temp file virus?
Author
Discussion

suffolk911

Original Poster:

91 posts

313 months

Wednesday 29th November 2006
quotequote all
Hi, my computer freezes whenever I try and delete files stored in the temporary internet directory or when an application tries to access these files - the application usually crashes and I end up rebooting my computer.

I've got a feeling this is a virus - anyone got any ideas on what type of virus it might be and how I can rid of this, or other suggestions on what might be the problem.

All help much appreciated - I've already wasted hours trying to solve this !

Suffolk911

madras

329 posts

240 months

Wednesday 29th November 2006
quotequote all
have you done a virus scan. if not, download AVG free and do one.

other wise it may just be that you are deleting files form the temp folder while some apps are using them. why do you want to delete files form temp anyway?
which os are you running?

ThePassenger

6,962 posts

266 months

Wednesday 29th November 2006
quotequote all
If your talking about /TEMP then you might find some program is using a file that your trying to delete, so explorer (being semi-brain dead) sits waiting for the file lock to release... then promptly crashes and goes boom! Close everything down then attempt deletion.

If you mean /Internet Explorer Cache then, AFIC that they moved to a semi-database system with IE6, it's not advised to wander in to the file structure and simply cull anything, use IE's inbuilt tools to manage the cache ( Tools > Internet Options > General ) then select Delete Files in the section titled 'Temporary Internet files' to really scrub everything check the box mark 'Delete All files'. Then use Settings to adjust the amount of space IE is using.

suffolk911

Original Poster:

91 posts

313 months

Wednesday 29th November 2006
quotequote all
Hi, Thanks for the replies. I'm using Windows 2000 Professional and am fully up to date with all of Microsoft's updates. I've run a virus scan (Norton antivirus) and have just run an online virus scanner from CA.

The really weird thing is that when the CA scan gets to this particular file - the one I can't delete - it crashes. I get the same effect when I run any application which tries to access this file including the 'cleanup' utility and Windows Explorer.

The CA scanner showed up some virusses, which are not deleted. The trouble is that I can't check the file in question as any attempt at accessing crashes the application. Inconveniently this also means I can't even access the files name as Window Explorer crashes when I try and open the directory its in.

Could this be some sort of virus?

Suffolk 'irritated' 911

ThePassenger

6,962 posts

266 months

Wednesday 29th November 2006
quotequote all
I've not seen a virus that would be so obvious... I'm not discounting it but I am slightly doubtful (Viri are by nature sneaky buggers).

Double click My Computer
Right click 'Local Disk (C' > Tools > Click 'Check Now'
select Automatically fix file system errors & Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors.

Confirm you want to schedule for next reboot.

Reboot.

BliarOut

72,863 posts

270 months

Wednesday 29th November 2006
quotequote all
Sounds like some form of malware running from your temp directory.

Also worth downloading SpyBot, updating it and then running a full scan in safe mode...

mph999

2,780 posts

251 months

Wednesday 29th November 2006
quotequote all
Failing the above, boot of Linux and splat it from there ...

madras

329 posts

240 months

Wednesday 29th November 2006
quotequote all
the plural of virus is viruses.

what is the file called? you could try booting to an other os such as dos or recovery console (does 2000 have this?) and delete from there, or if you have another computer and a network you can boot up but not login, attach to the local disk from the other computer (you may need to setup file sharing first) with \%hostname%c$ emp and then delete from there

suffolk911

Original Poster:

91 posts

313 months

Friday 1st December 2006
quotequote all
Thanks to everyone who replied. I have now run chkdisk, everything is Ok. I have installed and run Spybot - it detected about 30 pieces of Malware, all of which are now deleted.

The problem file is in the directory:

Documents&Settings/Administrator.West/Local Settings/Temp/Temporary Internet Files/Content.IE5/.

Most applications - such as Disk Cleanup, or Explorer - crash when they get to this directory.

Any more ideas on what this could be? All the disk drives tests that I have carried out check out Ok, so I presume this is some sort of resiliant and very determined virus - any ideas on what it could be?

Thanks for your help

Suffolk 911

ThePassenger

6,962 posts

266 months

Saturday 2nd December 2006
quotequote all
Boot in to safe mode, try purging cache from there.
Alternatively perhaps using the WinXP install CD and pulling up the recovery console and emptying the files.
Possibly even downloading a small Linux boot disk (Knoppix, or some such) and using that to bypass Windows.