Can't launch My computer or Control Panel

2 nights ago Internet Explorer would not launch through any means. When I clicked on the shortcut or menu or exe file, it acted like it was working and then nothing. I was able to use the SBC Yahoo browser installed on the system to get to the internet. It immediately wanted to do some updates since I hadn't ever used it, so I let it. For whatever reason, after doing those updates, IE started working again. However, now My Computer, Windows Explorer, any shortcut to a folder on the hard drive (including all my tools for detecting malware from the forum instructions) and the Control Panel will not launch when activated. I honestly don't know where to look or what else to put here to help better describe the problem. Any help on what to do would be appreciated.

THANKS!

M

 

I'd recommend the following, just in case: READ & RUN ME FIRST Before Asking for Support -> http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35407

 

I've done that in the past and tried to access those tools on my C drive (the tools folder I was referring to), but can't access them. I would have to re-downloading every tool to the desktop with no guarantee it will run, but I guess if that is the only option then I'll do it again.

 

Ok - I re-downloaded all the tools and ran all the scans I could. I could not ever get bitdefender or panda to scan in any mode - IE just sat there for 20 minutes acting like it was going to load and then I got "not responding". The others produced logs but I am unable to attach anything. I also discovered when trying to follow the "how to post attachments link", thinking I had done something wrong, that it and any of the other links in the read and run me post also don't work and lock up IE. The good news is that in the course of going back and forth into safe mode and the few scans I was able to run that Windows explorer and Control Panel appear to be working again. I could certainly post the logs in the body of a post, but I wanted to check with someone before I did that. The counterspy and newfiles logs are not very long, but the runkey file is rather long. I was not able to link to and run HiJackThis and I uninstalled it after the last time I had to run it about 2 years ago.

I have not done step 8, because I'm not sure if I'm done yet or not.

Any further suggestions would be appreciated!

M