I understand that the ntbtlog.txt file shows drivers loaded during the start process. I'm concerned when it shows Loaded Driver but there isn't one listed.

Hi,

Thank you for your response. Here's what I did to get rid of the google redirect virus. By the way, not only is it a redirect virus, but the google screen looks like the official one, but it is not. The one quick way to tell would be to google something on a non infected computer. When you get a day where google makes a design out of the name google, you can then notice it immediately.  The virus always keeps the standard google homepage look alike.

Anyway, to fix this problem I ran all the microsoft scan disk and check disk products but nothing helped. I went on Kapersky (spelling ?) where they have a DSSKILLER (something like that) and downloaded it. It was fixed in 2 minutes. Then I get rid of Norton Utilities and requested a refund since it didn't help, for a virus, I might add that has been out there a while. And surely they should have had a fix or something like that that would be downloaded with updates, like the MicroSoft Securities Essentials. I installed MSE instead, not because it would have caught the error, but it was free, had good reviews, and furthermore and even more importantly, Windows is their own product, and who better to provide the safeguard than the original equipment manufacturer, than a 3rd party.

Most importantly after the fix, I checked the bootlog text file and there were NO occurences where LOADED DRIVER was followed with a blank. And so I'm guessing that anytime I see LOADED DRIVER followed by a blank that it means that something is loaded which prefers to be cloaked, probably something that should not be there.

Thank you.

Dear Microsoft.

Thank you for your response. As we speak, I'm running the drive check option that you recommended. It is taking a while to do.

The one thing that I'd still like to get an answer on would be the lines of text in the NTBTLOG.TXT file where it shows

Loaded Driver    and then it is completely blank on the remainder of that line of text. Could you please tell me, is there a driver that is being loaded ?

Is that a hidden file that is being loaded ?

Could this be the source of a virus with a hidden name ?

Thanks

Hi,

Have you made any changes to your computer?

Method 1:

Step 1:

I would suggest you to check in safe mode and enable boot logging and check.

Advanced startup options including safe mode

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Advanced-startup-options-including-safe-mode

Step 2:

I would also suggest you to perform clean boot and check.

Place the computer in a clean boot state and then check if it helps. You can start Windows by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This kind of startup is known as a "clean boot." A clean boot helps eliminate software conflicts.

To set the computer in clean boot, follow the steps from the link: How to perform a clean boot

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

**Note:**After checking in clean boot, follow step: 7 from the article to reset the computer to normal boot.

Method 2:

I would also suggest you to check the hard disk errors.

Check your hard disk for errors

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Check-a-drive-for-errors

Important: While performing chkdsk on the hard drive if any bad sectors are found on the hard drive when chkdsk tries to repair that sector if any data available on that might be lost.

Method 3:

I would suggest you to download and install Microsoft safety scanner and run the scan and check.

http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx

Note: The Microsoft Safety Scanner expires 10 days after being downloaded. To rerun a scan with the latest anti-malware definitions, download and run the Microsoft Safety Scanner again.

Note: Any data files that are infected may only be cleaned by deleting the file entirely, which means there is a potential for data loss.