Post Virus removal can't see file or folder names

Hi,

I just finished removing a viral infection of my computer via the malware removal forum. TimW suggested that I ask here for help in restoring file and folder names.

I can see icons and folders on my desktop, as well as in the Explorer file window, but none of them have visible names. If I rt click and check properties, the names are still there, just not otherwise visible.

Other residual problems include:

1) the search function no longer works, either from Start or from within the Explorer file window.

2) Windows Update no longer works, although the icon is visible in the task bar. And the Microsoft update site is blocked.

Thank you for your help.

 

Thanks for the assistance. I am running Vista Home Premium on a Dell Studio 1737.

 

See if this works.

Click Computer. Click your C:\ drive to highlight it. In the upper left click Organize>Folder and Search Options. Then click the View tab. At the very top of the Advanced Settings Window, click Files and Folders then click Apply then Okay.

If that does not work, go back to the View tab and press Restore Defaults>Apply>Okay.

 

Thanks tgell, but that didn't help. Here is some added information that might offer some clues as to what is going on.

When I click on Computer, folder names are visible within the "Folder" drop down menu on the left, but not in the larger window to the right.

With "list" or "detail" view, the only category listed at the top of the window on the right, is "Address". Not having another computer that is running Vista, I don't know if that is normal and should normally reveal the folder and file names.

Also icon, folder, and file names are not visible on the desktop.

 

I am not sure what is going on as you have no names across the entire drive and my fix did not work. There are fixes for no names if it occurs in a certain folder. Does this fix work for one of your folders?

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/wind...s-explorer-in-vista-stops-showing-file-names/

Edit: If the above did not work try the following.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/70819-windows-explorer-folder-view-settings.html

If this did not work hopefully plodr will jump in with additional suggestions.

 

I tried both; neither worked. Any other ideas at this point? Thanks.

 

I came across one solution that said to hold down the shift key while double clicking the C:\ drive. Then open C:\ again.

http://www.vistax64.com/vista-general/145370-problem-explorer-not-showing-file-folder-names.html

 

Tried it; didn't work either.

In as much as my issue is post-viral, I'm guessing the problem and therefore the solution, is probably found in the minutia of the Vista/Windows software files/registry (missing or altered system file), and therefor not easily fixable or amenable to more common solutions.

I've done my own googling, etc, and haven't really found much concerning this particular post-viral problem. There has been lots written on hidden folders and files, but not so much on missing names. So maybe this a new variant of some kind, the solution for which has yet to be worked out. Thanks for your efforts thus far.

 

If you create a new user profile, are the file names and folder names still missing?

If you have a Vista Install disk, try doing a sfc/scannow from cmd.

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/ht/sfc-scannow.htm

 

Along with deactivating my search functions and Windows update, I am unable to access my User Account.

I ran the SFC anyway. It said it corrected some corrupt files but couldn't correct others. I will need to check to see if I have a disk but I suspect not as Dell does not usually provide one, as I seem to recall, but I will check. I have the log for the SFC scan and can upload it if you think it may be of help.

 

I don't think the logs would help me. You can't create an account while in safe mode? When you say you cannot access your user account, what account are you using or are you posting from another computer?

The deactivated search functions and Windows update was due to the Malware Removal and not using sfc /scannow, correct?

 

I'm sorry but I wasn't clear. I can log into my existing user account without problem. What I meant is I can not open the UAC to create a new or different user account, so I can't change my profile or create a new user account to see if that will correct the problem.

The issue with the deactivated search and update were the result of the initial infection.

I found my Dell disc but as I suspected, it is not a Windows installation disk but an OEM Dell re-installation disk. It does offer system recover options but I don't see anything that would appear to be used for correcting corrupted files. The options are:

1) start-up repair
2) system restore
3) Windows complete PC restore (from backup)

At this point, I am wondering if I would not be better off paying for a Windows 7 upgrade.

 

First, I would like to ask if you are willing to reset the computer back to a factory state after backing up all of your data. I believe Dell may have a recovery partition on the computer. Or you could reinstall with the Dell re-installation disk.

