Lost all explorer functions!

[Thyezer]

I rebooted my system last night and the majority of my icons have lost there normal pictures and replaced themselves with the icon that XP provides when it cannot identify a program. If I click on them...the "open with" screen appears and asks how should windows open these ".lks" files? I can explore my drives , but almost every file is the same way. I cannot select anything in the control panel.... does anyone have any ideas how to fix this?

Thanks!

 

[bcastner]

Malware, unless WinAMP has run amuck.

See faq608-4650

 

[Thyezer]

Whoa.... I neglected to mention that I installed Winamp maybe hours before this happened? Now what?

 

[Thyezer]

Bill-
I look at the FAQ you listed...but I cannot d/l anything as I cannot open it when it is completed. I tried to d/l all that the FAQ said...Windows asks what program to use to open them with?

I am doing an online virus scan right now...but I don't think that will fix it... Any other ideas?

 

[bygeek]

How about a System Restore to a date before your Winamp install?

 

[Thyezer]

i am trying a system restore ...now...10.9.8.7.6....will let you know!

 

[bcastner]

It is likely WinAMP is a coincidence.

Start with the simple:

. Have you tried a System Restore to previous to the WinAMP installation?

Now it gets harder:

You need to fix your file associations, and to do so you need a second computer with internet access that will allow you do download some repair tools.

Do you have such access? Moreover, would if the computer have access to a computer CD burner?

If even a floppy, a second computer would allow you to download and repair file associations for .EXE .LNK files:

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

And, as you may need it:

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_emerutils.htm

If you have access to a CD Burner with internet on a second machine, look at:

http://ubcd4win.com/index.htm

Check the site for the list of tools on the image. There are a lot of AV and other malware removal tools included.

 

[Thyezer]

I can't figure out how to run these programs? even on a floppy or cd...this computer won't recognize the .exe to run the needed programs? I hope that there is an answer to this?

 

[bcastner]

If even a floppy, a second computer would allow you to download and repair file associations for .EXE .LNK files:

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

 

[Thyezer]

i tried system restore, but no luck....I tried PE Builder and was able to run some of the fixes (i.e. reg files to fix the .exe and icon problems) once I rebooted...back to the messed up files. I did notice something though...before I could log in ...a box appeared over my log in area...it was empty but had an "OK" button on it...no way around it...had to select OK. The header of the screen had some foreign letters but then also some garbled letters also.... I tried 2 online virus scans with no results. SAFE mode does not change things either? any other suggestions...i'll try until I pass out

Thanks

 

[bcastner]

You now need to go to Phase II: follow exactly the instructions on a registry rebuild from here:

http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm

 

[bcastner]

And as you may possibly need Phase III of Phase II does not bring joy: do a repair/reinstallation of XP:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;315341

 

[Thyezer]

WELL...this is getting very odd.

I followed PHASE II and when the computer booted up...all was well...for about 2 minutes...then I realized that only some of the icons returned to usable. The rest stayed the same. So I thought I would go into control panel and uninstall winamp...etc.. I still could not access any icons in the control panel. I rebooted just a minute ago...and all icons except IE , Outlook, My computer, My Network, Trashcan, and my documents folder are bare...these I can select and they work just fine.... I cannot run or open the original .reg files that I d/l earlier in this post...What gives?

 

[bcastner]

Did you run the antivirus tools on the CD you created?

Since you have IE working, do at least the Trend Micro and Panda online scans if possible:

http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Scanners.htm

 

[Thyezer]

How would I go about getting my .exe files to be recognized.....I know the above posts show ehere to get the files...but my computer doesn't recognize them once they are d/l? Any idea how I can manually make those registry files execute?

 

[bcastner]

Do Phase III - a repair reinstallation of XP. There is little hope other than mounting the system volume as a slave on a secondary machine to repair this sort of malware infection.

 

[Thyezer]

One other thing...I just noticed that in "MY DOCUMNTS" all of my files are still there and the icons are correct (if they are from a WORD document...they look like the word document icon, etc...) Anyway, I can double click them nd the original program opens up and works. But, if I try START- ALL PROGRAMS- then try and select the Microsoft Word icon (Blanked out as before)...windows asks how to open it...and can't recognize any of the file types...

Weird huh?

 

[bcastner]

Not if malware has destroyed your file associations. By doing a repair reinstallation you will not lost your data or programs. You will lose service packs and Hotfixes.

But it gives you a fighting chance to rebuild the machine in 30 minutes without the issues you now face.

 

[Thyezer]

heck...only Sp and hot fixes...i'm all over it! If I post back in under an hour...all should be good...if you don't hear from me after a couple of days...call the Marines!!!

Thanks for your help Bill!

 

[Thyezer]

Well, I did a new install on the remaining space of my drive and it worked...of course I need to reinstall all my apps.... The repair never worked...i tried two times and both times it failed to even boot up. I now am going to rearrange my two drives and then reinstall XP on a clean one....Thanks for all the help!

Happy Thanksgiving!