System Check is a malicious program which pretends to be a computer defragmenter and system analysis software. It is from the same family of malware as System Fix, Data Recovery, Master Utilities, PC Repair, System Repair, Windows XP Repair, Windows XP Fix, etc. It is promoted and installed itself on your computer without your permission and knowledge through the use of trojans or other malicious software. Moreover, the scammers may also distribute System Check on Twitter, My Space, Facebook, and other social networks. Please be careful when opening attachments and downloading files or otherwise you can end up with a rogue program on your PC.
When System Check is installed, it will perform a fake scan of your computer then tells you it has found numerous critical errors. Next, it will prompt you to pay for the fake software before it “repairs” your machine of the problems. Of course, all of these errors are a fake. So, you can safety ignore the false scan results.
While System Check is running, it will block legitimate Windows applcations on your computer and won’t let you download anything from the Internet. Moreover, it will display various fake critical errors alerts that the computer’s hard drive is corrupt in order to frighten you into purchasing this useless application. Some of the fake errors are:
The system has detected a problem with one or more installed IDE / SATA hard disks.
It is recommended that you restart the system.
Critical Error
A critical error has occurred while indexing data stored on hard drive. System restart required.
Critical error
Windows can`t find disk space. Hard drive error.
System Restore
The system has been restored after a critical error. Data integrity and hard drive integrity verification required.
Windows – No Disk
Exception Processing Message 0×0000013.
Of course, all of these warnings are a fake. This is an attempt to make you think your computer in danger. Like false scan results you can safely ignore them.
As you can see, obviously, System Check is a scam, which created with only one purpose – to steal your money. Most important, don`t purchase the program! You need as quickly as possible to remove the malicious software. Follow the removal instructions below, which will remove System Check and any other infections you may have on your computer for free.
Use the following instructions to remove System Check infection
Click Start, Type in Search field %allusersprofile% and press Enter (if you use the Windows XP, then click Start, Run and type a command in Open field). It will open a contents of “ProgramData” folder (“All Users” folder for Windows XP).
System Check hides all files and folders, so you need to change some settings and thus be able to see your files and folders again. Click Organize, select ”Folder and search options”, open View tab (if you use Windows XP, then open Tools menu, Folder Options, View tab). Select “Show hidden files and folders” option, uncheck “Hide extensions for known file types”, uncheck “Hide protected operating files” and click OK button.
Open “Application Data” folder. This step only for Windows XP, skip it if you use Windows Vista or Windows 7.
Now you will see System Check associated files as shown below.
Basically, there will be files named with a series of numbers or letter (e.g. 2636237623.exe or JtwSgJHkjkj.exe), right click to it and select Rename (don`t rename any folders). Type any new name (123.exe) and press Enter.
You can to rename only files with .exe extension. Its enough to stop this malware from autorunning.
Reboot your computer.
Now you can unhide all files and folders that has been hidden by System Check. Click Start, type in Search field cmd and press Enter. Command console “black window” opens. Type cd \ and press Enter. Type attrib -h /s /d and press Enter. Close Command console.
If your Desktop is empty, then click Start, type in Search field %UserProfile%\desktop and press Enter. It will open a contents of your desktop.
Download MalwareBytes Anti-malware (MBAM). Close all programs and Windows on your computer.
Double Click mbam-setup.exe to install the application. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the installation process. Do not make any changes to default settings and when the program has finished installing, make sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
Once the program has loaded you will see window similar to the one below.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Window
Select Perform Quick Scan, then click Scan, it will start scanning your computer. This procedure can take some time, so please be patient.
When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results. You will see a list of infected items similar as shown below. Note: list of infected items may be different than what is shown in the image below.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware, list of infected items
Make sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected for start System Check removal process. When disinfection is completed, a log will open in Notepad. Reboot your computer.
System Check may be bundled with TDSS trojan-rootkit, so you should run TDSSKiller to detect and remove this infection.
Download TDSSKiller from here and unzip to your desktop. Open TDSSKiller folder. Right click to tdsskiller and select rename. Type a new name (123myapp, for example). Press Enter. Double click the TDSSKiller icon. You will see a screen similar to the one below.
TDSSKiller
Click Start Scan button to start scanning Windows registry for TDSS trojan. If it is found, then you will see window similar to the one below.
TDSSKiller – Scan results
Click Continue button to remove TDSS trojan.
If you can`t to download or run TDSSKiller, then you need to use Combofix. Download Combofix. Close any open browsers. Double click on combofix.exe and follow the prompts. If ComboFix will not run, please rename it to myapp.exe and try again!
Your system should now be free of the System Check virus. If you need help with the instructions, then post your questions in our Spyware Removal forum.
System Check removal notes
Note 1: if you can not download, install, run or update Malwarebytes Anti-malware, then follow the steps: Malwarebytes won`t install, run or update – How to fix it.
Note 2: your current antispyware and antivirus software let the infection through ? Then you may want to consider purchasing the FULL version of MalwareBytes Anti-malware to protect your computer in the future.
