Solved Astromenda

[idletester]

I am at a loss as I have tried everything I know. The only way I can see to get rid of this Astromenda is to wipe the hard drive, delete any partitions and then re-install the operating system. I was using Windows 7 Ultimate but I bought Windows 8.1 last night a waiting for its delivery at a cost of £75. So to say I want to get hold of the idiot who wrote Astromenda and wring his neck would be an understatement.

Any help would be gratefully received.
Kind regards,
idletester.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Hello,



They call me TwinHeadedEagle around here, and I'll be working with you.



Before we start please read and note the following:

• At the top of your post, please click on the "Watch thread" button and make sure to check Watch this thread...and receive email notifications. This will send an email to you as soon as I reply to your topic, allowing me to solve your problem faster.
• Please do not install any new software during the cleaning process other than the tools I provide for you. This can hinder the cleaning process. Please do not perform System Restore or any other restore.
• Instructions I give to you are very simple and made for complete beginner to follow. That's why you need to read through my instructions carefully and completely before executing them.
• Please do not run any tools other than the ones I ask you to, when I ask you to. Some of these tools can be very dangerous if used improperly. Also, if you use a tool that I have not requested you use, it can cause false positives, thereby delaying the complete cleaning of your machine.
  
• All tools we use here are completely clean and do not contain any malware. If your antivirus detects them as malicious, please disable your antivirus and then continue.
• If during the process you run across anything that is not in my instructions, please stop and ask. If any tool is running too much time (few hours), please stop and inform me.
• I visit forum several times at day, making sure to respond to everyone's topic as fast as possible. But bear in mind that I have private life like everyone and I cannot be here 24/7. So please be patient with me. Also, some infections require less, and some more time to be removed completely, so bear this in mind and be patient.
• Please stay with me until the end of all steps and procedures and I declare your system clean. Just because there is a lack of symptoms does not indicate a clean machine. If you solved your problem yourself, set aside two minutes to let me know.
  
• Please attach all report using
  
  button below. Doing this, you make it easier for me to analyze and fix your problem.
  
• If I don't hear from you within 3 days from this initial or any subsequent post, then this thread will be closed.

Please download Farbar Recovery Scan Tool and save it to your desktop.

Note: You need to run the version compatibale with your system. If you are not sure which version applies to your system download both of them and try to run them.
Only one of them will run on your system, that will be the right version.

• Double-click to run it. When the tool opens click Yes to disclaimer.
• Press Scan button.
• It will make a log (FRST.txt) in the same directory the tool is run. Please attach it to your reply.
• The first time the tool is run, it makes also another log (Addition.txt). Please attach it to your reply.

 

[idletester]

Here are the logs I have and also the one you asked for I hope this helps?
Kind regards,
idletester

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

First, go to Control Panel and uninstall following (skip lines that cannot be uninstalled):
- Advanced SystemCare 7
- Driver Booster
- IObit Malware Fighter
- Smart Defrag 3
- Ultimate Codecs Packages

Fix with Farbar Recovery Scan Tool

This fix was created for this user for use on that particular machine.

Running it on another one may cause damage and render the system unstable.

​

Download attached fixlist.txt file and save it to the Desktop:

Both files, FRST and fixlist.txt have to be in the same location or the fix will not work!

• Right-click on
  
  icon and select
  
  Run as Administrator to start the tool.
  (XP users click run after receipt of Windows Security Warning - Open File).
• Press the Fix button just once and wait.
• If for some reason the tool needs a restart, please make sure you let the system restart normally. After that let the tool complete its run.
• When finished FRST will generate a log on the Desktop, called Fixlog.txt.

Please attach it to your reply.

 

[idletester]

Here again as instructed

 

[idletester]

Here again as instructed

Sorry didn't mean to post again.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Is your problem fixed now?

 

[idletester]

No it is still the same.
I have uploaded a snap shot. It's still in the browser search.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Scan with ZOEK

Please download ZOEK by Smeenk and save it to your desktop (preferred version is the *.exe one)
Temporary disable your AntiVirus and AntiSpyware protection - instructions here.

• Right-click on
  
  icon and select
  
  Run as Administrator to start the tool.
• Wait patiently until the main console will appear, it may take a minute or two.
• In the main box please paste in the following script:
  

  createsrpoint;
  quickscan;

• Make sure that Scan All Users option is checked.
• Push Run Script and wait patiently. The scan may take a couple of minutes.
• When the scan completes, a zoek-results logfile should open in notepad.
• If a reboot is needed, it will be opened after it. You may also find it at your main drive (usually C:\ drive)

Post its content into your next reply.

 

[idletester]

Okay, will have to turn off my antivirus as it jumped all over the exe version. Will try again.

 

[idletester]

Well here we are again, I don't feel so dumb now because I didn't solve this on my own. It's a real stinker by the looks of it. Here is the Report:

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Fix with ZOEK

This fix was created for this user for use on that particular machine.

Running it on another one may cause damage and render the system unstable.

​

Temporary disable your AntiVirus and AntiSpyware protection - instructions here.

• Right-click on
  
  icon and select
  
  Run as Administrator to start the tool.
• Wait patiently until the main console will appear, it may take a minute or two.
• In the main box please paste in the following script:
  

  createsrpoint;
  autoclean;
  emptyalltemp;
  chrdefaults;
  ipconfig /flushdns;b

• Make sure that Scan All Users option is checked.
• Push Run Script and wait patiently. The scan may take a couple of minutes.
• When the scan completes, a zoek-results logfile should open in notepad.
• If a reboot is needed, it will be opened after it. You may also find it at your main drive (usually C:\ drive)

Post its content into your next reply.

 

[idletester]

I already did disable the antivirus before I ran zoek-results but I will run it again for you.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

You still with me?

 

[idletester]

Hi, Sorry I have been so long getting back on but after I did this:
createsrpoint;
autoclean;
emptyalltemp;
chrdefaults;
ipconfig /flushdns;b
it stuffed up the operating system and I had to copy all my files, pictures and everything else
I wanted to recover then re-install another operating system. Still I am up and running once again
and because I have redone the OS the Astromenda has gone.
Thanks anyway for at least trying to solve the problem I had with the Astromenda search hijack.
Kind regards,
idletester.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Thanks for letting me know

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Since this issue appears to be resolved, I am closing the topic. If that is not the case and you need or wish to continue with this topic, please contact me or any staff member with the address of the thread.

Other members who need assistance please start your own topic in a new thread. Thanks!