If not we can try to repair Windows Update with the following Utility. Download here.

http://www.carifred.com/uvk/help/

Then go to UVK fixes from the welcome screen and double click on the "Fix and enable Windows update" fix in the scroll window to run. Does this fix the update issue?

Also in the Fixit Windows there is a toggle to disable/enable UAC. See if disabling UAC from that drop down box will allow you access to create an account.

 

UVK is a pretty amazing utility, but unfortunately, it was not able to fix either my UAC or update functions.

I might end up reinstalling Vista, but I have never been fond of it. I 'grew up' with XP which I still use on most of my computers in my office, and use Windows 7 at home, so I would really have to decide if I wanted to stick with Vista.

The truth of the matter is that my computer still functions in the way that I use it most, which is one particular software program, and I have access to the internet when I need it, so except for the trouble caused by not being able to see file names, I can still use my computer perfectly well for what I use it for 99% of the time.

I have been hoping there was an 'easy' fix to my issues but apparently there isn't. Unless you have some other ideas, I think I may try another forum, which isn't to say that I don't appreciate all your efforts because I do.

 

Sorry I could not be of further help. Good Luck. And, keep us posted on your progress.

Edit: Just for fun, you may want to look at booting to a live Ubuntu CD and see how you like that.

 

Thanks for all the help tgell. I do appreciate your time and efforts, especially given the timing, New Year's Eve and Day If I happen to find a solution, I'll let you know.

 

I'm unsure about the UAC problem. If you type cmd in the Search box and right click cmd.exe in the search results then choose Run as Administrator. Can you get the command windows open with Admin rights?

If so try typing control userpasswords and hitting >enter> to see if you can then Manage Accounts and create a new user.

 

Thanks sach2 and tgell for the assistance.

I managed to fix most of my problems while attempting to correct the search issue. I decided to work on the error message, "Search failed to initialize". That took me to the Microsoft instructions for fixing the search function, at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932989#LetMeFixItMyselfAlways. Basically, it instructed me to delete the current indexing and to re-index. I rebooted after that, and found that not only was the search function now working, the names of the icons, folders, and files were also now visible. Windows update also works again.

I don't know enough about computers to know why the re-indexing fixed my other problems as well, just glad it did. I suppose it is also possible that some other step I have taking recently may also be responsible, but none of the other things I did, mainly using the UVK, seemed to help at the time I used it. So it may be a bit more complicated than having simply re-indexed.

Maybe you can help me with the one remaining issue that I am aware of. At some point in all of this, the icon in the task bar that indicates the internet connection status began displaying a large red "X"; yet I still have internet connectivity.

I am able to open the network and sharing center viewing pane but it shows "unknown" connection. The windows network diagnostics can not find any problem with my connection. If I try to click on any of the "Tasks" or "See also" items listed on the left side of the Network Sharing Center viewing pane, nothing happens, so there is some kind of residual 'disconnect' there. Any ideas on this one? Thanks again.

 

Nice job finding the solution, and thanks for the feedback. Go into services and look for Network Location Awareness Service. It should be started and set to Automatic. sach2 will probably jump in here also with some ideas.

 

Hi Aviknox and tgell,

First, thanks for posting your solution to the missing names. It is good to know that a corrupted index could possibly be involved. You and tgell had exhausted all the Vista fixes I had come across and I really think it might have been a Vista-only problem.

I really don't experiment with networking at all. Beyond the built-in troubleshooter that you already ran, I don't know enough to be helpful. Tgell can definitely give you better advice than I could. I'll read a few threads on "unknown connection" and let you guys know if anything looks pertinent.

 

When I checked the Network Local Connection Service it was on Automatic and running, so that doesn't seem to be the issue. Any other ideas? I am researching the "Server executions failed" message displaying when I rt click the internet connection icon in the task bar, and also displayed in the Network and Sharing Center viewing pane. I'll let you know if that leads to a fix.

 

Problem solved! Here is the link to the fix. http://forums.techarena.in/windows-vista-network/790161.htm . What I had to do was create a local group setting which had gotten removed at some point. My Network and Sharing Center seems to be working fine now and all the Tasks links work as well. Yeah!!

 

Nice Work! Thanks for the feedback. I am sure this fix will help other people in the future.