Computer Help Forums: XP Home SP2 - gpedit.msc brings up err msg about a "Snap-in couldn't be created" ??? - Computer Help Forums

I just cleaned this machine of over 300 infections using !Avast Home,
Spybot S&D, and Adaware...

all seems to be functioning now except when I try to bring up in the
Run box, "gpedit.msc" I'm getting the following error, and have no
idea what a snap-in is.

Msg: Snap-in failed to initialize.
Name:
CLSID:{8FC0B734-AOE1-11D1-A7D3-0000F87571E3}

When I click ok a window titled "Group Policy" comes up with the
message in the right pane: Snap-in Creation Failed and has a big red
X,


in the left pane is: Local Computer Policy

nothing else

everything else seems to work okay, I can still open up the regedit,
msconfig, cmd, etc. only this gpedit seems affected now.

any wisdom?

thanks,
niteowl

Sounds like you've got (lots) more work to do.

NB: If you had no anti-virus application installed or the subscription had
expired *when the machine first got infected* and/or your subscription has
since expired and/or the machine's not been kept fully-patched at Windows
Update, don't waste your time with any of the below: Format & reinstall
Windows. A Repair Install will NOT help!

1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft...ve/default.mspx

NB: Run the FULL scan, not the QUICK scan! You may need to download the
MSRT on a non-infected machine, then transfer MRT.EXE to the infected
machine and rename it to SCAN.EXE before running it.

2. [WinXP ONLY!! =>] Run the Windows Live Safety Center's 'Protection' scan
(only!) in Safe Mode with Networking, if need be:
http://onecare.live....ter/howsafe.htm

3. Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting the requested
logs in an appropriate forum, not here.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.net/vie...php?f=30&t=4075
http://mvps.org/winh...02/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer..../prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer....org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/...are_Defence.htm
http://www.elephantb...emoving_Malware

**Seek expert assistance in
http://spywarehammer....php?board=10.0,
http://forums.spybot...isplay.php?f=22,
http://www.dslreport...m/forum/cleanup, http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30
or other appropriate forums.**

If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002


niteowl wrote:
> I just cleaned this machine of over 300 infections using !Avast Home,
> Spybot S&D, and Adaware...
>
> all seems to be functioning now except when I try to bring up in the
> Run box, "gpedit.msc" I'm getting the following error, and have no
> idea what a snap-in is.
>
> Msg: Snap-in failed to initialize.
> Name:
> CLSID:{8FC0B734-AOE1-11D1-A7D3-0000F87571E3}
>
> When I click ok a window titled "Group Policy" comes up with the
> message in the right pane: Snap-in Creation Failed and has a big red
> X,
>
>
> in the left pane is: Local Computer Policy
>
> nothing else
>
> everything else seems to work okay, I can still open up the regedit,
> msconfig, cmd, etc. only this gpedit seems affected now.
>
> any wisdom?
>
> thanks,
> niteowl

niteowl wrote:
> I just cleaned this machine of over 300 infections using !Avast Home,
> Spybot S&D, and Adaware...
>
> all seems to be functioning now except when I try to bring up in the
> Run box, "gpedit.msc" I'm getting the following error, and have no
> idea what a snap-in is.
>
> Msg: Snap-in failed to initialize.
> Name:
> CLSID:{8FC0B734-AOE1-11D1-A7D3-0000F87571E3}
>
> When I click ok a window titled "Group Policy" comes up with the
> message in the right pane: Snap-in Creation Failed and has a big red
> X,
>
>
> in the left pane is: Local Computer Policy
>
> nothing else
>
> everything else seems to work okay, I can still open up the regedit,
> msconfig, cmd, etc. only this gpedit seems affected now.
>
> any wisdom?

Windows XP Home Edition doesn't have a Group Policy snap-in tool.

John

On Tue, 19 May 2009 13:28:17 -0400, "PA Bear [MS MVP]"
wrote:

>Sounds like you've got (lots) more work to do.
>
>NB: If you had no anti-virus application installed or the subscription had
>expired *when the machine first got infected* and/or your subscription has
>since expired and/or the machine's not been kept fully-patched at Windows
>Update, don't waste your time with any of the below: Format & reinstall
>Windows. A Repair Install will NOT help!

I was just about to that point anyway... the previous owner must have
been a programmer as there are a few things on here for writing code..
"tcl", etc. and I think he may have altered this unit quite a bit... a
clean install will clear all the previous debrie and I was thinking
that would be a good thing. The current owner is a kid and has no
idea what most of the things are here are anyway. :)

There is a D: partition (not hidden) labeled as the HP Recovery, so
I'll try that first... this is a Pavilion 502n with 512megs RAM
though it appears 128megs are being siphoned off, probably for the
video... leaving only 384m usable... I've recommended she buy 2 512m
chips, as that will speed things up significantly..

