Services.exe fueling rage, thirst for blood

[Dalton]

First, some background. I moved recently, and before I moved my box was working fine. I didn't set it up until a couple of weeks after the move was done, and the first time I flipped the switch with minimal peripherals everything seemed to work just fine. However, after I plugged in the printer, scanner and external HDD I started having problems. The first was an I/O error originating from the HDD due to what's likely a bum USB port. Fine, got that problem fixed. However, soon after I noticed that Services.exe ran up to 100% and stayed there. I thought it might have been a problem related to the scanner, so I unhooked that too as well as the printer. Still having issues. Noticed a couple of hung services in Event Viewer (WIA and Remote Access Connection Manager). Disabled those, same problem. Running out of Safe Mode, still have it at 80%. So right now I'm doing a MalwareBytes scan and also took an HJT log just for good measure. AVG didn't turn up anything. Process Explorer shows the only two services associated with it are Event Viewer and Plug and Play. Tips are appreciated.

Log begins:
Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 11:33:47 PM, on 9/8/2011
Platform: Windows XP SP3 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.6001.18702)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\mmc.exe
C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\mbam.exe
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe
C:\Program Files\hjt.exe

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://www.google.com/ig/dell?hl=en&cli ... bd=2061021
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://www.google.com/ig/dell?hl=en&cli ... bd=2061021
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,Default_Page_URL = http://www.google.com/ig/dell?hl=en&cli ... bd=2061021
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,First Home Page = http://www.dell.com
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Reader Link Helper - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: ContributeBHO Class - {074C1DC5-9320-4A9A-947D-C042949C6216} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\/Adobe Contribute CS3/contributeieplugin.dll
O2 - BHO: WormRadar.com IESiteBlocker.NavFilter - {3CA2F312-6F6E-4B53-A66E-4E65E497C8C0} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG10\avgssie.dll
O2 - BHO: Spybot-S&D IE Protection - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: AOL Toolbar Launcher - {7C554162-8CB7-45A4-B8F4-8EA1C75885F9} - C:\Program Files\AOL\AOL Toolbar 5.0\aoltb.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Helper - {AA58ED58-01DD-4d91-8333-CF10577473F7} - C:\Program Files\Google\Google Toolbar\GoogleToolbar_32.dll
O2 - BHO: Adobe PDF Conversion Toolbar Helper - {AE7CD045-E861-484f-8273-0445EE161910} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll
O2 - BHO: Google Toolbar Notifier BHO - {AF69DE43-7D58-4638-B6FA-CE66B5AD205D} - C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbarNotifier\5.7.6406.1642\swg.dll
O2 - BHO: Browser Address Error Redirector - {CA6319C0-31B7-401E-A518-A07C3DB8F777} - C:\Program Files\BAE\BAE.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
O3 - Toolbar: AOL Toolbar - {DE9C389F-3316-41A7-809B-AA305ED9D922} - C:\Program Files\AOL\AOL Toolbar 5.0\aoltb.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Adobe PDF - {47833539-D0C5-4125-9FA8-0819E2EAAC93} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\AcroIEFavClient.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Contribute Toolbar - {517BDDE4-E3A7-4570-B21E-2B52B6139FC7} - C:\Program Files\Adobe\/Adobe Contribute CS3/contributeieplugin.dll
O3 - Toolbar: Google Toolbar - {2318C2B1-4965-11d4-9B18-009027A5CD4F} - C:\Program Files\Google\Google Toolbar\GoogleToolbar_32.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ehTray] C:\WINDOWS\ehome\ehtray.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [IAAnotif] C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\Iaanotif.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ATICCC] "C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\cli.exe" runtime -Delay
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DMXLauncher] C:\Program Files\Dell\Media Experience\DMXLauncher.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ISUSScheduler] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\issch.exe" -start
