I'm stumped!

[laserblazer]

A Toshiba L450 laptop that seldom comes into school picked up a virus and the user cleared it using sophos. I've run malwarebytes which says it is clean but there are still numerous problems, no desktop or program shortcut. All files were hidden. I'm assuming it's a registry issue but as I don't know what the virus was, I don't know where to start.

 

System Restore is unable to start.

[irsprint84]

If in doubt... wipe

[saundersmatt]

I had this one yesterday.

It hides the entire contents of c:, which makes the start menu shortcuts and desktop disappear.

 

Malware bytes removed all infections, but another fake virus scanner was still present this morning.

 

It is currently downstairs being wiped.

 

Matt

[DAZZD88]

In my experience, clean doesn't mean that it's fixed. I've often found that virii (plural for virus?) often change registry entries and delete files etc..which cannot merely be changed back using system restore. The best option, if a virus has totally borked your OS install, is to reinstall.

[maark]

We have had this one - hides everything - think a reinstall is best option.

[BHMS]

Had this hit one laptop during half-term. Sophos and Spybot S&D managed to kill it and unhiding worked for desktop and document folders (after restarting). Start Menu shortcuts had to be restored from another laptop as they were deleted. Annoyingly malicious thing, worse than the usual buy my scareware of the month stuff.

[free870]

Could always use boot and nuke / acronis drive cleanser etc to be sure. Also M$ are doing a free scanner for rootkits (beta) Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Beta | Microsoft Connect .

[sven]

I dealt with a friends desktop not long ago that had the exact same issue. I got to the same point as you, and just wiped the disk and started from scratch.