Can't open programs

I tried to update Norton Antivirus and it wouldn't let me. Then when I rebooted I am now unable to open any programs. I get an hourglass and it goes away and nothing opens.

I am running Windows XP.

I have run Spybot, Ad Aware SE, Trend Micro, CWShredder, trojan hunter, AVG to name a few. I have cleaned everything it has told me to clean. I have rebooted after each clean. I am at my wits end.

I have no problems running internet explorer.

Any ideas?

 

First, please follow as many of the steps you can listed in this Sticky thread
READ ME FIRST BEFORE ASKING FOR SUPPORT: Basic Spyware, Trojan And Virus Removal


After doing ALL of the above if you still have a problem:

Make sure you have HijackThis 1.99.1 and follow the guidelines on where to install it and how to post a log as an ATTACHMENT.
All instructions are covered in the sticky thread NO HIJACK THIS LOG FILES BEFORE READING THIS: HJT Tutorial & LOG File Posting


Now post a Hijack This log as an ATTACHMENT to your message (Do NOT copy/paste the log into your post). Please close unnecessary running programs before you run HijackThis. You must close each of the following: your web browser, e-mail client, instant messenger, and programs like notepad, wordpad, MS Word etc.

DO NOT run Hijack This from the Desktop, a temp folder, or a sub-folder of C:\Documents and Settings, or choose to run it directly from the downloaded ZIP file. Place it in its own folder, for example C:\Program Files\HJT

 

I have gone to the area "do not post until you have read this."

I did # 1 and skipped #2. I tried to do #3 but windows explorer will not open. Should I go on to step #4? I am unable to enable viewing of hidden files since I can't open windows explorer.

Thank you for your help.

 

Yes, procede to #4 and do as much as possible. Once you have completed everything you can attach a current HJT log from normal mode.

 

I ran the scans that I could. I was unable to run Trend Micro or Synmantec Security check in safe mode or normal mode. I ran all other scans.

I deleted any spyware found. No trojan found.

Thank you.

 

Tiv

Your HJT is way out of date and is not in it's own folder. Place in a folder such as C:\Program Files\HJT. Follow the HJT procedure and resubmit your log for BJ. Also be sure to close all browsers including IE when running HJT.

Make sure you have HijackThis 1.99.1 and follow the guidelines on where to install it and how to post a log as an attachment. This is all covered in the sticky thread NO HIJACK THIS LOG FILES BEFORE READING THIS: HJT Tutorial & LOG File Posting

 

Sorry didn't realize I had an old hijack this file.

Hope I did it right this time. If not then I guess I don't understand the explanation in the sticky thread. I am not the greatest at this.

Thank you for your patience.

 

Are you familiar with these 2 programs?


Go ahead and do another scan with HijackThis and Check the Boxes for the following:

Make sure All Browser Windows are Closed when you Click FIX.


O2 - BHO: Popup Manager - {08E74C67-99A6-45C7-94DA-A397A8FD8082} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {5C8B2A36-3DB1-42A4-A3CB-D426709BBFEB} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {B6B803AC-304D-4255-9EE8-8EC87B2917FA} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {BDF3E430-B101-42AD-A544-FADC6B084872} - (no file)

O16 - DPF: {11260943-421B-11D0-8EAC-0000C07D88CF} - http://www.ipix.com/download/ipixx.cab
O16 - DPF: {92CA8ACC-4E99-4A2A-93F1-B2C5CADC8613} (NMInstall Control) - http://a14.g.akamai.net/f/14/7141/1d/www.nielsennetpanel.com/netmeter4_5/nminsta ll_en_4.52.30.0_SILENT_2.cab
O16 - DPF: {C68F9105-04FD-4B48-B6CC-2A076F711C35} (HpodPCFileCtrl2 Class) - file://E:\MEMDISC\ALBUM_A\VIEW\PLUGIN\HPODPCFC.CAB
O16 - DPF: {CA034DCC-A580-4333-B52F-15F98C42E04C} (Downloader Class) - http://www.stopzilla.com/_download/Auto_Installer/dwnldr.cab


Again, make sure All Browser Windows are Closed when you Click FIX.


NEXT:
Run CCleaner and Spybot S&D and have Spybot fix what it finds.
Note: Dont forget to update Spybot S&D by selecting "Search For Updates"


Then, as an added precaution, Go to Start > Run and type: cleanmgr and then click OK. Make sure the boxes for these are checked:
Temporary Files
Temporary Internet Files
Recycle Bin

And Click OK.


Reboot, Scan with HijackThis and attach the new log.
Let me know of any problems you may have encountered with the above instructions and also let me know how things are running now.

You log is not that bad, what problems are you experiencing?

 

I have done what was suggested.

I recognize Homescan Internet Transporter I know what that is. I am not sure about NetRatingsNetmeter. They could be connected.

I am unable to open any programs, downloaded or loaded by disk. My destop icon are all changed to an "explorer page" They look like a piece of paper with windows explorer "e" icon on it. When I try to open any programs I get the hourglass and then it disappears and nothing opens. I am not able to run the printer either. All I can do is use the internet.

I had no problems running the programs you suggested.

