cannot access internet/system restore/anti-virus... wuauclt. exe??

[md101]

A few days ago I tried to watch a show online and downloaded this plug-in (flash-plugin_update.40028) but it did not end up working so I moved to Youtube instead. After about an hour, my Firefox browser flashed and disappeared and now I can't open it anymore and instead this error message shows up:

Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.

I browsed online (using the browser from My Computer) and found a thread that suggested it might be something called wuauclt. exe. It was found under Local C-> WINDOWS -> system32. I delted that, but it did not fix the problem either.

I cannot do system restore and my anti-virus cannot run anymore. Both just come up with error messages. I am now wondering if it was something that I myself deleted or altered that might have caused this?

I have no expirience in fixing tech issues and any advice would be appreciated!
Thank you very much!

[Leonard Grey]

Losing access to both your anti-virus software and system restore is a
typical sign of a malware infection.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

md101 wrote:
> A few days ago I tried to watch a show online and downloaded this
> plug-in (flash-plugin_update.40028) but it did not end up working so I
> moved to Youtube instead. After about an hour, my Firefox browser
> flashed and disappeared and now I can't open it anymore and instead this
> error message shows up:
>
> Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not
> have the appropriate permissions to access the item.
>
> I browsed online (using the browser from My Computer) and found a
> thread that suggested it might be something called wuauclt. exe. It was
> found under Local C-> WINDOWS -> system32. I delted that, but it did not
> fix the problem either.
>
> I cannot do system restore and my anti-virus cannot run anymore. Both
> just come up with error messages. I am now wondering if it was something
> that I myself deleted or altered that might have caused this?
>
> I have no expirience in fixing tech issues and any advice would be
> appreciated!
> Thank you very much!
>
>

[Buffalo]

md101 wrote:
> A few days ago I tried to watch a show online and downloaded this
> plug-in (flash-plugin_update.40028) but it did not end up working so I
> moved to Youtube instead. After about an hour, my Firefox browser
> flashed and disappeared and now I can't open it anymore and instead
> this error message shows up:
>
> Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not
> have the appropriate permissions to access the item.
>
> I browsed online (using the browser from My Computer) and found a
> thread that suggested it might be something called wuauclt. exe. It
> was found under Local C-> WINDOWS -> system32. I delted that, but it
> did not fix the problem either.
>
> I cannot do system restore and my anti-virus cannot run anymore. Both
> just come up with error messages. I am now wondering if it was
> something that I myself deleted or altered that might have caused
> this?
>
> I have no expirience in fixing tech issues and any advice would be
> appreciated!
> Thank you very much!

It is probably malware that was dl'd when you tried to dl the flash-plugin
(fairly common ruse to get you infected).
If you can, dl,install, update and run either or both of the 'FREE' versions
of MalwareBytes AntiMalware (MBAM) and SuperAntiSpyware (SAS).
If they WON'T run, change the name of their executable to something else
ie: superantispyware.exe to hoping.bat or something else. Same for
MBAM.exe .
Download them preferably from their home sites:
MalwareBytes.com and SuperAntiSpyware.com. Look for the FREE versions.
They do not ask you to purchase anything to fix what they find.
You can also run them from a flash drive, etc.

Buffalo
PS: What is your antivirus and was it up to date?

[smlunatick]

On Oct 5, 12:52 am, md101 <md101.3zk...@DoNotSpam.com> wrote:
> A few days ago I tried to watch a show online and downloaded this
> plug-in (flash-plugin_update.40028) but it did not end up working so I
> moved to Youtube instead. After about an hour, my Firefox browser
> flashed and disappeared and now I can't open it anymore and instead this
> error message shows up:
>
> Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not
> have the appropriate permissions to access the item.
>
> I browsed online (using the browser from My Computer) and found a
> thread that suggested it might be something called wuauclt. exe. It was
> found under Local C-> WINDOWS -> system32. I delted that, but it did not
> fix the problem either.
>
> I cannot do system restore and my anti-virus cannot run anymore. Both
> just come up with error messages. I am now wondering if it was something
> that I myself deleted or altered that might have caused this?
>
> I have no expirience in fixing tech issues and any advice would be
> appreciated!
> Thank you very much!
>
> --
> md101
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> md101's Profile:http://forums.techarena.in/members/140638.htm
> View this thread:cannot access internet/system restore/anti-virus... wuauclt. exe??
>
> http://forums.techarena.in

Infected and infested!! The true Adobe Flash does not appear to ever
have a separate update to the "official" plug-in.