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [DLA] C:\WINDOWS\System32\DLA\DLACTRLW.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Google Desktop Search] "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe" /startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Lexmark 4200 Series] "C:\Program Files\Lexmark 4200 Series\lxbmbmgr.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HostManager] C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\1162047679\ee\AOLSoftware.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AOLDialer] C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLDial.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Logitech Hardware Abstraction Layer] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Logitech\khalshared\KHALMNPR.EXE"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Kernel and Hardware Abstraction Layer] KHALMNPR.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AppleSyncNotifier] C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\AppleSyncNotifier.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Acrobat Assistant 8.0] "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 8.0\Acrobat\Acrotray.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe_ID0EYTHM] C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\Adobe\ADOBEV~1\Server\bin\VERSIO~2.EXE
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SigmatelSysTrayApp] stsystra.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ISUSPM Startup] "c:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\UpdateService\isuspm.exe" -startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [QuickTime Task] "C:\Program Files\QuickTime Alternative\qttask.exe" -atboottime
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [iTunesHelper] "C:\Program Files\iTunes\iTunesHelper.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AVG_TRAY] C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG10\avgtray.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ModemOnHold] C:\Program Files\NetWaiting\netWaiting.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [OE_OEM] "C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\Internet Security 12\TMAS_OE\TMAS_OEMon.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [DellSupport] "C:\Program Files\Dell Support\DSAgnt.exe" /startup
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [ctfmon.exe] C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Gamma Loader.lnk = C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Calibration\Adobe Gamma Loader.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Adobe Reader Speed Launch.lnk = C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader\reader_sl.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Digital Line Detect.lnk = ?
O4 - Global Startup: Logitech SetPoint.lnk = ?
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Google Search - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsearch.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: &Translate English Word - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmwordtrans.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Backward Links - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmbacklinks.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Cached Snapshot of Page - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmcache.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: E&xport to Microsoft Excel - res://C:\PROGRA~1\MI1933~1\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE/3000
O8 - Extra context menu item: Similar Pages - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmsimilar.html
O8 - Extra context menu item: Translate Page into English - res://C:\Program Files\Google\GoogleToolbar1.dll/cmtrans.html
O9 - Extra button: AOL Toolbar - {3369AF0D-62E9-4bda-8103-B4C75499B578} - C:\Program Files\AOL\AOL Toolbar 5.0\aoltb.dll
O9 - Extra button: Research - {92780B25-18CC-41C8-B9BE-3C9C571A8263} - C:\PROGRA~1\MI1933~1\Office12\REFIEBAR.DLL
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Spybot - Search && Destroy Configuration - {DFB852A3-47F8-48C4-A200-58CAB36FD2A2} - C:\Program Files\Spybot - Search & Destroy\SDHelper.dll
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: @xpsp3res.dll,-20001 - {e2e2dd38-d088-4134-82b7-f2ba38496583} - %windir%\Network Diagnostic\xpnetdiag.exe (file missing)
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\program files\bonjour\mdnsnsp.dll
O11 - Options group: [INTERNATIONAL] International