 

One thing I notice is that your running AVG & Norton. This is not recommended as they will cause conflicts on your machine. You need to uninstall one of the two.

Try the attached file, right click and select extract all.

Once extracted click the file and select install.

Reboot and see if problem remains.

 

I tried to install the "unhook exec" All I get is a notepad file. I unzipped it and now I have a folder on my desktop labeled "unhook exec" I clicked on install it asks me to open so I clicked on open and all I get is a notepad file.

I rebooted and I still have no access to my programs.

This all started when I tried to install Norton Antivirus 2005. I was already running Norton and when I tried to install it stated that I had to uninstall the old version. I did that (so I thought) but was unable to install 2005.

 

Lets try this!

Please download Rnav & Rnis.

These tools will cleanup Norton AntiVirus & Norton Internet Security up to version 2003 Professional. These tools will remove everything relating to Norton.

This tool will cleanup any leftovers of Norton AntiVirus. When running this tool it will prompt you when you run it "Would you like to exit now and try this" click NO. Now, Select Norton AntiVirus 2003/Norton AntiVirus 2003 Professional and click OK.

Remove every version on this tool so it will get everything!

Note: You will be prompted to reboot when this tool is complete, please do so that settings can be applied.


After this, reboot and see if problems is resolved!

 

I ran the two programs clicked on each version and restarted after each one. I still have the same problem but my computer did load my dsl much quicker. It was taking longer to load when these problems started. This was the only change I saw. I am still unable to open programs.

Thank you for your persistent help with this.

 

Do you have your Windows XP disk?

 

Yes I do.

 

Do you know how to do a reinstall REPAIR?

 

I might, it's an option when I load the disk correct? It asks do I want to install or repair?

 

I tried to do a repair. it won't allow me to.

a screen pops up and says The recovery console provides......
Type exit to quit recovery and restart the computer.

1:c:\winnt
which windows intallation would you like to log onto
(to cancel press enter)
(I selected 1 then this came up)

type the administrator password.


The above is what message I get. I am the administrator. It won't allow me access.

any suggestions? I tried to do a repair before (before I started everything that was suggested in this thread). I didn't have any problems doing a repair then. The screen described above didn't come up before.

 

Not the Recovery Console!

Boot from the CD and press enter when the first screen appears.

Then procede until you get to the SECOND "R" for Repair Install.

 

I ran the windows repair and I still can't open any programs. One thing did change from before. Majorgeeks website remembered my signin name and password. Before I had to type it in each time.

 

Never mind the storing of username and password is no longer there.

I did notice that my programs that are on my desktop have an extension of .ink

Does that tell you anything?

 

Have you tried System File Checker?

You must have administrator privileges. First, open a command prompt and then type sfc /scannow. You may be prompted to insert your Windows CD. This may help, but I am not sure.

I have asked one of our more knowledgeable members for his opinion on your problem, so hang in there until he can check in. Heck, BJ may even get you fixed up before then!

Best luck

PP

 

Lets get a small recap here.

Would you go so far to say, all .exe files have a .lnk extension?

Have you tried safe mode yet?

 

Yes, I looked in start-programs and all programs seem to have .ink extensions. I have tried safe mode and programs don't open there either.

Ran sfc/scannow after loading disk "windows file protection" came up then went away after scanning.

 

Ok, don't run off. I need to find my thumb drive w/ a fix on it, at least for the .lnk problem.

 

I'll be here.......

 

Please unzip and run this. Reboot and report back any changes.

 

I can't thank you enough. My programs are back and running.

One more question. Windows seems to be taking a long time to load. This just started today with the last 3 or 4 reboots.

Any ideas or suggestions? Related to same problem?

 

Well, if you did a repair install, as previously suggested, and had SP2 installed before, but not now...

It kicks the ever living crap out of the OS. Reinstalling SP2 and the rest of the critical windows updates should cure ya.

 

False alarm

Programs won't open. Icons are back but programs wont open. The hourglass appears and disappears and the program won't open. Some do, some don't.

 

bah!

Ok. Try it in Safe Mode now that you have fixed the lnk problem.

I'll be back in a few minutes.

 

I rebooted into safe mode and the programs worked with one exception.

I then rebooted to normal mode and the programs all worked except the one.

When it loads it states:

could not load your drive information.
please run the drive selector (????????)

I don't know how they started working after I tried them in safe mode. I rebooted once again and they still work.

I thank you for your wisdom.

I will run sp2.

any ideas on the drive selector problem?

 

Not right off the bat, no. What program gave you that message?

As for Safe Mode, thats a little trick that they teach MS techs when all else fails.

Partially, because nothing 3rd party is running. That, and somewhere int he registry, it resets certain values to their defaults and can "miraculously" fix things. I have other tricks like that up my sleave for other things, but they are pretty obscure.

Don't ask me what those settings are...I'm far too lazy to pull out regmon and other tools to see.

 

Never mind I found out how to do it.

Once again I thank you very much for your time.

I hope this stays this way. I will obviously stay away from Norton Antivirus. Any recommendations on a good virus program?

 

For a good virus program?

Yes, Norton!

For a good antivirus, I would reccomend Avast, from this site

 

Cute.

Yes, antivirus. Thank you I will install it.

Have a great day.

 

You, too!