My Computer icon not in start menu.

stephan08611 · Nov 17, 2009

I recently ran a scan with DR. Web and quarantined 2 suspicious files untiol I could determine what they were. I sent both files to Virus Total and they all said it was clean [except for Dr. Web, again]. Turned out they belong to Verizon and aid in them helping me if I have issues with my DSL.
I tried to restore them but now I find there's no Restore feature in Dr. Web quarantine. I followed the path for one file and returned that, but the second file [ A0007977.exe. belongs in C:\System Volume Information\_restore{5B3F46ED-9734-4C70-B483-D5388D9DBCFF}\RP18\A0007977.exe. I can't find System Volume Information. Microsoft says to go to Start, My Computer, Tools, yada yada but there is no My Computer entry in my start menu and the My Computer icon on my desk top has no TOOLS tab. Any suggestions [in laymans terms] on how I can get this file back where it belongs or how I can get My Computer on my Start menu? OS Windows XP Home Edition. Thank you.

iwunderdownunder · Nov 17, 2009

G'day stephan08611

system volume information is where your computer stores your restore points that the computer creates when ever you start up the pc or when you receive updates from Microsoft. they comprise of duplicates of files and programs and configuration settings of your system so that if you are having operational issues with your computer you can use the system restore function and go back to a date when your computer was running well.to locate the system volume information files double left click on my computer on your desk top the do the same to your local c drive.then in the window that appears at the top locate and click on the tools tab from the drop down menu select folder options.in the window box that appears click on the view tab then scroll down the list untill you see hide protected operating files (recommended).uncheck the ticked box then click on apply then on ok.now in the local disk c window you will be able to locate the system volume information folder.once you are finished with the folder make sure you follow these steps and return the folder view back to its original setting as you don't want to accidentally delete some thing that is important.good luck.

stephan08611 · Nov 20, 2009

Sory for getting back to you solate, personal stuff. Anyway, I located the System Volume Information folder, its a lighter color then the rest and won't open. I know this is probably a really basic step but I don't know it. Thanx again if you can assist me.

cake · Nov 20, 2009

stephan08611 said: ↑

Sory for getting back to you solate, personal stuff. Anyway, I located the System Volume Information folder, its a lighter color then the rest and won't open. I know this is probably a really basic step but I don't know it. Thanx again if you can assist me.
Click to expand...

if you're under XP (i am & actually asked this question, before, although the answer isn't in my thread), restart in safe mode & change permissions under admin signon.

it's long, but this came from microsoft (don't have a direct link cuz i didn't include it when i copy/pasted into notepad & saved it). hope this helps.

Prerequisites
Log on as an administrator
You must be logged on to Windows as an administrator in order to change security permissions for a file or a folder. If the computer is your personal computer, you are likely already logged on with an administrator account. If the computer is part of a network at work, you might have to ask the system administrator for help. To verify that you are logged on to Windows with a user account that is a computer administrator, visit the following Microsoft Web site:http://support.microsoft.com/gp/admin

Start Windows XP Home Edition in safe mode
If you are running Windows XP Home Edition, you must start the computer in safe mode, and then log on with an account that has administrative rights in order to access the Security tab. Access to the Security tab is required in order to change security permission. If you are running Windows XP Professional, you do not have to start the computer in safe mode. For more information about how to start Windows XP in safe mode, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
304449 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/) How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP

Disable Simple File Sharing in Windows XP Professional
If you are using Windows XP Professional, you must disable Simple File Sharing. By default, Windows XP Professional uses Simple File Sharing when it is not joined to a domain. For additional information about how to do this, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
307874 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307874/ ) How to disable simplified sharing and set permissions on a shared folder in Windows XP
Back to the top
To take ownership of a file or a folder
How to take ownership of a file
You must have ownership of a protected file in order to access it. If another user has restricted access and you are the computer administrator, you can access the file by taking ownership.

To take ownership of a file, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the file that you want to take ownership of, and then click Properties.
2. Click the Security tab, and then click OK on the Security message (if one appears).
3. Click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab.
4. In the Name list, click Administrator, or click the Administrators group, and then click OK.

The administrator or the administrators group now owns the file.