O16 - DPF: ActiveGS.cab - http://www.virtualapple.org/activegs.cab
O16 - DPF: {02BF25D5-8C17-4B23-BC80-D3488ABDDC6B} (QuickTime Object) - http://a1540.g.akamai.net/7/1540/52/200 ... plugin.cab
O16 - DPF: {0CCA191D-13A6-4E29-B746-314DEE697D83} (Facebook Photo Uploader 5 Control) - http://upload.facebook.com/controls/200 ... oader5.cab
O16 - DPF: {1B00725B-C455-4DE6-BFB6-AD540AD427CD} - http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/get/s ... wflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {2AB1C516-6654-4D3A-B3D6-2185BBCEB409} (Cisco SSL VPN Relay Loader) - https://anywhereec.nbcuni.com/+CSCOL+/csvrloader32.cab
O16 - DPF: {406B5949-7190-4245-91A9-30A17DE16AD0} (Snapfish Activia) - http://photo.walgreens.com/WalgreensActivia.cab
O16 - DPF: {6414512B-B978-451D-A0D8-FCFDF33E833C} (WUWebControl Class) - http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupda ... 1983438453
O16 - DPF: {9B7744FC-8477-41CB-B10B-1292FC12B0F6} - https://anywhereec.nbcuni.com/+CSCO+3b7 ... .0.432.exe
O16 - DPF: {E2883E8F-472F-4FB0-9522-AC9BF37916A7} - http://platformdl.adobe.com/NOS/getPlusPlus/1.6/gp.cab
O18 - Protocol: linkscanner - {F274614C-63F8-47D5-A4D1-FBDDE494F8D1} - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG10\avgpp.dll
O18 - Protocol: ms-help - {314111C7-A502-11D2-BBCA-00C04F8EC294} - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Help\hxds.dll
O18 - Filter hijack: text/xml - {807563E5-5146-11D5-A672-00B0D022E945} - C:\PROGRA~1\COMMON~1\MICROS~1\OFFICE12\MSOXMLMF.DLL
O20 - Winlogon Notify: dimsntfy - %SystemRoot%\System32\dimsntfy.dll (file missing)
O20 - Winlogon Notify: WgaLogon - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\WgaLogon.dll
O21 - SSODL: WPDShServiceObj - {AAA288BA-9A4C-45B0-95D7-94D524869DB5} - C:\WINDOWS\system32\WPDShServiceObj.dll
O23 - Service: AOL Connectivity Service (AOL ACS) - AOL LLC - C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\ACS\AOLAcsd.exe
O23 - Service: AOL TopSpeed Monitor (AOL TopSpeedMonitor) - America Online, Inc - C:\Program Files\Common Files\AOL\TopSpeed\2.0\aoltsmon.exe
O23 - Service: Apple Mobile Device - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Apple\Mobile Device Support\AppleMobileDeviceService.exe
O23 - Service: Ati HotKey Poller - ATI Technologies Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2evxx.exe
O23 - Service: AVGIDSAgent - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG10\Identity Protection\Agent\Bin\AVGIDSAgent.exe
O23 - Service: AVG WatchDog (avgwd) - AVG Technologies CZ, s.r.o. - C:\Program Files\AVG\AVG10\avgwdsvc.exe
O23 - Service: Bonjour Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\Bonjour\mDNSResponder.exe
O23 - Service: FLEXnet Licensing Service - Macrovision Europe Ltd. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\Macrovision Shared\FLEXnet Publisher\FNPLicensingService.exe
O23 - Service: Google Desktop Manager 5.1.709.19590 (GoogleDesktopManager-091907-194040) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Google Desktop Search\GoogleDesktop.exe
O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdate) (gupdate) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdatem) (gupdatem) - Google Inc. - C:\Program Files\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: Google Software Updater (gusvc) - Google - C:\Program Files\Google\Common\Google Updater\GoogleUpdaterService.exe
O23 - Service: Intel(R) Matrix Storage Event Monitor (IAANTMON) - Intel Corporation - C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel Matrix Storage Manager\Iaantmon.exe
O23 - Service: Imapi Helper - Alex Feinman - C:\Program Files\Alex Feinman\ISO Recorder\ImapiHelper.exe
O23 - Service: iPod Service - Apple Inc. - C:\Program Files\iPod\bin\iPodService.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe" -service -config "C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\jqs.conf (file missing)
O23 - Service: LexBce Server (LexBceS) - Lexmark International, Inc. - C:\WINDOWS\system32\LEXBCES.EXE
O23 - Service: SQL Server (MSSMLBIZ) (MSSQL$MSSMLBIZ) - Unknown owner - c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Binn\sqlservr.exe" -sMSSMLBIZ (file missing)
O23 - Service: SentinelLM - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\Rainbow Technologies\sentLM\Server\lservnt.exe
O23 - Service: Sentinel Protection Server (SentinelProtectionServer) - SafeNet, Inc - C:\Program Files\Common Files\SafeNet Sentinel\Sentinel Protection Server\WinNT\spnsrvnt.exe

