Error message

Started this week. At startup when the Desktop appears, getting the following
message: Windows cannot find 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\networks.exe'

Well, neither can I.

What's up with that? Can this be fixed and if so, how?

Thanks in advance.

Its most likely a Virus/Trojan
http://www.symantec.com/security_res...935-99&tabid=1


"Max" <Max@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:28766874-A4C1-40DE-9CC5-39BF28AC704F@microsoft.com...
> Started this week. At startup when the Desktop appears, getting the
> following
> message: Windows cannot find
> 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\networks.exe'
>
> Well, neither can I.
>
> What's up with that? Can this be fixed and if so, how?
>
> Thanks in advance.

Max

Your file path without networks.exe bring you to the topic of Hosts:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

A Google search on networks. exe throws up references to this malware:
http://www.sophos.com/security/analy...2elitpere.html

You may either be infested with this worm or your anti-spyware has
failed to remove al traces of an infestation.

You could trace the the Start Up item producing the error using
Autoruns.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sys.../Autoruns.mspx

With Autoruns you can uncheck an item, which disables it from starting,
or you can can right click an item and then delete it. If you uncheck
you can recheck to re-enable the item. It is a much safer approach than
editing the Registry. Another useful feature of the programme is that
you can right click an item and select Search Online to get information
about the item selected.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Max wrote:
> Started this week. At startup when the Desktop appears, getting the
> following message: Windows cannot find
> 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\networks.exe'
>
> Well, neither can I.
>
> What's up with that? Can this be fixed and if so, how?
>
> Thanks in advance.

DL,

Tried all the things you recommended. Downloaded and ran Live Update. Per
Symantec - the error LU1860: LiveUpdate has detected a potential security
compromise on your computer was not found. Then looked for files named hosts
but none had the required entry to delete.

What else can I try?

"DL" wrote:

> Its most likely a Virus/Trojan
> http://www.symantec.com/security_res...935-99&tabid=1
>
>
> "Max" <Max@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:28766874-A4C1-40DE-9CC5-39BF28AC704F@microsoft.com...
> > Started this week. At startup when the Desktop appears, getting the
> > following
> > message: Windows cannot find
> > 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\networks.exe'
> >
> > Well, neither can I.
> >
> > What's up with that? Can this be fixed and if so, how?
> >
> > Thanks in advance.
>
>
>