To change the permissions on the file that you now own, follow these steps:

1. Click Add.
2. In the Enter the object names to select (examples) list, type the user or group account that you want to have access to the file. For example, type Administrator.
3. Click OK.
4. In the Group or user names list, click the account that you want, and then select the check boxes of the permissions that you want to assign that user.
5. When you are finished assigning permissions, click OK.
6. You can now access the file.

How to take ownership of a folder
You must have ownership of a protected folder in order to access it. If another user has restricted access and you are the computer administrator, you can access the folder by taking ownership.

To take ownership of a folder, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the folder that you want to take ownership of, and then click Properties.
2. Click the Security tab, and then click OK on the Security message (if one appears).
3. Click Advanced, and then click the Owner tab.
4. In the Name list, click your user name, or click Administrator if you are logged in as Administrator, or click the Administrators group. If you want to take ownership of the contents of the folder, select the Replace owner on subcontainers and objects check box.
5. Click OK, and then click Yes when you receive the following message:
You do not have permission to read the contents of directory folder name. Do you want to replace the directory permissions with permissions granting you Full Control?
All permissions will be replaced if you click Yes.

Note folder name is the name of the folder that you want to take ownership of.
6. Click OK, and then reapply the permissions and security settings that you want for the folder and its contents.
Click to expand...

stephan08611 · Nov 20, 2009

Nothing comes easy for me when it comes to computers, lol. I went to the Microsoft link to verify that I was administrator and that worked, I am. I then says, 'click here to continue' but nothing opens.

cake · Nov 20, 2009

after verifying, at the MS link, that you're the admin, you need to do this next part:

Start Windows XP Home Edition in safe mode
If you are running Windows XP Home Edition, you must start the computer in safe mode, and then log on with an account that has administrative rights in order to access the Security tab. Access to the Security tab is required in order to change security permission. If you are running Windows XP Professional, you do not have to start the computer in safe mode. For more information about how to start Windows XP in safe mode, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
304449 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449/)
Click to expand...

read some of what i originally posted with a grain of salt because i just copy/pasted & may have deleted some links/info

to get to safe mode, restart your pc then start pressing F8 as soon as you see the screen with your BIOS, vendor & processor (intel or amd) info on it. then use the arrow keys to scroll down to Safe Mode.

hrlow2 · Nov 20, 2009

If the folder in question is a lighter color, you must have Hidden Files and Folders set to be shown in Folder Options.

cake · Nov 20, 2009

stephan08611 said: ↑

but there is no My Computer entry in my start menu and the My Computer icon on my desk top has no TOOLS tab. Any suggestions [in laymans terms] on how I can get this file back where it belongs or how I can get My Computer on my Start menu? OS Windows XP Home Edition. Thank you.
Click to expand...

missed this part.

right click on your "Start" button > click on Properties > click on the Start Menu tab > click on Customize > click on the Advanced tab > scroll down & click the radio button for Display as a link > click OK twice.

next, click on the Start button > right click on My Computer > click on Show on Desktop

if you're looking for Tools (although not sure what you're looking for here), open any folder, including My Computer. Tools is in the Menu bar at the top. Click on Tools and then Folder Options. look at the options on the General & View tabs for what you might want...like hide/unhide Hidden Folders (on the View tab).

stephan08611 · Nov 20, 2009

Thanks CAKE, but the off-colored file didn't even appear until I checked 'show hidden folders' and unchecked 'hide protected operating files [recommended] so its not hidden anymore. Now for my second dumb question for the day. When I get to the 'change permissions', what do I change them too? theres a few options. And thanks for all the leg work you guys did.

cake · Nov 21, 2009

stephan08611 said: ↑

Thanks CAKE, but the off-colored file didn't even appear until I checked 'show hidden folders' and unchecked 'hide protected operating files [recommended] so its not hidden anymore. Now for my second dumb question for the day. When I get to the 'change permissions', what do I change them too? theres a few options. And thanks for all the leg work you guys did.
Click to expand...

i'm just a dumb ole girl, LOL and don't have this memorized (i'd need to go actually do it, first). i can't right now, so hopefully you can wait until one of the "smart" ones to comes along to help you out. i'm kinda doing 4 things at once, and if i do one more my head will explode. roflmao

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