programs I see in my add/remove programs ~ what are they ~ what can I do about them? What is AVAST? Is it safe to get rid of Symantec? really?

Here are a couple of the scans I ran. I can't seem to load the HijakThis scan here, so it is at this Forum if you care to help me out and take a look.

Forum

Thanks for your advice, I really am appreciative of the time you take to read and reply

I'll check back and see what the next steps and suggestions are.....

Activescan.txt

bdscan.txt

Edited January 26, 2007 by suzyq

[Tarun]

It's more than safe to get rid of Symantec's "anti-virus". In fact many recommended it.

You can post a HijackThis log or any other log with the codebox BBCode tags. You can remove Norton via Add/Remove programs, and then run the Norton Removal Tool to get rid of all the leftovers.

You should make use of SpywareBlaster to block tracking cookies, and Ad-Aware and Spybot would remove them.

For all of the programs you listed, I would carefully remove one item at a time and watch for any ill effects. The Canon item I would keep however. You can also use CCleaner's Issues scan to see if it will remove any of those entries as they may be old/previously removed items.

I saw on the MajorGeeks forum a MSFN member told you to go to MajorGeeks. I have no idea why they would send you elsewhere; but I can assure you we have many experts here who are qualified and work in the field of malware cleanup and removal, including pc tech support.

Here's some information on the Avast Anti-Virus.

Should you need any other features that Norton SystemWorks had, simply ask and we can find you a freeware replacement.

[Jeremy]

As I said, I think you should reformat your HDD to get a clean slate. Your PC is hosed in dozens of programs you are both unfamiliar with and will likely never use. To reformat you will need your Windows XP Installation CD that should have come with your PC when you bought it. If it doesn't contain Service Pack 2, you may download this freely from Microsoft at this location.

To integrate this Service Pack 2 into your XP CD, you will need to copy the contents of that XP CD to your HDD, preferably to C:\XPCD. Then, providing that you have .NET Framework 2, you may use nLite to slipstream the SP into the XPCD and create a new bootable ISO.

Now just before formatting, you should make backups of your drivers. There are several applications you may use for this purpose. My preferred one is Driver Genius Professional 2005. However, some freeware alternatives include Double Driver, DriverMax, and IceManND's DriverBackup tool.

Just keep these handy on a flash drive, CD, seperate partition/HDD, external HDD, whatever. What would be even better is if you updated all your drivers to the latest versions before backing them up. The drivers that come with brand-name PCs are usually outdated.

In regards to "What is <this>?" questions, I strongly advise you to become familiar with the Search function of Google and/or any forum you become a member on.

Avast Homepage

Avast! on AV-Comparatives.Org

Symantec isn't a bad product detection rate or memory-wise, the GUI isn't bad, either. However, I've rarely heard any user make a positive comment or observation of this product. There are freeware products such as Avast and AntiVir that have very good protection, good use of memory and many featurs/options to configure. For more information on anti-virus keep in touch with that AV-Comparatives website as well as my blog section here(Under Construction). I've currently tested 19 anti-virus products. The top 3 are:

Kaspersky

NOD32

Avast!

As for updating or replacing the software you currently use, I will recommend the following:

Update Adobe Reader to 8 or Foxit PDF Reader which is much lighter.

ATI Radeon Driver (just use the driver and not the bundled software unless you have an AIW card that you use to capture video or watch PC video on TV.)

All the Canon programs can be forgotten. You already have Picasa installed which will take care of that digital camera for you.

Replace CheckIt Diagnositics with the freeware tool SIW

DubIt, the audio editor? Audacity is a popular alternative.

Nero, replace with Nero Lite Micro

Norton SystemWorks & Symantec, please remove these with SymNRT 2007 and go with Avast as previously mentioned (if you reformat)

Photo Gallery and Photo Stitch (also replaced with Picasa and either IrfanView or XnView.)

QuickTime, replace with Media Player Classic and FFDShow. This will also replace Windows Media Player.

IE7, switch to Firefox or Opera.

WinZip, replace this with the superior 7-Zip that offers better compression, or IZarc which supports more formats.

I hope this information helps you.

Jeremy

Edited January 29, 2007 by Jeremy

[Tarun]

Formatting is always the last option.

[suzyq]

This would be no easy "clean install"! I just rebuilt the computer this fall. The new hardware and new Window's Professional OS makes it impossible for me to just "pop in" the the rebooting disc that came with the computer. I do have all the drivers I need saved and tucked away in a safe place which would definitely help. This computer is literally brand new ~~ except for the motherboard and CPU everything else was changed and upgraded! Power supply, CD-DVD Drivers, Memory, Graphics Card, Monitor, Ports, Computer Case, etc, etc.....(yeah I should have just bought a new one!)

I'm going to delete some of the programs which are not needed. I already use FireFox but still have Microsoft Explorer because there are some programs which just don't seem to work properly on Firefox no matter what I do, and I've tried their Forums till I'm blue! So, I've kept Explorer around just for a few programs.

Unfortunately I had a son who put some crap on the computer, he's gone and will never get back on the computer again even he steps back in the house, I'm tired of cleaning his messes up!

Thanks for your help, all the cleaning programs did take out a lot of crap, and I hope that will suffice. I'll try and keep on top of things. Read some proper anti-virus, malware, spyware .......articles and keep the computer as possible

I know if I run into major trouble I can come back here and ask some questions and someone will help me out, thanks much....

If you have any other help I'd be more than glad to listen

suzyq

[Jeremy]

Formatting is always the last option.

When troubleshooting, yes. However, as it is already been established this PC is bloated with trialware and crippleware and uninstalling them will not remove all traces. It will be easier and less time-consuming for suzyq to reformat the drive, go with better (and smaller) software. What would you tell a person who just got a Dell with all that garbage trial/crippleware on it? Format.

[suzyq]

Formatting is very time consuming and I just started school. Along with the fact that I'm disabled and MUST keep to my regimen of care for my physical body it is just impossible for me to do any further work on the computer now.

Who- What is my best option for having someone do this?? I know I'm capable, I've done it several times but can't keep up with what is already on "my plate"!

Yes, I'm sitting here doing homework now.....

suzyq

[Jeremy]

Do you have a local computer service shop? If so, they would do the same work but charge you for it. It's not going to kill your system to have the software on there, just wait for a time when you have more time.

[Tarun]

Jeremy has the best advice. You could either wait until you have the time to do it or take it to a tech shop. If you do have someone work on your computer, I would recommend you stick with either a tech shop, or someone you know who is experienced with computers and you can trust.

If you opt to do it yourself, remember that it doesn't all have to be done at once. You can do it at small intervals over a span of time.