Re: desktop icons and start bar gone

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

satinless2 wrote:
I have searched through the posts here, and attempted many of the
solutions that I found, but my problem is slightly different.

I have a desktop picture and mouse only. Control/Alt-Delete brings up
Task Manager. When I type anything into the Run area, it opens up the
screen to choose a program to open it up with, as if it did not
recognise any programs...

It will not boot in safe mode of any type; it runs the scripting, then
stalls, then reboots XP normally to the same effect.. I think I need to
run chkdsk /r from many posts, but cannot get to a command prompt...

Any ideas?

Most likely, malware has damaged the association for executables. Try a
few of these:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Line 324 (r-h column) You cannot Start a Program with an .exe Extension

Download the .exe fix from this site and somehow get it to run on the
machine.
Fix File Associations.
http://dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

This should get rid of any malware, and hopefully fix the .exe
association too:

Burn BitDefender, or another program listed at the link below, to a CD
(using a working machine) and test the infected machine with it.
BitDefender also has a Rootkit checker on the Linux Desktop; run it if
you think that's the problem:

http://www.techmixer.com/free-bootable-antivirus-rescue-cds-download-list/

Download the executable rather than the .iso image, if one is
available.. it prompts you to insert a CD and burns the file, no problem.

Then run these:

Malwarebytes© Corporation
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam/program/mbam-setup.exe

SuperAntispyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html

--
Joe =o)
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: .exe files wont initialize-on desktop or through start button
    ... Click File, Import and select the .exe reg fix that you've d/loaded and unzipped, and merge it. ... If you're still unable to launch REGEDIT.EXE, try this from Command Prompt ... Windows XP Shell/User ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support)
  • Re: Red square, blue triangle and green circle Icon
    ... Exactly the same fix, but replace .exe with .pdf ... "Chris" wrote in message ... it is not just a problem with .exe files. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6.browser)
  • Re: Shortcuts are now .lnk and will not open
    ... combination with not being able to open most .exe files like cmd.exe or regedit.exe. ... I was able to fix the .exe issue by renaming regedit.exe to regedit.com in order to access the registry. ... I've also researched newsgroups and google pretty extensively and everything that comes up is the usual fixing of the .lnk and lnkfile registry entries. ...
    (microsoft.public.win2000.general)
  • Re: Runtime version overwrites full access
    ... This was the only occurrence of the exe on his pc. ... register itself as the default program for mdb files. ... I've found this article from MS regarding this problem and how to fix it. ...
    (comp.databases.ms-access)
  • Re: .Net executable shows fine for some, as DOS .exe for others
    ... No, your fix sounds accurate and makes sense, however I don't understand why ... same issue when I deployed web apps -- even precompiled ones. ... Once I moved the .exe to a new folder where the users DID have write ...
    (microsoft.public.dotnet.general)