System Check creates the following files and folders
%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\GDIPFONTCACHEV1.DAT
%CommonAppData%\[RANDOM]
%CommonAppData%\~[RANDOM]
%UserProfile%\Desktop\System Check.lnk
%CommonAppData%\[RANDOM].exe
%Temp%\smtmp\
%Temp%\smtmp\1
%Temp%\smtmp\2
%Temp%\smtmp\3
%Temp%\smtmp\4
Note: %CommonAppData% is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data (for Windows XP/2000) or C:\ProgramData (for Windows 7/Vista)
System Check creates the following registry keys and values
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\INTERNET EXPLORER\MAIN\USE FORMSUGGEST = Yes
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS\CERTIFICATEREVOCATION = 0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS\WARNONBADCERTRECVING = 0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS\WARNONZONECROSSING = 0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\INTERNET SETTINGS\ZONES\3\1601 = 0
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\MICROSOFT\WINDOWS\CURRENTVERSION\WINTRUST\TRUST PROVIDERS\SOFTWARE PUBLISHING\STATE = 146944
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet\CONTROL\SESSION MANAGER\PENDINGFILERENAMEOPERATIONS = \??\%CommonAppData%\[RANDOM].exe
System Check removal – Video instructions
System Check is basically clone of Windows XP Repair, so you can use the video guide below to remove this malware.
Thank you so so so much! It totally works. Ans thank you Jessica for suggesting unhide.exe and Stinger. Stinger detected trojan while TDSS doesn’t? Sigh I am a noob and I’m so glad to have found this site! Thank you guys!!!!
where do you access Unhide.exe . I Cant get anything back on my desk top.
Hey tnks for the tutorial, it really helped me !!!
I’ve just went through the instructions, However my Malwarebytes didn’t pick up the .exe files and they’re still there. All the things I pinned to my task bar have disappeared and there’s a few things missing from my desktop. Anyone any advice on what to do?
Thank you for this guide. It really helped
Ran this on a $3500 Dell (piece of cr*p) and it worked very well. Thanks loads!
Accsess denide what do I do now ??? Please help
You guys are the bomb! You instructions worked like a charm and got completely got rid of System Check. Thanks a million!
I am not able to get to the “Run” from the Start menu. Nothing is there at all.
I removed the virus and restored my desktop but my start menu is still empty. How do i restore it (Windows 7)
This all worked great except: I STILL have the browser re-direct. Anyone figure out how to disable that yet?
i hav e a very nasty version of this virus, it has blocked me from booting when i tried to go into safe mode; i had no option but to reinstall windows and i thought that would do it but now when i reboot i get no bootable disc found and it must be hidden in my partition somewhere…….idk what to do now im updating everything and trying all the different virus and malware and registry editors to see if any of them have an updated solution for this newest version of this virus
This worked to get system check to stop running but I can’t get my desktop back, it’s still blank, and I’m following the above. Any suggestions?
Ok, got desktop back but cannot get to malwarebytes, and can’t do it via internet either. Sorry for double post!
OMG Thank you guys, 100% you guys are the best, it is so good to know that for every evil hacker piece of shit there is a Mob squad like you to back it up and kick their ass… Good Deeds will be returned to you one day…
Remove virus infection from c:\users\all users\~anyname.exe
c:\documents and settings\all users\~anyname.exe
Then restart and download and run uhatt.notlong.com
It will fix everything
I have McAfee Antivirus on my computer now. Can I also purchase the FULL version of MalwareBytes Anti-malware and use them both?
@Sharon, yes of course.
I was able to do this and it helped, but how do I get my computer to look normal again? My main screen is all black and when I click start, none of my programs are there. I did the %alluserprofile% thing and unhid my files, but everything is still messed up.
Thank you
Thank you! However I can’t reverse the hiding of my files. When I do the attrib -h /s /d it says access denied. Anyone know how I can fix this successfully?
thank u for the solutions…
But in my pc in (tools-folder option menu)the option show hidden files and foders & do not show hidden files and foders has not been shown due to virus..give me a solution of this…
thanks.
Hi,
Really appreciated this post, this worked amazing. However, all my microsoft and Adobe files are now hidden from start menu and programs folder? How do I put my start menu back — is it possible they are hidden?
Thanks,
Christina
* thank you very much to the good people like you,for helping others w/o any returned.. thanks again,* regards
Thanks for this! System Check got me, and your info was helpful. One problem which I have since getting infected by and removing SC is that one program that I know of, MS Flight Sim, won’t run. When I try to start Flight Sim, I get “access denied”. Maybe SC did some registry stuff that keeps Flight Sim from running (???)
I searched all day today for a malware solution, my computer became infected. Thank you so much for sharing this vital information in such a step by step way. Your solution works!
Thank you so much. I was panicking as I can’t afford a new laptop. I came across this by sheer mistake when I was googling ‘system check’ to see if there was a more secure way to pay online. Thank you very much. Worked like a dream.
Hi, the cmd thing didn’t work. After I typed in everything it kept saying access denied. Can anybody help me?
So far, this seems to be running great. Quick question though, after I type in attrib -h/ s/ d/ a huge list of \Access Denied…..\ Things pop up. Is that supposed to happen?
Also, I now have a new desktop icon titled: desktop.ini …….which brings me to a notepad page. Why is this on my desktop?