EXE to EXE_ extensions

Something changes my EXE file extensions in my windows folder to EXE_ when I
restart my computer. (Think it started around when computer went glichy and
did spyware serch and destroy and installed antispyware, AOL 9.0 and tried to
upgrade Windows and Office all around the same time) Noticed when calculator
shortcut went missing. Can get program (CALC) to run, can rename to CALC.EXE,
redo shortcut, but have to redo that everytime I restart. Looked for
suspicious files in windows folder and noticed other files have become EXE_
too. Anyone know the cause and the fix?

Hi,

I couldn't fine a answer to you exact problem but would suggest you
start by doing a virus scan with up to date virus software, then scan
for and removing any installed spyware.
If you are in need of virus software, here here's one for free.
Download the software, and in Update Manager run Update
then do a complete virus scan.
Free Offer: eTrust EZ Armor Security Suite from Computer Associates
http://www.my-etrust.com/microsoft/index.cfm

Search and destroy any installed SpyWare/malware/adwa
Ad-aware is a free multi spyware removal utility that scans
your memory, registry and hard drives for known spyware
components and lets you remove them safely. After installing
Ad-Aware make sure to run the update feature before scanning.
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/ For large amounts of installed
spyware and such, it may be necessary to run Ad-Aware several
times to clear them all.

Here are a couple more removal tools that should also be run.
CWShredder: http://aumha.org/freeware/freeware.php#cwshred

Spybot: http://www.safer-networking.org/

SpywareBlaster:
http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareblaster.html
SpywareBlaster doesn't scan and clean for spyware - it
prevents it from ever being installed. SpywareBlaster is
a non memory resident utility. It works by setting a "kill bit"
for the CLSIDs of spyware ActiveX controls, it prevents the
installation of any of them from a webpage.

If this doesn't do it, look here for more information:
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

--
Regards,
Bert Kinney [MS-MVP DTS]
http://dts-l.org/
How to Configure Outlook Express for Internet News:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=171164


"TLLBird" wrote
Something changes my EXE file extensions in my windows folder to EXE_ when
I
restart my computer. (Think it started around when computer went glichy
and
did spyware serch and destroy and installed antispyware, AOL 9.0 and tried
to
upgrade Windows and Office all around the same time) Noticed when
calculator
shortcut went missing. Can get program (CALC) to run, can rename to
CALC.EXE,
redo shortcut, but have to redo that everytime I restart. Looked for
suspicious files in windows folder and noticed other files have become
EXE_
too. Anyone know the cause and the fix?