Cannot access Control Panel etc.,

Tinky · 24-01-2009, 10:36

......and now for my next problem

When I try to access the Control Panel or User Account Control Settings, I get this warning:-
Attachment 17573
I tried doing a system restore, then got this warning:-
Attachment 17574
So scanned with Spybot S&D and also Kaspersky but nothing found. Anyone have any idea what's going on, I've only had this problem the last 2 days? My OS is Vista Home Premium.
Cannot access Welcome Centre either and there may be more.

webcrawler2050 · 24-01-2009, 11:12

Are you able to do a system restore?

Start >> All Programs >> Accessories >> System tools >> System restore.

Dai · 24-01-2009, 11:12

Apart from the fact that the firewall authors cannot spell..

If their warning box is to be believed then *something* has got into your PC. If that is the case there's every reason to believe that your A/V and spyware programs could also have been compromised.
Some viruses these days have modules that attack the common A/V systems and can disable them.

At this point if it was me I'd work on the assumption that my machine was infected.

Raistlin · 24-01-2009, 11:22

That message from the firewall could be because of the system restore.

The running firewall service is apparently checking the integrity of the files related to the firewall. If the system restore has reverted those files back to a previous version without properly restarting the firewall services then you will get an error such as the one you've posted.

Dai · 24-01-2009, 11:38

There's a (possibly) related report here:
http://www.pctools.com/forum/showthr...light=tampered

No fix unfortunately but it certainly sounds like another possibility.

I did say "IF"..

Tinky · 24-01-2009, 11:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by webcrawler2050

Are you able to do a system restore?

Start >> All Programs >> Accessories >> System tools >> System restore.

I already tried that webcrawler, and that's when I got the second message.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaiNasty

Apart from the fact that the firewall authors cannot spell..

If their warning box is to be believed then *something* has got into your PC. If that is the case there's every reason to believe that your A/V and spyware programs could also have been compromised.
Some viruses these days have modules that attack the common A/V systems and can disable them.

At this point if it was me I'd work on the assumption that my machine was infected.

Scanned with Kasperky online scanner, nothing found.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob M

That message from the firewall could be because of the system restore.

The running firewall service is apparently checking the integrity of the files related to the firewall. If the system restore has reverted those files back to a previous version without properly restarting the firewall services then you will get an error such as the one you've posted.

I'm sure you are right Rob, but I can't tell you how annoying it is to get the first message keep popping up all the time, when I try to access. Getting really worried now, 'cause don't know just what I can do/try next. Someone with my chest shouldn't have these problems lol.

Raistlin · 24-01-2009, 15:23

What was the last thing you installed before it all went wrong Tinky?

idi banashapan · 24-01-2009, 16:38

i don't suppose you are using zonealarm or comodo or another third party FW are you? I suggest (as mentioned above) safe mode, uninstall any 3rd party firewalls and restart. if you don't have any 3rd party ones, stop the windows firewall, insert your vista disc and go to START > RUN and type sfc /scannow and let that run. then reboot and try again.

downquark1 · 24-01-2009, 17:13

Give http://www.malwarebytes.org/ a try

Tinky · 24-01-2009, 19:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob M

What was the last thing you installed before it all went wrong Tinky?

I really can't remember Rob, I've looked in Mozilla Firefox, Tools, Downloads, but the box is empty.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

i don't suppose you are using zonealarm or comodo or another third party FW are you? I suggest (as mentioned above) safe mode, uninstall any 3rd party firewalls and restart. if you don't have any 3rd party ones, stop the windows firewall, insert your vista disc and go to START > RUN and type sfc /scannow and let that run. then reboot and try again.

I am currently running PC Tools Firewall Plus. I do have the Vista disk but I am not sufficiently IT savvy to attempt anything other than the most basic tasks. If I was to follow your instructions Bender, what would that achieve/what would I be looking for?

Quote:

Originally Posted by downquark1

Give http://www.malwarebytes.org/ a try

Thank you downquark but it looks like I would have to pay, and I am trying to avoid that.

Feeling very down about all this as I try very hard to keep my puter as fit as poss.

downquark1 · 24-01-2009, 20:03

No malwearbytes is free as far as I'm aware, you only need to pay for the "always on" protection.

Tinky · 24-01-2009, 21:04

Thanks downquark, downloaded and scanned but nothing showing up.

---------- Post added at 20:04 ---------- Previous post was at 19:49 ----------

Did another system restore, this time taken it back to Tuesday, when I know everything was OK. But still no permissions.

Dai · 24-01-2009, 21:29

Do you have the PC Tools spyware doctor installed as well?
I'm wondering if some part of the firewall suite protection is blocking your access.

I'd be tempted to uninstall the PC Tools stuff and see if the problem goes away.

idi banashapan · 24-01-2009, 21:33

it may be that something has changed on the system that the firewalls are now blocking (at a permissions level). removing the firewalls will stop the policies from acting on your machine, potentially allowing access to the areas currently being denied.

running SFC will scan your windows core files for any type of change or corruption from the original files installed. with the /SCANNOW switch, windows will compare the core files against the ones used originally to install the OS and will replace anything that it deems as changed. it will also run against the service packs you have installed and replace any files with the latest version from those service packs.

Tinky · 24-01-2009, 21:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bender

it may be that something has changed on the system that the firewalls are now blocking (at a permissions level). removing the firewalls will stop the policies from acting on your machine, potentially allowing access to the areas currently being denied.

running SFC will scan your windows core files for any type of change or corruption from the original files installed. with the /SCANNOW switch, windows will compare the core files against the ones used originally to install the OS and will replace anything that it deems as changed. it will also run against the service packs you have installed and replace any files with the latest version from those service packs.

Thank you all so much for your help, knew you wouldn't let me down.

I think I may have solved the problem. It's since I followed the instructions in this post about going straight to desktop, that things appear to have happened. So I have reverted to logging in again, and for some reason I am back to normal, although I would prefer to go straight to desktop. But hey, if this is all it takes I should coco? Hope I haven't spoken too soon!