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Question

Cannot access programs with desktop icons

Jan 10, 2013 10:41AM PST

Here are my symptoms and the actions I've tried:

Windows XP Pro SP3 with all automatic updates applied.
IE8 with all updates applied.
Windows Security Essentials as virus software with automatic updates.
Two years + with no problems.
Recently ran Cleanup with compression (ran a LOOOONG time) which finished normally. Continued working and shutdown. When I rebooted the next morning, I have found the following symptoms:
1. Cannot launch programs from desktop shortcuts
2. Quick Launch is gone from desktop toolbar and when I add it back it disappears again after restart
3. Search function does not work from Start Menu or on Windows Explorer
4. IE8 will not start (starts, but immediately ends)
5. I must start all programs by accessing Program Files and doing OPEN on the requested programs
6. Google Chrome will work when accessed via Program Files/Open
7. Outlook will not recognize Word as my editor (tells me it is not installed)
8. Malwarebytes will not install
9. Malwarebytes Chameleon will not work (will not launch DOS prompt as expected on any selection)
10. Malwarebytes Rootkit finds nothing
11. Microsoft security Essentials full scan finds nothing
12. Doug Knox XP restore of file associations has no effect
13. Several registry updates for repairing EXE problems and LNK problems has no effect
14. Reinstallation and update of IE8 has no effect
15. Comparing numerous registry entries with a working XP pc shows no differnces
16. Resetting IE8 and other settings to default has no effect.
17. Tried all of this in safe mode as well
18. Set up a new user id and recreated shortcuts with no effect
19. Searched the web diligently for any possible solutions for two days.
20. Tried suggested .LNK fixes

I have absolutely no clue what to do next. I am a volunteer with a non-profit organization and really NEED my Outlook to work. I know I'm back-level on my technology, but I can't do anything about it right now.

Can anyone help me, pleeeeeease!!

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Here're some things to try
Jan 10, 2013 11:25AM PST

It sounds like you could have a virus or other malware. Get your antivirus program up to date and boot into Safe Mode. Note that some viruses can hide themselves from your antivirus program in normal mode, so you really need to scan in Safe Mode. To get into Safe Mode when you first power up, hit F8 about once a second until you get the menu and select Safe Mode. Then run a full system scan.
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Microsoft has suggestions and offerings at
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/how-do-I-remove-a-computer-virus
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MS forum moderator Keith has some suggestions along this line at
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-performance/windows-explorer-has-stopped-working/6ab02526-5071-4dcc-895f-d90202bad8b3
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If that fixes it, fine. If not, use System Restore to go back to a date prior to the beginning of the problem. To run System Restore, click Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> System Restore. Click the box that says Show more restore points.
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You can check for corrupted system files. Open an administrator command prompt and run SFC if the above doesn't help. Click START, then type CMD in the search box, right-click CMD.EXE and click Run as administrator. Then from the command prompt type sfc /scannow.
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Finally if all else fails, you can check the rather cryptic system event log. To do that click Start -> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Event Viewer. Once in Event Viewer click on the system log and scroll through the entries looking for those flagged "error" to see if you can find hints as to where the problem could be.
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When you get your system back in good working order, I urge you to back your system up to an external hard drive and make regular periodic updates to it.
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I hope this helps. Good luck.

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Ran Microsoft Safety Scanner
Jan 10, 2013 10:12PM PST

I started Microsoft Safety Scanner over eight hours ago and it is still running (almost 2 million files scanned). It has found nothing so far. Should I let it continue or try something else?

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Re: 2 million files
Jan 10, 2013 10:22PM PST

Well, how many files do you have on your system?

From the command prompt run chkdsk on all your disks. It will report the number of files in the summary. And possibly it will report errors.

On my c:-drive (with Windows 7) I've got 130.180 files (and 0 errors). So 2 million files is quite a lot. That's why I said it might report errors.

Kees

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Number of files
Jan 11, 2013 3:06AM PST

It looked like it was expanding and testing everything in all the CAB files. Chkdsk shows far fewer files.

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Running Bitdefender from bootable CD
Jan 11, 2013 3:12AM PST

I am running Bitdefender from a bootable CD at present.

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Answer
Re: doesn't work
Jan 10, 2013 7:38PM PST

What is "Cleanup with compression"? And why that compression?

If the suggestions by wpgwpg above don't help, I'm afraid you're facing a clean install of Windows XP.

Kees

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cleanup
Jan 10, 2013 10:08PM PST

I checked Compress Old Files when I ran a disk cleanup from Accessories/System Tools

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Scans etc.
Jan 10, 2013 10:58PM PST

When you ran scans, etc. and especially scans for malware, did you run in SAFE MODE WITH NETWORKING??Not just SAFE MODE...If you did and had no results, I'd start reloading Windows from scratch.

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Answer
ran in safe mode with networking
Jan 11, 2013 3:06AM PST

safe mode with networking

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Answer
It's rare but it may be worth trying.
Jan 11, 2013 3:26AM PST
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Answer
probably isn't this...
Mar 4, 2013 2:32AM PST

This doesn't explain all of your symptoms, but the first few remind me of a "joke" someone played on me once, a while ago. He used alt-printscreen to take a snapshot of my desktop, set the picture to be my wallpaper, then moved all the desktop icons into a folder. None of the icons worked, of course, since they were just part of the background picture.