Since the last update ive been getting a virus alert …
Virus Name…Win32:Initx
File Name…C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\PSTORES.EXE
The weird thing is the virus alert popup and blue and yellow ticker bar alert pops up when I start to type in a web page.For example when I started to fill in the subject header in this post it alerted me.Im also getting the warning pop up every minute or so when im just browsing , which is a little annoying.Im sure the files ok Its a genuine windows file and AVG,and panda online scan and housecall online scan detect nothing.Trojan hunter doesnt detect anything either.Im using w98se.Should i snd a copy of the file for examination?
tia
me
I am getting the same thing. Has there been any response to this to you? TIA
Steph
I’m receiving the same virus alert today. I do know that this is a harmless virus (if there is such a thing). Check and see if you have a file named “initx.dat” on your system.
Three of us in one day seems sort of odd :-\
Yes, I confirm this is a false alarm - see this thread for apology 
Pavel
It seems to be realated to the latest update.I do not believe i have a virus at all (even a friendly one 
)and that it is a false positive.Are we all using 98 here?..or is this affecting other operating systems?
tia me
Thanks for update and info Pavel.
me
Thank you for the information! Great stuff here. Will be checking back in the future. First time poster today. 
I’m under XP Home and 4-home (with this morning’s update) and nothing unusual so far. Maybe it’s triggered by something on whatever page (Java/Flash/etc.)?
There are some more fals reports. 
Check my mailings if you want to know.
What mailings?
OK - I’m the dummy who quickly over reacted. This thing came up with a virus warning and I immediately clicked to delete the file. Now my Outlook express is slow, and I’m sure I’ll need to restore the file. Please tell me I won’t have to reinstall outlook express or explorer. How can I restore the pstores.exe file? I’m on 98SE as well.
You could type sfc.exe in start>run and this will bring up the system file checker.Click scan for altered files and it will go through your system in forming you of system files that have altered ,are corrupted or have been deleted.It should tell you that pstores.exe has been deleted and offer you the choice of restoring the original from cab files or from disk.You can choose the cab files to restore from.You may see lots of files changed , altered deleted etc but just restore the one you deleted (pstores.exe),and dont worry about any others tha SFC may throw up.Failing that i can always send you the file as i use 98se too.
me
I had the same situation. After last update, avast detected virus in PSTORES.exe file. This file is component of Outlook Express.
For the future. If You have virus in this file, you can remove it, but then Outlook Express will be working very slow. Next You can overwrite this file with oryginal pstores.exe from Win98_44.cab (instalation of Win98).
Hey, JLS,
give Your e-mail, than I send You this file (pstores.exe)
I also deleted the file. Can anyone give me directions to restore it for Windows98? ??? I really would appreciate it!
Mike, I think this is a Windows 98 thread and not XP… I always have pstores.exe in Windows 98 and never have into my XP system…
pstores - pstores.exe - Process Information
Process File: pstores or pstores.exe
Process Name: Protected Storage Service
Description: The Microsoft Protected Storage Server (under Win9x/ME) or Protected Storage Service (under WinNT/2000/XP). Protected Storage, in the shape of PSTORES, was introduced with Internet Explorer 4.It is invoked by Microsoft Internet programs such as Outlook Express and Internet Explorer, to securely store a variety of secure and confidential data into the registry, such as Outlook Express passwords, SSL certificates, auto-complete fields (usernames and passwords to enter websites, etc…) and web forms data.
Company: Microsoft Corp.
System Process: Yes
Security Risk ( Virus/Trojan/Worm/Adware/Spyware ): No
Common Errors: N/A
(Credits to: http://www.liutilities.com/products/wintaskspro/processlibrary/pstores/)
Hope this help 8)
I wrote it already. Take win98 instalation disc. Find file win98_44.cab. There is pstores.exe inside, so unzip this file and put it into C:\windows\system. Now Outlook Express works fast and well.
Hi, Technical – you’re probably right in how the thread later developed, but at the time bassbag had asked if it was affecting other systems besides 98, and I answered accordingly.
Mike, you were right! I just want to say that the forum ‘teach’ us that the problem is on Windows 98. Your help is always wellcome 8)