[Dalton]

I'm pretty sure Plug and Play is causing this. I'd love to run SFC but stupidly it doesn't work in safe mode.

[Dalton]

Mother FUCKER. I just disabled PnP and rebooted, and now it's running just fine. Let's see what sfc turns up and maybe I'ma tear out the scanner software. Any other tips? Because Device Manager is still blank. (EDIT: Due to PnP being disabled. Fuck me)

[Dalton]

Naturally I need an XP SP3 CD I don't have and can't slipstream because FUCKING DELL DOESN'T INCLUDE OEM MS INSTALL CDS!

[Stormin]

Naturally I need an XP SP3 CD I don't have and can't slipstream because FUCKING DELL DOESN'T INCLUDE OEM MS INSTALL CDS!

What version of XP? I have ISOs of home and media center edition if you can't get your hands on a copy faster than a transfer to you would go.

[Enigma]

Naturally I need an XP SP3 CD I don't have and can't slipstream because FUCKING DELL DOESN'T INCLUDE OEM MS INSTALL CDS!

Why do you need SP3 if you already have it installed (at least according to your HJT log)? Nevertheless, if you need to reinstall SP3, why not download it directly from MS?

[Dalton]

Because I need to run sfc to fix the pnp service and it needs an XP SP3 CD. They have an ISO online I can burn?

[phongn]

If you get the ISO from other sources, you can verify that it's been untampered with.

For XP Pro SP3 (non-volume-license), the SHA1 hash is: 1C735B38931BF57FB14EBD9A9BA253CEB443D459

[Dalton]

I'll download straight from Microsoft's website. Thanks Phong.

[Dalton]

Or not, since it's the update and not the full version.

I have to hunt and see if I have an XP CD lying around. Pretty sure I do. Maybe I have to slipstream it.

[Dalton]

Burned an ISO of XP SP3 thanks to a good friend. Ran sfc, but near the end it started asking for XP Pro CD2

No joy either, still having issues. I've heard maybe replace services.exe with one from the dll cache in recovery console. Thoughts? Repair install?

[Stormin]

At this point, saving your important stuff and going clean start would have probably saved you time. If you need any version of windows though just PM me, I might still have access to a friends MSDN account which lets me download full versions of windows.

[Dalton]

Said friend has MSDN access

I think it may have something to do with my USB peripherals. I have to experiment.

[Dalton]

OK, I'm fucked. I go to boot up and now my keyboard and mouse refuse to work at the login screen. Keyboard works just fine during boot so I can get into safe mode. Unfortunately neither work there either. Attempting to boot from the XP cd yields a BSOD. Both keyboard and mouse are wireless. How fucked am I? Should I even bother trying a wired kb/mouse?

[charlemagne]

Sounds like busted USB. Happened to me once (heat damage to the motherboard). I'd try to unplug everything USB before booting and replugging after boot-up. Or maybe you can get around it by connecting keyboard/mouse via PS/2.

[Dalton]

No PS2 ports and the keyboard works normally on POST. We're just going to get a new box at this point since this thing is 5 years old and still running XP.

[Vendetta]

You can sometimes rectify that by booting to last known good config (if your system was at least bootable to desktop before whatever you did that made the mouse/keyboard not work.

Probably what's happened is the receiver for your mouse/keyboard isn't in the plug & play registry and won't be detected until after you log in.

[Dalton]

You can sometimes rectify that by booting to last known good config (if your system was at least bootable to desktop before whatever you did that made the mouse/keyboard not work.

Probably what's happened is the receiver for your mouse/keyboard isn't in the plug & play registry and won't be detected until after you log in.

Last Known Good didn't work. The mouse and keyboard were working up until I tried to boot it up a couple of days ago.

[TheHammer]

So you are unable to boot even into safemood at this point? Have you tried System Restore? You can run it from command prompt as follows:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449

You also mentioned you moved it, have you opened the case and checked for any loose cables? Could try reseating RAM, etc.

[Dalton]

So the happy ending to this story is that I got an external SATA drive, copied over a bunch of data and fiddled with the system via a laptop. My last, desperate try to fix it was to do a manual system restore since booting from an XP Setup CD was causing a BSOD before getting to the Recovery Console. I pop it back in, boot it up, and...mouse and keyboard still no worky. About ready to blow my brains out, I went back to the laptop to try a remote connection, which of course did not work...and I accidentally nudge the mouse to the other computer.

The pointer moved.

Almost too good to be true, because this was the only box I could sync my wife's phone with since it had a passcode lock and a busted touchscreen (not to mention display). Now I backed up the data, I'm pulling down all of the photos and I am screamingly joyous.