Program Compatibility Assistant Malicious Software
My computer is infected by a piece of skunkware (aka malware) that prevents the Windows Media Player fromprocessing media files. When you try to play some media files, a bogus error message window pops up, statingthat the required codec files are missing. It tells you to click the download button, to be linked to aMicrosoft website, to download the missing codecs. However, the website is a scam site, "totalcodecs.com",that tries to sell you the codecs and obtain your credit card number. The title of the window is"Program Compatibility Assistant". You cannot close the window, the only way out, is to click on download.You have to bring up the Windows Task Manager and end the Media Player task to close the window and theMedia Player. Since this bogus error message window freezes up the Media Player, I assume it is displayed bya DLL called by one of the Media Player modules that has detected some error and is trying to call the MediaPlayer's error message display service. My guess is that the malware corrupts some codec or other file thatthe Media player uses and overwrites the Media Player error message service DLL, with its own DLL file. So,when the inevitable error is detected, the corrupted DLL is invoked. It appears that a lot of people arehaving this problem, because there are a lot requests for help, at the various internet technical chatsites. If someone could identify the name of the error message processing DLL's, that the Media Playeruses and why they are called, this could allow restoration of the original DLL files. After restoringthe files, the true errors would be identified, when they occur and the system could be repaired. I have already reinstalled Windows Media Player 11, but it still doesn't play mpg and other media file types. I have run scans by MicroSoft Securities Essentials and the MicroSoft Malicious Software Removal Tool, but they do not find any malicious software. Incidentally the RealPlayer SP media player works perfectly. Does anyone have a clue about the problem? 1 person needs an answerI do too
June 9th, 2010 5:52am

Your computer is still infected. Go through these general malware removal steps systematically:http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_MalwareInclude scanning with David Lipman's Multi_AV and follow instructions to do all scans in Safe Mode. Please see the special Notes regarding using Multi_AV in Vista and Windows 7.http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Multi-AV - instructionshttp://tinyurl.com/yoeru3 - download link and more instructionsYou can also check to see if there are targeted removal steps for your malware here:Bleeping Computer removal how-to's - http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum55.html Or here: Malwarebytes malware removal guides - http://tinyurl.com/5xrpft When all else fails, get guided help. There are many malware removal forums. Here are just a few where you can find MS MVPs and other trained analysts. Choose one of them, register, read its posting FAQ, follow the forum's directions. PLEASE DO NOT POST LOGS IN THE MS FORUMS.ASAP Member Forums Providing Log Analysis:Atribune.orgMalwareBytes SpywareInfo ForumTechMonkeysWhatTheTechNon-ASAP Member Forums Providing Log Analysis:Aumha.orgBleepingComputerDSL ReportsGeeks To GoSafer-NetworkingIf you can't do the work yourself (and there is no shame in admitting this isn't your cup of tea), take the machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local equivalent of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). Please be aware that not all local shops are skilled at removing malware and even if they are, your computer may be so infested that Windows will need to be clean-installed. If possible, have all your data backed up before you take the machine into a shop.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
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June 9th, 2010 3:37pm

Thanks Mr. Malkeleah ... I shall get busy on these steps immediately. It amazes me that MicroSoft does not jump on these problems, as soon as they hear about them.They leave their customers hanging with MicroSoft products that become useless junk, because it seems that all of the malicious software writers view MicroSoft softwareas easy targets. I would love to get a copy of a Windows Media Player execution flowchart, that shows what dll's are called, in what sequence and for what functional service,when a media file has to be processed. There must be a Dll that fetches the appropriate Codec file and initiates the required processings mechanics, to make the devicedriver task function successfuly. There must be one or more corrupted Dll's, replaced by malicious code, that pop up this bogus error message window, as soon as theyare invoked. If there were a listing of the Dll's associated with the Media Player, with their functional service roles, one could probably determine which is or are the culprits. Youget to the point that you use other products rather than MicroSoft products like Internet Explorer or Media Player, because this other stuff works! FireFox and GoogleChrome execute faster than Internet Explorer and Real Player SP processes media files that Windows Media Player can't process. As far as panic is concerned,try serving two years in a combat infantry platoon. Regards....
June 10th, 2010 8:02am

About Malware removal tools you also might consider to try:http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/default.htmAnd run full scan.Speed of loading website or browser depend on your ISP and toolbars and browsers decoding. I have seen people who are running good servers and they all using Internet Explorer because they believe it is faster. Speed of Internet Explorer depend on many factors and you could NOT just conclude which one is faster. About other third party program well, it is up to user to chose but Microsoft is in level that it share the highest marketing in the world.About Virus, first think how does it get into your PC at first place. Many people using pirate version of Windows and they would infected because Windows is not genuine and it spread to other system. However, if you do basic practice which is use Genuine Software and Anti-Virus ,Anti-Spyware and firewall and update everthing (Windows and Anti-Malware and other products) then Malware could not hit you.Just give you a bit of proof that Microsoft product are good have a look at browser comparison which in about comparing Internet Explorer and other browser against Malware that hold by third party company and see what I mean :http://nsslabs.com/test-reports/NSSLabs_Q12010_GTRBrowserSEM_FINAL.pdf
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June 10th, 2010 2:23pm

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