VBS.Gaggle.E@mm - Removal

The following instructions pertain to all current and recent Symantec antivirus products, including the Symantec AntiVirus and Norton AntiVirus product lines.

1. Disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP).
2. Update the virus definitions.
3. Do one of the following:
   • Windows 95/98/Me: Restart the computer in Safe mode.
   • Windows NT/2000/XP: End the malicious process.
4. Run a full system scan and delete all the files detected as VBS.Gaggle.E.
5. Reverse the changes made to the registry.
6. Remove the text from the Windows 95/98/Me Win.ini file.
7. Remove the text from the Windows 95/98/Me System.ini file.
   

For details on each of these steps, read the following instructions.

1. To disable System Restore (Windows Me/XP)
If you are running Windows Me or Windows XP, we recommend that you temporarily turn off System Restore. Windows Me/XP uses this feature, which is enabled by default, to restore the files on your computer in case they become damaged. If a virus, worm, or Trojan infects a computer, System Restore may back up the virus, worm, or Trojan on the computer.

Windows prevents outside programs, including antivirus programs, from modifying System Restore. Therefore, antivirus programs or tools cannot remove threats in the System Restore folder. As a result, System Restore has the potential of restoring an infected file on your computer, even after you have cleaned the infected files from all the other locations.

Also, a virus scan may detect a threat in the System Restore folder even though you have removed the threat.

For instructions on how to turn off System Restore, read your Windows documentation, or one of the following articles:

• "How to disable or enable Windows Me System Restore"
• "How to turn off or turn on Windows XP System Restore"

Note: When you are completely finished with the removal procedure and are satisfied that the threat has been removed, re-enable System Restore by following the instructions in the aforementioned documents.

For additional information, and an alternative to disabling Windows Me System Restore, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, "Antivirus Tools Cannot Clean Infected Files in the _Restore Folder," Article ID: Q263455.

2. To update the virus definitions
Symantec Security Response fully tests all the virus definitions for quality assurance before they are posted to our servers. There are two ways to obtain the most recent virus definitions:

• Running LiveUpdate, which is the easiest way to obtain virus definitions: These virus definitions are posted to the LiveUpdate servers once each week (usually on Wednesdays), unless there is a major virus outbreak. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by LiveUpdate, refer to the Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate).
• Downloading the definitions using the Intelligent Updater: The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are posted on U.S. business days (Monday through Friday). You should download the definitions from the Symantec Security Response Web site and manually install them. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by the Intelligent Updater, refer to the Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater).
  
  The Intelligent Updater virus definitions are available: Read "How to update virus definition files using the Intelligent Updater" for detailed instructions.

3. To restart the computer in Safe mode or end the malicious process

Windows 95/98/Me
Shut down the computer and turn off the power. Wait for at least 30 seconds, and then restart the computer in Safe mode. For instructions, read the document, "How to start the computer in Safe Mode."

Windows NT/2000/XP
To end the malicious process:
1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete once.
2. Click Task Manager.
3. Click the Processes tab.
4. Double-click the Image Name column header to alphabetically sort the processes.
5. Scroll through the list and look for wscript.exe, regsrv.exe, and sendi.exe.
6. If you find the file, click it, and then click End Process.
7. Exit the Task Manager.
   

4. To scan for and delete the infected files

1. Start your Symantec antivirus program and make sure that it is configured to scan all the files.
   • For Norton AntiVirus consumer products: Read the document, "How to configure Norton AntiVirus to scan all files."
   • For Symantec AntiVirus Enterprise products: Read the document, "How to verify that a Symantec Corporate antivirus product is set to scan all files."
2. Run a full system scan.
3. If any files are detected as infected with VBS.Gaggle.E, click Delete.

5. To reverse the changes made to the registry

1. Click Start > Run.
   
   Type notepad c:\repair.reg
   
   Then click OK.
   
   
2. When prompted for confirmation, click Yes. (The Notepad text editor opens.)
   
3. Type, or copy and paste, the following lines into the Notepad text editor. If you type them, they must be typed exactly as shown here:
   
   REGEDIT4
   
   [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\regfile\shell\open\command]
   @="regedit.exe \"%1\""
   
   [-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\keyfile]
   
   [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Scripting Host\Settings]
   "Timeout"=-
   
   [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows Scripting Host\Settings]
   "Timeout"=-
   
   [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
   "DisableRegistryTools"=-
   
   [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
   "DisableRegistryTools"=-
   
   [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System]
   "DisableRegistryTools"=-
   
   [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
   "Kernel32"=-
   "Israfel"=-
   
   
4. Click the File menu > Exit. Click Yes when you are prompted to save the changes.
   Click Start, and then click Run. (The Run dialog box appears.)
   
5. Type c:\repair.reg
   
   Then click OK.
   
6. When prompted for confirmation, click Yes.
   
7. When prompted for confirmation again, click OK.
   
8. • Windows NT/2000/XP: This completes the removal. Restart the computer in Normal mode. For instructions, read the section on returning to Normal mode in the document, "How to start the computer in Safe Mode."
   • Windows 95/98/Me: Go on to the next section.

6. To remove the text from the Windows 95/98/Me Win.ini file
If you are running Windows 95/98/Me, follow these steps:

1. The function you perform depends on your operating system:
   • Windows 95/98: Go to step B.
   • Windows Me: If you are running Windows Me, the Windows Me file-protection process may have made a backup copy of the Win.ini file that you need to edit. If this backup copy exists, it will be in the C:\Windows\Recent folder. Symantec recommends that you delete this file before continuing with the steps in this section. To do this:
     1. Start Windows Explorer.
     2. Browse to and select the C:\Windows\Recent folder.
     3. In the right pane, select the Win.ini file and delete it. The Win.ini file will be regenerated when you save your changes to it in step F.
        
        
2. Click Start > Run.
3. Type the following, and then click OK.
   
   edit c:\windows\win.ini
   
   (The MS-DOS Editor opens.)
   
   Note: If Windows is installed in a different location, make the appropriate path substitution.
   
   
4. In the [windows] section of the file, look for a line similar to:
   
   run=%System%\mouse_configurator.win
   
   
5. If this line exists, select the text. Be sure that you do not select any other text, and then press Delete.
   
   
6. Click File > Save.
   
7. Click File > Exit.
   

7. To remove the text from the Windows 95/98/Me System.ini file

Note for Windows Me users only: Due to the file-protection process in Windows Me, a backup copy of System.ini exists in the C:\Windows\Recent folder. Symantec recommends that you delete this file before continuing with the steps in this section. To do this using Windows Explorer, go to C:\Windows\Recent, and in the right pane select the System.ini file and delete it. The System.ini file will be recreated in C:\Windows\Recent when you save your changes to System.ini in C:\Windows.

1. Click Start > Run.
   
2. Type the following:
   
   edit c:\windows\System.ini
   
   And then click OK. (The MS-DOS Editor opens.)
   
   Note: If Windows is installed in a different location, make the appropriate path substitution.
   
   
3. In the [boot] section of the file, look for an entry similar to:
   
   shell=Explorer.exe %System%\winmgd.win
   
   
4. If this line exists, replace it with the following text:
   
   shell=Explorer.exe
   
   
5. Click File > Save.
   
   
6. Click File > Exit.
   
7. This completes the removal. Restart the computer in Normal mode. For instructions, read the section on returning to Normal mode in the document, "How to start the computer in Safe Mode."

Technical Details