Can anyone help me please?

KevInChester

Ok, to get the shell to load instantly you'd need to go into the registry - this can be considered a techy thing, but if you click the right things it's not too bad By shell you should also have your desktop running (all icons etc)

At the command prompt: Regedit
Then go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\winlogon\Shell = explorer.exe

If the value is anything other than 'Shell = explorer.exe' that will be the problem, copy it down and post what it says.

Also check:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

You may also be able to add another user account which may well fix the corrupt registry settings automatically - only thing is if there is any trojan/viral residue it will still be present. Still at least this is some progress

balmk

babyemily wrote: »

He went onto a webpage to download a picture and the laptop stated it had 19 updates. The laptop would not work until the updates were done so he allowed it to update and thats when it started a warning sound and lots of critical errors.

Hi, didn't want to read and run - the helpful folks on here will sort you out. Just wanted to point out that this sounds like where the problem started, so when you are back up and running you can avoid a repeat of the problem.

There are some mean folks out there who will target people who don't have a great deal of technical knowledge by having websites which, as a matter of course, tell you that your computer is infected or that there are updates to download. They then install fake antivirus or trojans, causing you a world of bother hoping that you will then pay for them to remove them.

Hope it all comes right for you - worst case is that you will need to re-build, but hopefully the folks on here can talk you through it.

shakeitright

Where are you at now?

marleyboy

I am aware that a lot of (family fund) laptops had an issue where the virus software was flashing up essential software as virus's when they were not.

I would advise disabling avast and running updates, preferably deleting avast completely and installing something more reliable like Avira (which is free). It sounds like you are having the same issues as has been reported, as a brand new unused laptop, it is hardly likely to contain any virus's, but regardless these could be dealt with once your machine is operational.

Good luck

TakeThis

babyemily wrote: »

TakeThis there is a Windows Sticker on there not sure if its COA as I dont know what that means!

Details are:

Windows 7 Home Prem OA
SOFREP -144

Ok, Windows Home Premium 32bit.

Just checking a couple of other things. Don't know much about this brand.

babyemily

KevInChester wrote: »

Ok, to get the shell to load instantly you'd need to go into the registry - this can be considered a techy thing, but if you click the right things it's not too bad By shell you should also have your desktop running (all icons etc)

At the command prompt: Regedit
Then go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\winlogon\Shell = explorer.exe

If the value is anything other than 'Shell = explorer.exe' that will be the problem, copy it down and post what it says.

Also check:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

You may also be able to add another user account which may well fix the corrupt registry settings automatically - only thing is if there is any trojan/viral residue it will still be present. Still at least this is some progress

There is no icons its blank bar the recycling icon!!

babyemily

shakeitright wrote: »

Where are you at now?

Still the same I am a bit afraid to do anything although we are having to restart it as the battery died

KevInChester

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itprogeneral/thread/4266acd7-30d9-438e-89f6-28199d3f78de > Check the post from Colin Davies 1981, I'd wager this is what has happened to you.

I got this issue today but not sure what caused it to happen. In the end I worked out that all files had been set to Hidden and my folder view options switched back to not show hidden files.

Try the following:

1. Open an explorer window, hit Alt to bring up the toolbar.

2. Go into Tools> Folder options> View and set it to Show Hidden Files.

3. You should now see all your files/folders in C: drive again but they will be greyed out.

4. Select all files and folders, right click and select Properties.

5. Uncheck the Hidden attribute, choose Ok and apply to all files and sub folders.

Posted it here in case you can't access the site - sounds to me like a shell corruption issue.

babyemily

KevInChester wrote: »

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itprogeneral/thread/4266acd7-30d9-438e-89f6-28199d3f78de > Check the post from Colin Davies 1981, I'd wager this is what has happened to you.



Posted it here in case you can't access the site - sounds to me like a shell corruption issue.

Hmmm Sounds very similar! How will I open an explorer window?

KevInChester

Do what I said earlier at the command prompt type explorer, then when you've got the screen with the recycle bin on it press the Windows key + E - with a bit of luck you'll then get a window opening, that is the 'explorer file manager interface' Good luck.