Computer help: Can't Access my McAfee Suite - Virus is blocking
Can't Access my McAfee Suite - Virus is blocking
by MinnesotaPix - 10/30/09 12:53 PMI have a 5-year-old Dell pc running XP. I have had McAfee Suite protecting it for the entire time I've owned this. I came home to find that when I booted up, I get a pop-up from something called Windows Enterprise Suite telling me I have 137 viruses and offering solutions ranging from $49.95 to $89.95. Looks like Phishing to me, and I went to run the McAfee suite, but it won't load. So it looks like this virus or worm or trojan horse (sorry I don't know the difference) is blocking me from running my own software to check.
Any tips?
First step, try Safe Mode
by MarkFlax
- 10/30/09 1:15 PM
In reply to: Can't Access my McAfee Suite - Virus is blocking by MinnesotaPix
Since you can't run McAfee's anti-malware in XP's normal mode, see if you can run it in XP's Safe Mode.
Safe Mode is a different way to boot up, (start), XP, where it loads only minimal drivers and software, and where most malware does not get a chance to run. The display screen for Safe Mode is generic, eg, black, with large icons and fonts, but that is normal.
How to start XP in Safe Mode, using the F8 method. Note, the F8 method is the safest way.
When you get there, find McAfee's scanner, (probably from the Start menu), and run it. It may take longer to scan in Safe Mode.
If that still fails, look at Grif's advice in the post here;
http://forums.cnet.com/5208-6122_102-0.html?threadID=328528#2969621
Good luck. I hope that helps.
Mark
No luck
by MinnesotaPix - 10/30/09 2:15 PM In reply to: First step, try Safe Mode by MarkFlax
Thanks - but it did not work. I booted up in safe mode, but was still unable to access the McAfee Suite.
Has anybody seen or heard of this "Windows Enterprise Suite"? It looks bogus to me. It planted a shield with an X on it in my startup tray and keeps popping up messages of new viruses that are found and poses big threats if I keep working without subscribing. I know it is bogus, but man, it is driving me crazy - and slowed my internet down to a crawl.
I'm thinking of uninstalling my McAfee suite and reinstalling it. Think that would work? By the way, I'm pretty fed up with McAfee and will certainly kill it when I get through this - not helpful there at all.
No, I wouldn't do that.
by MarkFlax - 10/31/09 4:51 AM
In reply to: No luck by MinnesotaPix
I wouldn't uninstall McAfee. if this malware is blocking McAfee from working, it may block it from re-installing.
You said it didn't work. What didn't work, (I gave two options, run in Safe Mode and install Malwarebytes'), and why didn't it work?
Error messages and/or details of what happened are important.
Yes, that Windows Enterprise Suite is a rogue security program. There are instructions for removing it here;
http://www.xp-vista.com/spyware-removal/remove-windows-enterprise-suite
McAfee doesn't catch everything. Nothing does. You need a range of utilities, but the most important is how this rogue got installed in the first place. That's only something you know, and if you gave it permission to install, then no security utility is going to stop that.
Mark
Update
by MinnesotaPix - 10/31/09 6:17 AM In reply to: No, I wouldn't do that. by MarkFlax
I installed Malwarebytes and SUPERAntispyware and ran both of them. That remedied the problem (got the Windows Enterprise Suite rogue software eliminated).
Still can't access McAfee - am wondering if now the SuperAntispyware is preventing that from running.
Thanks again for your help.
That's great progress.
by MarkFlax - 10/31/09 2:44 PM
In reply to: Update by MinnesotaPix
Well done on removing this pest.
I wouldn't have thought that SAS was blocking McAfee, nor Malwarebytes', but maybe the damage done by the rogue application ran a bit deeper than we hoped.
What happens when you try to open McAfee? Did you reboot the system after running SAS and MBAM? Have you tried other methods to open McAfee, eg from the Start menu, or the icon in the Notification area, near the clock?
One other option. Does McAfee open in Safe Mode?
If all that failed, then this may be the time to uninstall your McAfee application and try re-installing it. How do you feel about that and have you ever had to uninstall McAfee before? I ask because often these security suites make it difficult to uninstall, to prevent malware from doing it, and so the proper procedures need to be taken.
If your McAfee suite is a paid version, uninstalling incorrectly then re-installing may cause difficulties re-registering the product.
McAfee has a Removal Tool. I found a link on Google, but unfortunately when I tried to open the link the web page displayed a McAfee "Unexpected error" page. I have Google's 'cached' page linked below if you want to read how to remove it;
McAfee Removal Tool.
The link I couldn't get to work is this one: http://service.mcafee.com/FAQDocument.aspx?id=TS100507
You may have better luck, or Google McAfee Removal Tool for yourself. I am in the UK, so my Google results may be different.
When uninstalled, (if you decide to do that), I recommend rebooting, (restarting), the system before re-installing. This lets any registry entries take effect, and clears out any Temp files.
Good luck.
Mark
things are better
by MinnesotaPix - 11/1/09 6:10 AM In reply to: That's great progress. by MarkFlax
I finally got into McAfee. When I installed SAS, I set it up to run in Startup (shouldn't have done that). It seems to take over the system so I can't get into McAfee.
I ran MalWare again, and when I rebooted, I saw that McAfee was trying to start. I clicked on it right away, and it kicked in. I was then able to run a full system scan and enable the McAfee protection.
My question now (and I apologize for it being such a simple one, but I can't figure it out) - how do I remove SAS from my startup menu? I think if I do that, I will be able to utilize McAfee just fine without having to uninstall/reinstall.
Thanks a ton for your help!
Not stupid at all.
by MarkFlax - 11/1/09 11:56 AM
In reply to: things are better by MinnesotaPix
Glad you got things sorted Minnesota. It seems we're on the home stretch now.
There's should be two ways to stop SAS from loading at Startup.
1] Open SAS, and look for any Tools > Options, etc. There may be a setting to "Load at startup" or similar wording.
2] If that fails, open the "System Configuration Editor". To do that, goto Start > Run, type in "msconfig" without the quotes, (to be clear, that is MSCONFIG ), and click OK. The System Configuration Editor will display. Goto the Startup tab, and search down the list for SAS, (or SuperAntispyware, etc). If you find an entry, remove the tick, then click Apply then OK.
When you click Apply you may see an information window saying the change will take place when you next reboot, (restart). Then, when you do next restart, as the Windows Desktop loads, you will see another information window stating you have chosen "Selective Startup". That window can be suppressed from within the window itself.
I hope that works for you, and let me know how you get on.
Software often attempts to set itself to Load at Startup, and we often miss that. I use a very small free utility called Startup Monitor, from Mike Lin. It's really small, only 60Kb, and once installed you never see it again unless something attempts to change the Startup list, then it gives a warning, and the option to allow or not. It has saved me problems no end of times. In fact I have used it for my last 3 systems, Windows ME, XP and now this Vista.
http://www.mlin.net/StartupMonitor.shtml if you are interested.
Mark
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