[Elmo]

md101 wrote:
> A few days ago I tried to watch a show online and downloaded this
> plug-in (flash-plugin_update.40028) but it did not end up working so I
> moved to Youtube instead. After about an hour, my Firefox browser
> flashed and disappeared and now I can't open it anymore. Instead, this
> error message shows up:
>
> "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not
> have the appropriate permissions to access the item."
>
> I browsed online (using the browser from My Computer) and found a
> thread that suggested it might be something called wuauclt.exe. It was
> found under Local C:\ WINDOWS\System32. I deleted that, but it did not
> fix the problem either.
>
> I cannot do system restore and my anti-virus cannot run anymore. Both
> just come up with error messages. I am now wondering if it was something
> that I myself deleted or altered that might have caused this?
>
> I have no experience in fixing tech issues and any advice would be
> appreciated!
> Thank you very much!

Burn BitDefender, or another program listed at the link below, to a CD
(using a working machine) and test the infected machine with it.
BitDefender also has a Rootkit checker on the Linux Desktop; run it if
you think that's the problem:

http://www.techmixer.com/free-bootab...download-list/

Download the executable rather than the .iso image, if one is
available.. it prompts you to insert a CD and burns the file, no problem.

Then run these:

Malwarebytes© Corporation
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam/program/mbam-setup.exe

SuperAntispyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/supe...freevspro.html

--
Joe =o)

[md101]

I tried downloading the Malwarebytes and SuperAntispyware, but 5 seconds after starting the scans, the program closed and once i tried to open it up again, it replied with the same 'you do not have permission' message.

??

[Richard]

> "md101" <md101.3zk4nc@DoNotSpam.com> wrote in message
> news:md101.3zk4nc@DoNotSpam.com...
>
> A few days ago I tried to watch a show online and downloaded this
> plug-in (flash-plugin_update.40028) but it did not end up working so I
> moved to Youtube instead. After about an hour, my Firefox browser
> flashed and disappeared and now I can't open it anymore and instead this
> error message shows up:
>
> Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not
> have the appropriate permissions to access the item.
>
> I browsed online (using the browser from My Computer) and found a
> thread that suggested it might be something called wuauclt. exe. It was
> found under Local C-> WINDOWS -> system32. I delted that, but it did not
> fix the problem either.
>
> I cannot do system restore and my anti-virus cannot run anymore. Both
> just come up with error messages. I am now wondering if it was something
> that I myself deleted or altered that might have caused this?
>
> I have no expirience in fixing tech issues and any advice would be
> appreciated!
> Thank you very much!
> --
> md101
> View this thread:
> cannot access internet/system restore/anti-virus... wuauclt. exe??

- - -

> "md101" <md101.3znzjc@DoNotSpam.com> wrote in message
> news:md101.3znzjc@DoNotSpam.com...
>
> I tried downloading the Malwarebytes and SuperAntispyware, but 5 seconds
> after starting the scans, the program closed and once i tried to open it
> up again, it replied with the same 'you do not have permission' message.
> ??
> --
> md101


Did you try renaming MBAM.EXE as Sneaky.com and running it?
Same with SAS, try renaming it Smarty.bat and run it.
Try running them from Safe Mode.

If that does not work, you need to find someone in your local area to help
you remove the hard drive, and attach it to another (fully protected)
computer so you can copy your Valued Data, and erase your drive, and
reinstall Windows, and all that that involves. Make sure that System Restore
on the other computer is not monitoring your drive. As long as you keep
trying to use an infected machine, more damage is being done.

HTH. --Richard

[Elmo]

md101 wrote:
> I tried downloading the Malwarebytes and SuperAntispyware, but 5 seconds
> after starting the scans, the program closed and once I tried to open it
> up again, it replied with the same 'You do not have permission' message.

Go to http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm and click "P", scroll
down to "Program Permissions" and try some of her (Kelly's) fixes. You
would look for "RestrictRun" and change its value to "0" to make the
programs accessible.

--
Joe =o)