Deleting COMPSTU.DLL from Windows XP and Vista

(should work for all versions of windows)

 

I felt the need to write this guide after a friend suffered an infection of this Trojan horse on their windows XP computer. The antivirus software could not delete the file as it was protected by Windows (go figure!) and even HighJackThis could not get rid of it!

I found an online guide which involved HighJackThis and ComboFix, multiple restarts, checks and Registry changes - none of which worked on my friends machine.... In the end I decided to take a completely different approach - I would use Linux to fix Windows!

 

This guide will rid your PC of COMPSTU.DLL in around 30 minutes if you have a fast internet connection. Please follow the steps below:

 

Step 1: Download a Puppy Linux Disk Image from Here and save the file to your desktop.
Step 2: Download Active ISO Burner Here and save to your desktop. Then install the software on your PC.

Step 3:

  • Burn the Linux ISO image to a CD or DVD using Active ISO Burner.

  • In the top box select the ISO file you downloaded.

  • Put a blank CD or DVD in your Drive.

  • Select the correct drive from the Pull Down box.

  • Click Burn and wait for the operation to complete.

Step 4:

  • Reboot your PC and enter the BIOS setup (this is different for each machine) and set your CD / DVD Drive as the Primary Boot Device.

  • Now Puppy Linux will boot from the CD / DVD

  • Enter your preferred language and time zone using the cursor keys and 'Enter' key

  • Choose a display option at least 800 x 600 from the display adaptor page.

  • Puppy Linux will now load a GUI Desktop interface similar to the Window Desktop (HINT: Puppy Linux Desktop and Folder items open with a single click - not a double click like windows.)

 

Step 5:

  • Open the main hard disk drive folder (bottom left of the screen)

  • Go to the 'Windows/System32' Folder

  • Find the COMPSTU.DLL file and right click on it - select COMPSTU.DLL from the menu and then left click on 'Delete'

 

Step 6:

  • Go to the 'Program Files' directory on the Hard Drive

  • Delete any Suspicious Software such as "Free PC Scanner" or "Free PC Fixer"

 

Step 7:

Shut down the PC by clicking on the Start Button in the bottom left of the screen and clicking on 'Reboot Computer'. When asked if you want to save your session, select "Do Not Save".
Step 8: Remove the Puppy Linux disc from your CD / DVD drive and Reboot your PC.

Step 9:

  • When Windows is loaded click on the start button and select 'Run'

  • Type 'REGEDIT' and press 'Enter'

  • Go to Edit --> Find

  • Type COMPSTU.DLL in the text box and press 'Find Next'

  • If any instances of the file are found in the registry simply delete them.

  • Press F3 to repeat the search until the program says "Cannot Find"

 

 

Step 10: Reboot your PC - It should now be COMPSTU.DLL free!

 

 

 

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