John John says there's no snap-in in the Home version anyway, so
obviously there's something amiss.

Thanks for all the info, but this unit wasn't kept up, and there was 3
different antivirus progs on it... (sigh)

so, off to do a clean install. and again, Thank You

niteowl

>1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:
>http://www.microsoft...ve/default.mspx
>
>NB: Run the FULL scan, not the QUICK scan! You may need to download the
>MSRT on a non-infected machine, then transfer MRT.EXE to the infected
>machine and rename it to SCAN.EXE before running it.
>
>2. [WinXP ONLY!! =>] Run the Windows Live Safety Center's 'Protection' scan
>(only!) in Safe Mode with Networking, if need be:
>http://onecare.live....ter/howsafe.htm
>
>3. Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting the requested
>logs in an appropriate forum, not here.
>
>Checking for/Help with Hijackware
>http://aumha.net/vie...php?f=30&t=4075
>http://mvps.org/winh...02/unwanted.htm
>http://inetexplorer..../prevention.htm
> http://inetexplorer....org/tshoot.html
>http://www.mvps.org/...are_Defence.htm
>http://www.elephantb...emoving_Malware
>
>**Seek expert assistance in
>http://spywarehammer....php?board=10.0,
>http://forums.spybot...isplay.php?f=22,
>http://www.dslreport...m/forum/cleanup, http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30
>or other appropriate forums.**
>
>If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
>this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
>independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.

John John's correct.

Format *all* partitions then do a clean install. Please note that a Repair
Install (AKA in-place upgrade) will NOT fix this!

After the clean install, you'll have the equivalent of a "new computer" so
take care of everything on the following page before otherwise connecting
the machine to the internet or a network and before using a USB key that
isn't brand-new or hasn't been freshly formatted:

5 steps to help protect your new computer before you go online
http://www.microsoft...anced/xppc.mspx

Also see:

Steps To Help Prevent Spyware
http://www.microsoft...re/prevent.mspx

Rogue Security Software - Microsoft Security:
http://www.microsoft...uses/rogue.mspx
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002


niteowl wrote:
> On Tue, 19 May 2009 13:28:17 -0400, "PA Bear [MS MVP]"
> wrote:
>
>> Sounds like you've got (lots) more work to do.
>>
>> NB: If you had no anti-virus application installed or the subscription
>> had
>> expired *when the machine first got infected* and/or your subscription
>> has
>> since expired and/or the machine's not been kept fully-patched at Windows
>> Update, don't waste your time with any of the below: Format & reinstall
>> Windows. A Repair Install will NOT help!
>
> I was just about to that point anyway... the previous owner must have
> been a programmer as there are a few things on here for writing code..
> "tcl", etc. and I think he may have altered this unit quite a bit... a
> clean install will clear all the previous debrie and I was thinking
> that would be a good thing. The current owner is a kid and has no
> idea what most of the things are here are anyway. :)
>
> There is a D: partition (not hidden) labeled as the HP Recovery, so
> I'll try that first... this is a Pavilion 502n with 512megs RAM
> though it appears 128megs are being siphoned off, probably for the
> video... leaving only 384m usable... I've recommended she buy 2 512m
> chips, as that will speed things up significantly..
>
> John John says there's no snap-in in the Home version anyway, so
> obviously there's something amiss.
>
> Thanks for all the info, but this unit wasn't kept up, and there was 3
> different antivirus progs on it... (sigh)
>
> so, off to do a clean install. and again, Thank You
>
> niteowl
>
>> 1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:
>> http://www.microsoft...ve/default.mspx
>>
>> NB: Run the FULL scan, not the QUICK scan! You may need to download the
>> MSRT on a non-infected machine, then transfer MRT.EXE to the infected
>> machine and rename it to SCAN.EXE before running it.
>>
>> 2. [WinXP ONLY!! =>] Run the Windows Live Safety Center's 'Protection'
>> scan
>> (only!) in Safe Mode with Networking, if need be:
>> http://onecare.live....ter/howsafe.htm
>>
>> 3. Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting the requested
>> logs in an appropriate forum, not here.
>>
>> Checking for/Help with Hijackware
>> http://aumha.net/vie...php?f=30&t=4075
>> http://mvps.org/winh...02/unwanted.htm
>> http://inetexplorer..../prevention.htm
>> http://inetexplorer....org/tshoot.html
>> http://www.mvps.org/...are_Defence.htm
>> http://www.elephantb...emoving_Malware
>>
>> **Seek expert assistance in
>> http://spywarehammer....php?board=10.0,
>> http://forums.spybot...isplay.php?f=22,
>> http://www.dslreport...m/forum/cleanup,
>> http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30 or other appropriate forums.**
>>
>> If these procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting
>> this isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
>> independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.