TonyBooth

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free Won't Run Just to update ... as advised, I tried downloading and running the above program, but I keep getting a message saying the files of the download are corrupted and the exe program cannot be run, but I rather think it's more likely the malware is sending out or creating this message. In any event, I am being blocked from using the Malwarebytes Anti Malware program.

I have a 2yr old Windows 8 desktop PC with ZoneAlarm Extreme protecting it. Everything was fine until about a week ago, when Facebook started acting strangely, not loading properly and taking several repeat mouseclicks to get messages posted. Then it stopped loading video files and refused to play them. I tried YouTube videos, and the same problem occurred I tried re-downloading Adobe Shockwave flash (checking it was the proper Adobe site), and it downloaded, but then wouldn't execute the download). Things have slowly gone from bad to worse. ZoneAlarm now won't update it's anti-virus (won't download - it starts but then stops at 15%). The last download update ran okay about 3 days ago, and I did a full scan including archives, without any malicious files being found. This only affects activity on the Internet, and everything else offline seems okay. I'm due to do a full back-up to an external hard drive, but I don't really want to do it, in case whatever is affecting things then infects the back-up (last done 1st June). I have tried downloading HiJack this, which has run and produced a log file. I was also advised to download and run DDS and GMER, but neither of these would download or run as exe files direct. Other than reverting the PC back to manufacturer state, I'm now at a bit of a loss. Would removing Mozilla Firefox and starting from a clean installation help? Any and all advice gratefully received.

Hi Ken. Thanks for replying. After 3 days of unsuccessfully trying to get the PC and Tablet to talk to each other, I found another forum thread that said about Windows Media Player. When I made it my default player and updated to version 11, everything worked like a dream. Why couldn't they just put that in bold print in the all too brief Archos manual????? Ha.

I have just got a new Archos 80 g9 Tablet. The manual says simply connect the USB cable from the Tablet to the PC and the Tablet will be recognised for easy file (pictures, video, etc.) transfer. When I connect the cable, the PC pop-up says MTP Device, but then my PC automatically continues to say it needs to find a program for it. It reports back from the internet saying no program was found and the device may not work properly as a result. When I open My Computer, the device is not there. The Archos did not come with any disks, as all required software is apparently built into it. I am running Windows XP Home Edition on my PC. As my PC is not wireless, I cannot use the Tablet's wireless capability to connect either, so all and any help would be truly appreciated to get my Archos Tablet and PC talking to one another.

Hi. None of the other devices work. All of them (printer, scanner, external hard drive, external dvd/cd drive and two different flash sticks) report 'Device Not Recognised'. This is regardless of the USB socket used. While some of these devices have software and drivers in place, others (like the flash sticks) are plug and play.

I have been searching for others facing the same problem and found an interesting piece at microsoft support - USB port may stop working after you remove or insert a USB device - that seems to describe the same thing and offers a few remedies. The remedies are much along the lines we have already tried, but the workaround suggests there might be a power suspension problem, which microsoft know about and are apparently looking into??? Could this be the root cause of the problems I'm having - and would changing the ability for windows to suspend power saving on USB devices be a worthwhile thing to try.

That didn't go quite as planned. I unplugged all USB connected devices as advised. My USB mouse, which actually was the only thing that has worked without problem through all of this, I re-connected and it immediately worked as before. I then tried, out of interest, plugging this into each of the other USB sockets one at a time - and it worked in each one. So, in theory, that eliminates a physical fault on one or more of the sockets. However, when I then tried to uninstall the other drivers, as advised, I couldn't find any of the hardware listed under devices (through control panel, system). The software is all listed under programs, so for example, the USB printer is shown as available - but when it's connected, the message comes up within the printer console that there is no power to it. Not sure how to go about uninstalling the various device drivers when I can't see the devices listed. I did then try just plugging in one device at a time, but the same USB DEVICE NOT RECOGNISED message popped up each time, regardless of the USB socket used or which device was plugged in. This is so frustrating!!! Agh! Your continued advice (again) is appreciated.

Thanks so much. This could take some time, but I'll get on to it now and get back asap.

No, none have the yellow symbol.

Hi. AVG successfully healed the trojan. I then followed your advice. Windows then started to send messages saying 'found new hardware' and that the hardware was installed and ready to use. Then, messages immediately started coming on screen saying 'device not recognised' - and hey presto, all the USB plugged in equipment failed to operate again. So, back to square one. Under the Universal Bus Controllers the following are listed: SiS 7001 PCI to USB Open Host Controller (3 listed); SiS PCI to USB Enhanced Host Controller; Unknown Device (3 listed); USB Mass Storage Device; and USB Root Hub (4 listed). Your continued advice would be much appreciated.

Many thanks. I will try that in a short while. In fact, I used ZoneAlarm Extreme initially to check for problems, but it found none. I have since started AVG virus check (which always takes an eternity to complete) and it has found a trojan (BHO.IMS.dropper), and still running. Could this have caused the problem? I have no idea how it got into my PC as the security is fairly tight, but clearly it's managed to get in from somewhere. Anyway, hopefully I will be able to fix it when AVG completes, then I'll try your remedy and get back. Thanks again for such a quick reply.

While using my USB flash stick to transfer document files, the flash stick stopped working and a message came up saying the USB Device Not Recognised. At first, I thought this was just the USB flash stick that had perhaps malfunctioned, but then discovered the same message came up with all my USB sockets and regardless of what was plugged into them, including my scanner, external hard drive, other flash sticks and an external disk drive. Troubleshooting suggested checking out Device Manager, but this seemed to take me down a cul-de-sac, saying eventually that the device had malfunctioned and needed replacing - but all these USB devices actually work just fine when altern atively connected to my laptop. It seems like the usual USB plug-and-play ability has stopped functioning in my PC, but I can't understand or figure out why. Another problem is that my PC wirelessly connects to the internet through a USB utility, so I can't use the internet to diagnose the problem (I'm connecting here using my laptop in desperation). I'm not sure whether this is connected or not, but in the last couple of weeks, I have also been getting an occasional message saying virtual memory is low and the computer is altering the allocation to rectify it. Please, anyone who can offer advice on this, please help. I am now at a complete loss. I have run virus and spyware checks, etc., but to no avail and the device manager reports drivers are in place and the USB root hubs and so on are working properly (despite the fact they actually aren't).