Interesting problem with my parents' computer

vyle

My parents just called me for help because their PC has started acting oddly. When I went to look at it, it was exhibiting problems that a customer had at work, which I wasn't able to fix. I've googled the issues and haven't found anything useful, so thought I'd try here.

My Mum tells me that my Dad had a virus on the computer and got rid of it. Next time he started the computer, none of the programs in the system tray ran (and so AVG, zonealarm etc were not running) and furthermore, none of the desktop shortcuts work. If you doubleclick Firefox, for instance, it opens the "open wth" prompt, from which you can open firefox WITH firefox.

The same thing happens with items that are pinned to the taskbar.

Files will still open okay, just not programs. This even includes the add/remove programs and system restore functions.

When trying to open cmd.exe or msconfig.exe, one gets a file not found error box (I'm afraid I can't remember the file off the top fo my head).

The most peculiar thing is that I was able to open a new user account with admin privilages and that works fine, but from that user account I couldn't access system restore. I did, however, run a virus scan with avast while in safe mode and that gave the computer a clean bill of health.

I'm not really sure what to do, as I don't want to put them through a system restore, but I guess that's better than nothing. It seems odd I've encountered two computers in such a short space of time with the same problem, though, especially as there seems to be no hits on google about it.

spakkker

Try fix exe , the file association fix - http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

aliEnRIK

Do you know the name of the virus?

smic12

It could be when the virus was removed that the file infected was in the windows folder most likley in the system 32 folder and is affecting the explore.exe (the program that shows the display to the user).

My personal thought would be to backup the files onto a removale drive such as an external hardrisk or memory stick, then using the system recovery discs which come with the PC wipe the pc and reinstall windows then copy the files back.

Mike.

steve1980

smic12 wrote: »

It could be when the virus was removed that the file infected was in the windows folder most likley in the system 32 folder and is affecting the explore.exe (the program that shows the display to the user).

My personal thought would be to backup the files onto a removale drive such as an external hardrisk or memory stick, then using the system recovery discs which come with the PC wipe the pc and reinstall windows then copy the files back.

Mike.

This sounds like the obvious fix. Not a pleasent job but does sound like your system32 file is screwed

stilltheone

vyle wrote: »

My parents just called me for help because their PC has started acting oddly. When I went to look at it, it was exhibiting problems that a customer had at work, which I wasn't able to fix. I've googled the issues and haven't found anything useful, so thought I'd try here.

My Mum tells me that my Dad had a virus on the computer and got rid of it. Next time he started the computer, none of the programs in the system tray ran (and so AVG, zonealarm etc were not running) and furthermore, none of the desktop shortcuts work. If you doubleclick Firefox, for instance, it opens the "open wth" prompt, from which you can open firefox WITH firefox.

The same thing happens with items that are pinned to the taskbar.

Files will still open okay, just not programs. This even includes the add/remove programs and system restore functions.

When trying to open cmd.exe or msconfig.exe, one gets a file not found error box (I'm afraid I can't remember the file off the top fo my head).

The most peculiar thing is that I was able to open a new user account with admin privilages and that works fine, but from that user account I couldn't access system restore. I did, however, run a virus scan with avast while in safe mode and that gave the computer a clean bill of health.

I'm not really sure what to do, as I don't want to put them through a system restore, but I guess that's better than nothing. It seems odd I've encountered two computers in such a short space of time with the same problem, though, especially as there seems to be no hits on google about it.

I think that you mean Factory Restore.

You can use a repair/rescue disc to check or replace system files if necessary.

easyhost

yes only fix is a clean install i am afraid.

backup all necessary files to a removable drive such as an external hardrisk or memory stick and then use a recovery disc or use the OS disc that come with the computer..
expect up to 3hrs to compete this task

vyle

Just a thought (which i will try tomorrow) if the files are missing on one user area, but present on the other, surely I can just copy them into the relevant locations within that user area's files (which i can access as both accounts are admin ones) and get it working that way?

easyhost

vyle wrote: »

Just a thought (which i will try tomorrow) if the files are missing on one user area, but present on the other, surely I can just copy them into the relevant locations within that user area's files (which i can access as both accounts are admin ones) and get it working that way?

that may work, if it does then i also suggest you get a good internet security package and not just and anti virus package.

RussJK

Spakkker had it right the first time, the 'virus' just altered the registry association for executables.

Try the registry fix he suggested first, then run system restore. If the computer isn't Windows XP, then use the following instead:

Windows 7: http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/file-asso-fixes-for-windows-7/
Windows Vista: http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/File-association-fixes-for-Windows-Vista.html

(probably they are the same between Vista and 7, I haven't checked TBH)

vyle

I'm going to my parents' today, so I'll try all these things out. Stupidly my dad paid for AVG, despite the fact that it kept failing to load properly and dropping updates BEFORE he paid for it, and he's reluctant to change. I have no idea why he paid for it in the first place tbh.

I'll see if i can convince them to get something more comprehensive though. I use avast, with spybot for backup and I've not had a virus in a good five years or so.