Win8 license & Kaspersky corruption, multiple issues

[daliena]

This started about 2 months ago. After troubleshooting it seemed like my profile image was corrupted and I have done sfc and chkdsk to perform repairs which were done successfully. However that did not last long. My Kaspersky databases were soon corrupted and numerous files of the Java based game I frequently play would get continuously corrupted. The game is Feed The Beast official modpack of Minecraft. The download source is trusted and comes from the ftb team website. I do not have any other games on my system. I don't download torrents or really any questionable software. I do have WinSCP and Putty thru which I connect to our game server for administration purposes (there is a WinSCP shortcut that was identified as infected by AdwCleaner and I use it daily to connect to server so maybe something is attaching itself to legitimate files...). I also use Firefox and Chrome often to research various things related to game mechanics, server plugins and troubleshooting online.This is the extend of the activities that are most frequent.

I tried reinstalling Kaspersky which fixed the issue for a little bit and it started again. After first Windows reinstall I created a couple of restore points. When things got bad enough to having multiple BSODs I decided to turn to my restore points and they were gone. So this has repeated a few times now and I have reinstalled my Windows about 3-4 times in this time period. After each reinstall there is a period while it works okay and then everything starts repeating again. Last reinstall I didn't even place most of my usual software (MediaMonkey, Adobe Creative Cloud - installation failed). And I keep all my files on external drive now which I also scanned with no issues.

This round I have new item - a few days after recent reinstall - my Windows says it need to be activated. And when I try to click Activate it produces a message there was a problem and I need to phone support.
My Kaspersky reports that databases are corrupted and it is turned off. And it reports now that my license key is invalid while I checked and I have 80+ days left.

Computer is Lenovo Y510P, it is barely 2 years old. It came with Win 8 and then forced me to update to Win 8.1. I have never even seen the Win key as apparently it is stored within the system and it should automatically pull it to activate itself each time I reinstall.

This could be hardware issue or a virus. And since I also scanned my drives and they show as healthy - I am confused.

Thank you in advance!

 

[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.
  
• Do not ask for help for your business PC. Companies are making revenue via computers, so it is good thing to pay for the repair.

Rules and policies

We won't support any piracy.
That being told, if any evidence of illegal OS, software, cracks/keygens or any other will be revealed, any further assistance will be suspended. If you are aware that there is this kind of stuff on your machine, remove it before proceeding!
The same applies to any use of P2P software: uTorrent, BitTorrent, Vuze, Kazaa, Ares... We don't provide any help for P2P, except for their removal. All P2P software has to be uninstalled or at least fully disabled before proceeding!

Failure to follow these guidelines will result with closing your topic and withdrawning any assistance.



Did you run ComboFix on this machine?

 

[daliena]

I started but cancelled out of the process because as I clicked to open the file I read that it should not be used before someone specifically asks you. Should I try and run it all the way?

 

[daliena]

Attaching the most recent whocrashed report - if that could be helpful. Installed Malwarebytes home edition trial period and it lasted about a day until the process also crashed with similar error - corruption. Really strange that my Antivirus software is failing and other applications are not.

I have backups so I can wipe the system if needed. I lack knowledge if it is safe to entirely wipe the hardrive since my Windows key resides on partition and I have no idea how to retrieve it to reinstall afterwards.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Scan with Farbar Recovery Scan Tool

Please re-run Farbar Recovery Scan Tool to give me a fresh look at your system.

• 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).
• Make sure that Addition option is checked.
• Press Scan button and wait.
• The tool will produce two logfiles on your desktop: FRST.txt and Addition.txt.

Please include their content into your next reply.

 

[daliena]

My apologies for non immediate responses. Scanned, attached.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

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.

Fix with AdwCleaner

Please download AdwCleaner by Xplode and save the file to your Desktop.

• Right-click on
  
  icon and select
  
  Run as Administrator to start the tool.
• Accept the Terms of use.
• Wait until the database is updated.
• Click Scan.
• When finished, please click Cleaning.
• Your PC should reboot now.
• After reboot, logfile will be opened. Copy its content into your next reply.

Note: Reports will be saved in your system partition, usually at C:\Adwcleaner

Check Disk

• Press the
  
  + R on your keyboard at the same time. Type cmd and click OK.
• Copy/Enter the command below and press Enter:

• chkdsk C: /r

• You should get a message to schedule Check Disk at next system restart. Please type Y and press Enter.
• All you should do now is to restart your PC and let the Check Disk process finish uninterrupted.

Check Disk report:

• Press the
  
  + R on your keyboard at the same time. Type eventvwr and click OK.
• In the left panel, expand Windows Logs and then click on Application.
• Now, on the right side, click on Filter Current Log.
• Under Event Sources, check only Wininit and click OK.
• Now you'll be presented with one or multiple Wininit logs.
• Click on an entry corresponding to the date and time of the disk check.
• On the top main menu, click Action > Copy > Copy Details as Text.
• Paste the contents into your next reply.