Desktop settings corruption

by john on August 31, 2007

in Web Development

Had a laptop come in today that was infected with various spyware and viri.

One of the spyware items was one of those Active Desktop jobs that takes over your desktop and tells you that you have critical spyware bla bla bla.

I cleaned all the spyware off no worries and viruses with a little bit more stuffing round.

All seemed well except for when I rebooted I had no desktop picture and when I right clicked on the desktop and went to properties I couldn’t select a desktop picture (the options were simply greyed out).
Solution download/install/run:

http://www.thespykiller.co.uk/files/cleandesktop.exe

It is interesting to note what these scripts do, they basically reset all the settings pertaining to the current users desktop.

Wshshell.RegDelete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\General\"

Wshshell.RegDelete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\ActiveDesktop\"

Wshshell.RegDelete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\ClassicShell"

Wshshell.RegDelete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\ForceActiveDesktopOn"

Wshshell.RegDelete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoViewContextMenu"

Wshshell.RegDelete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System\Wallpaper"

Wshshell.RegDelete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer\NoViewContextMenu"

Wshshell.RegDelete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoActiveDesktop"

Wshshell.RegDelete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders\Custom Desktop"

Wshshell.RegDelete "HKCU\Control Panel\desktop\ConvertedWallpaper"

Wshshell.RegDelete "HKCU\Control Panel\desktop\ConvertedWallpaper Last WriteTime"

Wshshell.RegDelete "HKCU\Control Panel\desktop\OriginalWallpaper"

Wshshell.RegDelete "HKCU\Control Panel\desktop\Wallpaper"

Wshshell.RegDelete "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\General\Wallpaper"

Wshshell.RegDelete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\"

'Writes:

Wshshell.RegWrite "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders\Desktop", "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop" ,"REG_EXPAND_SZ"

Wshshell.RegWrite "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders\Common Desktop" ,"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Desktop", "REG_EXPAND_SZ"

Wshshell.RegWrite "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders\Common Desktop" ,"%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Desktop", "REG_EXPAND_SZ"

Wshshell.RegWrite "HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-18\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders\Desktop" ,"%USERPROFILE%\Desktop", "REG_EXPAND_SZ"

Wshshell.RegWrite "HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders\Desktop" ,"%USERPROFILE%\Desktop", "REG_EXPAND_SZ"

Wshshell.RegWrite "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\General\BackupWallpaper","%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Wallpaper1.bmp" , "REG_EXPAND_SZ"

Wshshell.RegWrite "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\General\Wallpaper","%USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Wallpaper1.bmp" ,"REG_EXPAND_SZ"

Wshshell.RegWrite "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\General\VisitGallery" , 0, "REG_DWORD"

Wshshell.RegWrite "HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders\Desktop" , Syst & "\config\systemprofile\Desktop"

Wshshell.RegWrite "HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-18\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders\Desktop" , Syst & "\config\systemprofile\Desktop"

Wshshell.RegWrite "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Desktop\SafeMode\General\Wallpaper" ,Win & "\Web\Safemode.htt"

Wshshell.RegWrite "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders\Desktop", UPD

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  • Jagadish

    It is a good stuff, but can any one send me some registy related information as I want to know which registry does what affect. If any one of you have link to read more about registry please send to my below mail ID.