Windows cannot open this file

Discussion in 'Malware Help (A Specialist Will Reply)' started by max38260, Jul 21, 2009.

  1. max38260

    max38260 Private E-2

    Hello, I'm Max from Tennessee. My computer was running great. (Windows XP on a Gateway) I've been running Auslogics Boostspeed and it as been doing a good job. 3/4 of my memory is unused and I have 2GB of RAM. I hit the update button and after the update my computer restarted. Since it came back up none of my desk top icons work or the control panel. My antivirus doesn't even show up in my taskbar anymore. I've tried to download many different antivirus and antispyware programs, after I tried to run 2 system restores with no help there, and all I get when the programs try to load is a message stating: Windows cannot open this file. I was lucky to have ya'll in my favorites to get in touch with you. My email will open from my start menue but not from the desktop. I've written Auslogics Boostspeed about but they haven't answered. I run avast antivirus. This is an older computer (about 6yrs old) but has been running fine up to now. I keep it cleaned and defragged, and ran a virus scan on it a few days ago with a good report. I am running Internet explorer 7 and have all the critical updates downloaded from Windows.....I did get Windows Defender to download and scan but it found nothing nor would it update. Will you please help with my situation, MaX////Thank you in advance for your help.
     
  2. chaslang

    chaslang MajorGeeks Admin - Master Malware Expert Staff Member

    Welcome to Major Geeks!

    If all you had done was update Auslogics Boostspeed and nothing else then odds are that you problems are not malware and you will have to deal with them to find out what happened. Registry cleaning is not something we highly recommend since they can sometimes result in major problems.

    If you want us to check for malware, we can do that but you will have to work thru the below and provide us the requested logs so we can get insight into your PC.


    Please follow the instructions in the READ & RUN ME FIRST link given futher down and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions.
    • If you have problems where no tools seem to run, please try following the steps given in the below and then continue on no matter what you find. You only need to try the TDSSserv steps if having problems getting scans in the Read & Run Me First. If TDSSserv is not found, just continue on with the READ & RUN ME.
    READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide
    • If something does not run, write down the info to explain to us later but keep on going.
    • Do not assume that because one step does not work that they all will not.

    • After completing the READ & RUN ME and attaching your logs, make sure that you tell us what problems still remain ( if any still do )!
    Helpful Notes:

    1. If you run into problems trying to run the READ & RUN ME or any of the scans in normal boot mode, you can run the steps in safe boot mode but make sure you tell us what you did later when you post logs. See the below if you do not know how to boot in safe mode:
    2. If you have problems downloading on the problem PC, download the tools and the manual updates for SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes and Spybot ( links are given in the READ & RUN ME) onto another PC and then burn to a CD. Then copy them to the problem PC. You will have to skip getting updates if (and only if) your internet connection does not work. Yes you could use a flash drive too but flash drives are writeable and infections can spread to them.
    3. If you cannot seem to login to an infected user account, try using a different user account (if you have one) in either normal or safe boot mode and running only SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes while logged into this other user account. Then reboot and see if you can log into the problem user account. If you can then run SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes, ComboFix and MGtools on the infected account as requested in the instructions.
    4. To avoid additional delay in getting a response, it is strongly advised that after completing the READ & RUN ME you also read this sticky:
    Any additional post is a bump which will add more delay. Once you attach the logs, your thread will be in the work queue and as stated our system works the oldest threads FIRST.
     

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