msconfig in WINDOWS folder

[dbehrns]

I'm trying to eliminate junk from my hard drive (XP Pro). Checking the WINDOWS folder using EXPLORER, I find a startling folder size of 15.9 Gigs. Turns out that 13.5 Gigs of that is a file called msconfig.exe in the "system" subfolder. Is this supposed to be there or can I delete it?

[Scarecrow Man]

NEVER delete ANYTHING from your Windows, System or Program Files folders.

That being said, back out of that folder and dont touch anything.

Please post a HijackThis log. - Instructions here

It is possible this file is a virus See below for more information.

http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data...hllw.winur.html

or

http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/trojan.ahero.html

[dbehrns]

Thanks Scarecrow Man. I will try the Hijack This procedure but, frankly, it's pretty much Greek (Geek) to me. The AHERO Trojan does sound suspicious since the msconfig.exe file is in question and I am a Kazaa user. What doesn't square is the enormous size of the file and the fact that when I tried to open it (perhaps foolishly) it simply said that it was not a valid win32 application. Shouldnt the XP Pro be about 2 to 3 Gigs installed? I believe the true msconfig file is only a few megs. Where does it normally reside? The system seems to be working OK except its very slow to reboot . This may be because I only have 5 gigs of HD left or I need another 512 of RAM.

NEVER delete ANYTHING from your Windows, System or Program Files folders.

That being said, back out of that folder and dont touch anything.

Please post a HijackThis log. - Instructions here

It is possible this file is a virus See below for more information.

http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data...hllw.winur.html

or

http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/trojan.ahero.html

[dbehrns]

Another problem. Trying to follow the instructions for HIJACK THIS but they assume that msconfig.exe is a zipped file which it is not. Do I just create the suggested folder and use "send to" to export the file to the folder. Should I then delete it from Windows? The other problem is: How can we transmit a 13.5 gig file?

NEVER delete ANYTHING from your Windows, System or Program Files folders.

That being said, back out of that folder and dont touch anything.

Please post a HijackThis log. - Instructions here

It is possible this file is a virus See below for more information.

http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data...hllw.winur.html

or

http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/trojan.ahero.html

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

A few clarifications...

1. the msconfig.exe that comes with Windows XP is located in C:\WINDOWS\PCHEALTH\HELPCTR\Binaries and has a size of 166KB
   
2. HijackThis will analyze your system and generate a report
   
3. you have to post that report as a new post in this forum http://forums.windowsforum.org/index.php?showforum=53
   
4. do not delete any files unless you are instructed to do so by one of the experts in that forum
   
5. you do not send your infected file(s) anywhere
   

What you can do is run the online scan at http://www.ewido.net/en/onlinescan/ and see if it finds anything. That monster msconfig.exe that you have is definitely very fishy!