Major problems

I am new here and not real computer savvy so I will try to describe my problems as best I can:

1 Internet explorer and other programs will not open, when you try to open them the 'open with' window comes up. This also happens with uninstall software in the control panel. Firefox seems to work ok.

2 I backed up all my files to disk and was going to reformat the hard drive and reinstall windows, however trying to follow the instructions to do this, when I go to 'computer management' then 'storage' it says "there are no items to show in this view"

3 I was able to do a system restore in safe mode but it would not let me go back to previous months so the restore point that I used is probably not before the problems started

4 When I put the reinstallation disc in it loads and the menu screen comes up but does not respond

This is a Dell computer.

I don't know where to go from here.

 

You need to boot from that installation disk. To do so, you may first need to access the BIOS and put boot from CD/DVD first. You didn't mention your Dell model so follow the method from here;

http://michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

Also, you may have a recovery partiition, any such message on boot up?

What OS are you running? It sounds like your file associations are corrupt, but a fresh install will fix this.

Didn't understand your question #2. :wave:wave:wave

 

Operating system is Windows XP Home.

I did not see any message about 'recovery partition'

As far as #2 goes, I have instructions to Format a Hard Drive. It says right click on 'my computer' and select 'manage'. A new window titled 'computer management' comes up. It then says to select 'storage' from the left hand side by clicking it once, then select 'disk management (local)' from the right side by double clicking it. Here is the problem, on the right side it says "there are no items to show in this view"

It would be nice if I can fix this without reformatting the drive

I have to run out for a while but when I get back I will click on the link you posted and see what I can do.

Thanks, Rich

 

Let's at least do some investigation before jumping to a reinstallation, no? These problems may be solvable without blowing everything away!

Can you describe how you try to open these programs? I'm trying to determine if your shortcuts have corrupted.

If you were clicking on the main executable, there shouldn't be a problem, as Windows doesn't need to know which program to run the file in, it IS the program to run.

However, if you are using a shortcut, and getting this problem, I would suspect that the shortcut isn't actually pointing at the executable, and instead at a file that does not have an association.

If you are clicking on an icon on your desktop, or quicklaunch, or start menu, you are using a shortcut. Can you right-click the one you use, select 'Properties' and then post a screenshot of the dialog that appears?

Absolutely fantastic that you've backed up your files. :clap We can format and reinstall if we need to, but two problems with the steps you're taking here:

1. The 'Removable Storage' section of computer management is for just that; removable storage like optical drives, USB sticks, etc. This does NOT include internal hard drives. You need to go to the 'Disk Management' section for that.

2. You cannot format your Windows drive while windows is running. This request doesn't make sense to the computer. You asked to erase everything, including the program doing the erasing. As brandypeppy mentioned, you need to boot from something other than your system hard drive to erase your system hard drive.

As brandypeppy mentioned, there should be a recovery partition, and that will allow us to restore the computer to exactly how it was off the shelf, but I've never seen it actually called 'Recovery Partition'. When you FIRST power on the machine, it should give a list of buttons to press for various options. (Ex. press [this button] for setup, press [that button] for boot menu) It may not read exactly as we say it will, because each manufacturer is different, so can you post what options ARE available to you?

In any case, I think this step is premature, with luck we can fix your machine without having to wipe it clean.

You're probably right here, but In a worse scenario, if you shortcuts are getting hijacked, it may indicate malware, and the system restore files are usually targeted with malware, making them unsafe to use.

Again, I would suggest that we investigate your shortcuts first, before we jump to any conclusions.

Once more, you will need to configure the computer to boot from this instead of your hard drive, but again, this is too soon to do.

==========================================================
Some questions:

1. Do you keep Windows up-to-date?
2. What security applications do you run? Are they up to date?
3. Is your computer performing (in terms of speed) as you expect it to?

 

To Mada_Milty

I was attempting to open the programs from shortcuts, however after reading your post I tried using the program list from the start menu with the same results. As I said, the 'open with' screen even comes up when I try to use add/remove programs in the control panel.
I tried to do a print screen with the directions here but Paint will not open (same problem)

Some questions:

1. Do you keep Windows up-to-date? Not as well as I should
2. What security applications do you run? Are they up to date? McAfee, yes it updates regularly
3. Is your computer performing (in terms of speed) as you expect it to? It is slow

 

Hmmm... it is really sounding like your shortcuts have been hijacked. Either they are not pointing at the executable files that they should be, or the executable they do point to has been altered.

I'll post the properties of my Paint shortcut. Can you confirm that your shortcut settings match?

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b73/miltonsnail/paint_shortcut.gif

 

Yes, that matches my properties window

 

Yikes... can you navigate to c:\windows\system32 and confirm that you have a mspaint.exe file in this directory?

I am starting to strongly suspect a malware infection. It seems Microsoft programs have been targeted (IE and paint fail while Firefox is fine). If that is the case, you may need to either start a new thread in the Malware Removal forum and let the experts there help you. (Be sure to include a link to this thread)

Alternatively, you could reinstall...

But again, let's look at the actual executable. If it is there, scanning it with an online file scanner isn't out of line.

 

I looked at the properties for several program shortcuts on the start menu and found something unusual under the general tab. I don't know if this matters

Paint created: Sunday, July 29, 2007, 10:41:32 AM
Modified: Monday, March 01, 2010, 2:00:15 AM

IE created:Sunday, February 28, 2010, 10:48:46 AM
Modified:Sunday, February 28, 2010, 10:48:48 AM

word pad created: Sunday, July 29, 2007, 10:41:32 AM
Modified:Sunday, July 29, 2007, 10:41:32 AM

System restore created: Sunday, July 29, 2007, 10:44:12 AM
Modified: Monday, March 01, 2010, 2:00:20 AM

I tunes created: Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 4:50:49 PM
Modified: Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 4:50:49 PM

Pop up stopper created: Wednesday, August 01, 2007, 7:29:14 PM
Modified: Saturday, February 16, 2008, 7:10:08 AM

 

I do not see mspaint.exe in the system32 folder

 

I did a file search and it found 3

MSPAINT.EXE in folder C:\1386 (this is is blue?)

mspaint.exe in folder C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32

mspaint.exe in folder C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386

 

Alright! There IS a mspaint.exe in your c:\windows\system32 directory. I would recommend quickly running it through the online file scanner I linked above, and if it comes back clean, then try double-clicking the program.

What happens?

 

The file came back clean. I typed the file name in RUN and the 'open with' window still came up

 

Update:
I decided to reinstall windows, now here is the latest problem. I can only get as far as the license agreement. Here it prompts you to hit F8 to agree or esc not agree. When I hit the F8 key nothing happens. All the other keys respond-arrow keys, page up/down, esc etc. I tried 3 times with the same result. I am stumped, is this machine possessed????

 

FIXED!!!
I was able to reinstall windows and all is well, lightning fast! I don't know why I could not get past the license agreement before but I was using a wireless keyboard so I took a shot and hooked a wired keyboard up and was able to get the installation done. I had a little trouble loading the drivers from the Dell disc but got through it.

Thanks to Mada_Milty and Brandypreppy for your help.