HELP: Invalid System Disk, replace and press any key

W32.MyLife@mm

Discovered on: March 7, 2002 Last Updated on: April 2, 2002 at 09:31:12 PM PST

Due to an increased number of submissions, Symantec Security Response is upgrading W32.MyLife@mm to a Category 3. W32.MyLife@mm is a simple mass-mailer that sends itself to all contacts in the Microsoft Outlook address book. The worm is a compiled Visual Basic executable that has been compressed. It attempts to delete files that have the extensions .com, .sys, .ini, .exe, .sys, .vxd, .exe, or .dll. (This could not be reproduced in a controlled test environment.)

Type: Worm Infection Length: 30,720 bytes

Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater): March 8, 2002 Virus Definitions (LiveUpdateTM): March 8, 2002

Threat Assessment:

Wild: Medium Damage: Medium Distribution: High

Wild:

Number of infections: 50 - 999 Number of sites: More than 10 Geographical distribution: High Threat containment: Easy Removal: Moderate

Damage:

Payload: Mass Mails itself to all recipients in the Outlook Address Book and could delete files with extensions, .com .sys .ini .exe .sys .vxd .exe .dll Large scale e-mailing: Mass Mails itself to all recipients in the Outlook Address Book Deletes files: could delete files with extensions, .com .sys .ini .exe .sys .vxd .exe .dll

Distribution:

Subject of email: my life ohhhhhhhhhhhhh Name of attachment: My Life.scr Size of attachment: 30,720 bytes

Technical description:

If W32.MyLife@mm is executed, it does the following:

It sends itself to all contacts in the Microsoft Outlook address book.The email has the following characteristics:

Subject: my life ohhhhhhhhhhhhh Message: Hiiiii How are youuuuuuuu? look to the digital picture it's my love vvvery verrrry ffffunny :-) my life = my car my car = my house

Attachment: My Life.scr

It copies itself to C:\Windows\System\My Life.scr.

It adds the value

stmgr C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\My Life.scr

to the registry key

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

Upon execution it also displays the following picture:

Finally, it attempts to delete files that have the extensions .com, .sys, .ini, .exe, .sys, .vxd, .exe, or .dll. (This could not be reproduced in a controlled test environment.)

Removal instructions:

The preferred way to remove this worm is to use the W32.Mylife Removal Tool. If for any reason you cannot obtain the tool, you must remove the worm manually.

Manual removal Delete files detected as W32.MyLife@mm and remove the value that it added to the registry.

To remove the worm:

1. Obtain the most recent virus definitions. There are two ways to do this: Run LiveUpdate. LiveUpdate is the easiest way to obtain virus definitions. These virus definitions have undergone full quality assurance testing by Symantec Security Response and are posted to the LiveUpdate servers one time each week (usually Wednesdays) unless there is a major virus outbreak. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by LiveUpdate, look at the Virus Definitions (LiveUpdate) line at the top of this write-up. Download the definitions using the Intelligent Updater. Intelligent Updater virus definitions have undergone full quality assurance testing by Symantec Security Response. They are posted on U.S. business days (Monday through Friday). They must be downloaded from the Symantec Security Response Web site and installed manually. To determine whether definitions for this threat are available by the Intelligent Updater, look at the Virus Definitions (Intelligent Updater) line at the top of this write-up.

Intelligent Updater virus definitions are available here. For detailed instructions on how to download and install the Intelligent Updater virus definitions from the Symantec Security Response Web site, click here. 2. Start Norton AntiVirus (NAV), and make sure that NAV is configured to scan all files. For instructions on how to do this, read the document How to configure Norton AntiVirus to scan all files. 3. Run a full system scan. 4. Delete all files that are detected as W32.MyLife@mm.

To edit the registry:

CAUTION: We strongly recommend that you back up the registry before you make any changes to it. Incorrect changes to the registry can result in permanent data loss or corrupted files. Modify only the keys that are specified. Read the document How to back up the Windows registry for instructions.

1. Click Start, and click Run. The Run dialog box appears. 2. Type regedit and then click OK. The Registry Editor opens. 3. Navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run

4. In the right pane, delete the following value:

stmgr C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\My Life.scr

5. Click Registry, and click Exit.

Write-up by: Douglas Knowles

(from http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/pf/w32.mylife@ mm.html)

news story here

more detailed account here

But, I have to say that if you use them, you will lose everything you've added to your computer since you got it (word files, MP3, new software, address book etc.).

SO, maybe someone has info on a less brutal option?