Windows XP restore Virus/Malware Start menu shortcuts

Recently we have been getting a few copy’s of the “Windows XP Restore” virus going around.  This one is a nasty bit of kit.  It changes all your files on C:\ to hidden and throws in a bunch of popup crap.  I have been using malwarebytes anti-malware to get rid of the bugger but this virus leaves a parting gift of a hours worth of cleanup for the user profile.  So far my process has been to rename the users profile folder under c:\documents and settings.  I just rename the user folder to user.old.  Then I log in as the user which creates a new profile.  I then migrate the data back over manually.

Another pain in the ass with this virus is start menu shortcuts.  Even after un-hiding the “All Users” start menu and the profile start menu all the shortcuts were still missing,  So I went on the hunt and found that the virus moves them to C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Temp\smtmp\1.  It also seems to have moved quick launch to C:\Documents and Settings\user\Local Settings\Temp\smtmp\2.

NOTE: Recover these files before you run your AV software as they have started removing the files as part of the virus.

Hope this little bit of info helps!

Add a sidebar to windows without extra software

Today’s post is another organization tip, this one for your desktop.  I have tired a lot of desktop management software / toolbars and I always have issues with the amount of resources that they use.  Many desktop customization apps have a sidebar or quickbar application launcher that lives on either the left or right side of your screen, which is really what I was looking for.  So today I will show you how to create this nativly in Windows.

1) Add a folder to c: called shortcuts
2) Right click on your taskbar and click on “Toolbars” –> “Add New Toolbars”
3) Browse to your shortcut folder on C and press ok.  This will create a shortcuts toolbar on your taskbar.
4) Drag the “shortcuts” toolbar off of the taskbar and drag it to the far side of your monitor.  This should automatically mount the toolbar.

This is the basic toolbar setup.  I tweaked it to my liking by adding auto-hide, always on top and large icons (these options are avaiable by right clicking on the toolbar and all the options are avaliable).  You can add as many shortcuts and folders as you would like to the toolbar by adding such contenc to the c:\shortcuts folder on your computer.