My computer won't open most applications

Hi all,

I am having a problem where my computer won't open certain applications.

For example:
- I use MS Word as my default Outlook mail editor. If I try to compose a message in outlook, it freezes b/c it can't open word.
- Adobe reader also will not open
- I can't open pictures b/c my picture viewer application won't open

I thought this was somewhat similar to this guy's problem: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=57267 , so I did the basic steps.

I believe the problem started when I was going throgh a large PowerPoint presentation on my computer (12M - not super-large, but large enough). While going through that, PowerPoint froze.

Since then, I've tried restoring to previous checkpoints (i'm using windows XP). I restored to one a few days ago, then again to one more than a week ago, but I still get this problem.

I've also made sure to free up some hard drive space (my 60g hard drive was almost full, so i freed up about 5G just in case that was an issue).

Here's what else I have done:
1) All the basic computer cleanup things. I think it is a RAM problem (i have 1.5G of RAM) as when I try to open an application, I get a spike up to my full 1.5G of RAM. Is this normal? I've attached a screenshot of it. (and then the application doesn't open). (The only thing not completely finished is the defrag, running now).

On the other hand, maybe this doesn't indicate a problem as it seems that all applications when they open take up to my full 1.5G of RAM. (even IE, for example, which opens). But some open, and some don't. (IE and Outlook open, whereas word and my adobe products don't.) Excel is fine. Powerpoint seems ok. (it at least opens)

2) I did all of the spyware stuff. I have attached the file that you guys request to be attached. I did not attach the AVlog as I had no spyware found with it, and Spybot would not open (the root of my problems is that applications don't run, and i guess that includes spybot.). I do not think spyware/malware is the issue.

3) I have not run a repair from the XP disk. I once did that a while ago when a harddrive failed and it made it unbootable, so i'm somewhat afraid of that and also think the problem is something on the RAM side and so i'm doubtful that will help. If a restore from the disk the next recommended step, I can do it. Will it delete my current files/settings?

If anyone has any recommendations so I can finally open word, adobe, and write emails in Outlook, etc that would be awesome.

Do you think it's a RAM issue or what might fix it?

 

I'm fairly certain this is not a malware problem, and even though your reasoning is correct, I don't think it's a RAM problem. If it was, I think that everything would be giving you problems, as everything must go thru the RAM and if it was faulty, everything would be locking or crashing or just acting really weird. You've already taken some helpful steps: cleaning out some junk, general maintenance, defrag.... for the free programs (like Adobe Reader), I would uninstall and reinstall them. I would also run chkdsk from the recovery console (here's more info about chkdsk http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265/en-us and recovery console info http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654/en-us and here too http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058/en-us). Running the System File Checker is a good idea too. Put your XP disc in the drive and click Exit when the big blue window opens. Click Start > Run and type cmd and press Enter. At the command prompt, type sfc /purgecache and press Enter. Let that run (it takes maybe a minute or two). Then type sfc /scannow and press Enter. This can take some time, so be patient. If prompted to install your CD, click Retry. If this comes up repeatedly, and you have more than one CD drive, put the XP CD in the other drive. Once it's done, reboot the PC and see if it helped.

NOTE- there is a space between the "sfc" and the "/" in the commands above.

 

Oh yeah.... try running Dial-A-Fix. It may not help, but it certainly can't hurt anything. I've had DAF fix some fairly perpexing problems. Download it free from here:
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4899.html
Check all the boxes in the Registration Center and click Go! It looks like an intimidating and dangerous program, but it's 100% safe and cannot do any damage to your PC as it doesn't install or delete anything; it simply registers files that have become "unlinked" from where they should be....

 

Here is an update (the suggestions so far have not resolved the issue)

- I ran chkdsk from the start->run menu. Nothing was found wrong.
- I ran the purgecache, scannow, and Dial-a-Fix
- I also ran linkfile.zip that Adrynalyne posted in the other thread (http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=57267)
- I have not reinstalled programs as it's several programs that are having this problem so i don't think that a 1 by 1 fix will be helpful and the problem isn't in the individual applications but somewhere else.
- I have not run an XP system restore . Will these set my computer back and uninstall applications?

Any ideas as to what may be wrong / how I could fix it? I am still unable to open most word docs, adobe files, images, etc.

 

Oops - I meant I have done a system restore - I actually did that at the beginning (restored first to a few days ago, then a week ago, and I was still experiencing the problem).

But, I have not done the system repair with the XP CD that you do before you boot up your computer.

 

Just a follow-up to this problem: I ran a hard disc test from the recovery console, and it turns out my hard drive was corrupted in some way. Dell is sending me a new hard drive.

So apparently if you can't open several applications, it means that your harddrive may be broken/malfunctioning.

I also ran the chkdsk from the boot menu but it didn't fix the issue.

I did try reinstalling MS Office so that i could use it, but the reinstallation didn't go through completely (it stalled) so I had to cancel it. I can use some MS Office programs but not others.

I'm not looking forward to booting everything back up on my hard drive, but it looks like that's what i'll have to do.