Corrupted files/blank icons

hi, all the files within C:\Windows\System32\drivers (including all files within each folder in the drivers folder) appear to be corrupted (they have that generic blank icon and won't open). I'm wondering whether it's most likely that a virus/malware has done this or any other explanation?

 

Hi mate , welcome to MG ' s , check your system with avira rescue cd

http://forum.avira.com/wbb/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=82163

you must create this from healthy computer though !! :wave

 

www.tweaking.com/. It may help in some way. Look it up at the Major and read the description,,it helped me ,,along with other things. It's also good to save it for a rainy day!

 

Thanks! The only other computer I have access to is my girlfriends work laptop and it didn't work because of IT disabled privileges. Is there no point trying to create it on this pc at all?

 

Hello, Splonds.

You have not posted anything about your system, specifically, which version of Windows are you using?

I'm only familiar with Win XP, but I looked at the files in c:\windows\system32\drivers, with Windows Explorer,
to see what type of icons you might be referring to.

Most of the files are of type .SYS with about a dozen .DLL files.
Those so called "blank" icons are not actually blank and they are perfectly fine.
Also, you can not Open those files, anyway.
As the name of the folder indicates, they are Drivers of some sort.
What did you expect to see?

IMHO, best you leave that stuff alone, else you may create a REAL problem that's very difficult to diagnose or repair.

The folder C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc is the location of the HOSTS file, IF you have one, which you may not.

 

I'm also using XP and I was just hoping to view the hosts file but it's all sorted now (not sure why but I realised that I didn't have SP3 so I've just installed that and after the restart I was able to open the file in notepad).

Thanks for your help.

 

Very Good!

Getting SP3 installed is very important.
Glad it went well without any problems.

If you are interested, here are some sources for HOSTS files:

The one I have been using is here:
SomeoneWhoCares.org

Here are a couple of others:
MVPS.org: Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File

HP Hosts