Virus or Error?

S

studio

New Member
Im a+ and 3com cert. so i have somewhat of an idea of whats going on.

My GF's computer had this same issue. Everything from startup loading to icons are all now a "windows cannot open this file" icon. Including when you click on it, it goes to the select a program to run this or search online.

The ONLY software that will run is office.

Even downloading new software it, once unzipped it will go to the screen mentioned above.

Hers was just random, mine happened, after running folding@home at 100% all night.

I searched high and low forever and came up short.

Virus? (i doubt it) or error? and how to fix?

THANKS!!!!!!!
 
could be a virus. Anyway, first thing I would do is update your virus definitions and run it in safe mode. From there, if that doesnt work, use adaware se, spybot, and microsoft anti spware, and update and run those. You may also want to check your running proccesses, make sure nothing fishy is running in there.
 
lynx6200 said:
could be a virus. Anyway, first thing I would do is update your virus definitions and run it in safe mode. From there, if that doesnt work, use adaware se, spybot, and microsoft anti spware, and update and run those. You may also want to check your running proccesses, make sure nothing fishy is running in there.
Click to expand...

Hey thanks, i just tried safe mode. Not a single program will load.

When i had my GF's computer, i tried online virus scans with nothing coming up. Online scans is all i can do since no software will load.
 
QUESTIONS 101
Sounds like a virus, but could also be messed up/missing file associations. If the program icons are shortcuts on the desktop make sure they're pointing in the right place/make sure the file is still there. Which online virus scanner did you use?
 
Lord AnthraX said:
QUESTIONS 101
Sounds like a virus, but could also be messed up/missing file associations. If the program icons are shortcuts on the desktop make sure they're pointing in the right place/make sure the file is still there. Which online virus scanner did you use?
Click to expand...


oh there pointed right, EVERY SINGLE file on my computer is like this now. Even ran windows update (from online, the shortcut doesnt work) and downloaded the milliscious (sp?) software download, and low and behold it didnt run once it downloaded.

I used house something? it found 40 files this time, all which were "java bytever" which i found out would not cause this problem but helps other distruction software in?

The weird thing is it acts the same way even in safe mode. Cant run hijack, adware, etc.... NOTHING!! errr

Thanks so much for the help guys and gals!! Greatly appreciated!!!

Studio

*Edit*
dell 5100, windows xp sp2 and all updates.
 
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Housecall hit the nail on the head. There WAS a virus on your machine (did Housecall say it deleted it?) and it could just be putting itself back on (usually randomly named .exe in the system folder). Best bet (and prolly easiest if you don't know the EXACT virus) would be to backup your data onto a slave drive and format the main one. Make sure though you scan all the files you back up.

P.s. Passed to Byte and Buzz
 
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It said they were deleted along with the launcher. But nothing changed, even after rebooting.

I think its time to format, its been getting cluttered anyways and im really anal about this machine that is my life.

Sad part is its a laptop which doesnt even have an extra bay for a batt let alone a slave drive.

Not too upset, windows firewall+adware pro has keep me clean for almost a year now.

Thanks again for all your help!! and sorry I wasnt too sure which forum to post this under.
 
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