Some folders and programs won't launch

[Sherry]

I've installed and uninstalled a number of softwares in
the last 24 hours. All of a sudden, I'm having problems
with some shortcuts on the desktop and applications in the
start menu that won't launch. I get the arrow like they
are launching, then nothing. When I restart, I get at
least one instance of having to end "proxy desktop".

I used a registry cleaner to remove remnants of the trial
softwares. What now?

 

[Chuck]

I've installed and uninstalled a number of softwares in
the last 24 hours. All of a sudden, I'm having problems
with some shortcuts on the desktop and applications in the
start menu that won't launch. I get the arrow like they
are launching, then nothing. When I restart, I get at
least one instance of having to end "proxy desktop".

I used a registry cleaner to remove remnants of the trial
softwares. What now?

Sherry,

If you are suspect hostile code as part of your problem, HijackThis
and Spybot S&D (both free), and advice from SWI Forums may help.
Start with this article, which contains full instructions:
http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?showtopic=5187

Cheers,

Chuck
I hate spam - PLEASE get rid of the spam before emailing me!
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Guest]

Ad-aware picks up nothing. From the START menu, I can
launch most any program very quickly. If I click on
Control Panel, My Network Places, My Documents, My
Computer, etc. -- no launch. Very strange.

Sherry

 

[David Candy]

What are the programs that don't start then?

 

[Guest]

I can't launch My Computer, My Network Places, Control
panel, etc. from the start menu.

I've found a few other things as I continue to dig. In
task manager, I have two instances of explorer running.
I've tried ending them both and then launching the
explorer again and the problem is reproduced.

Also, if I create a new user and log in as the new user, I
CAN launch from the start menu.

Does this narrow down the problem at all?
--Sherry

 

[David Candy]

Read and do
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;310560&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Tortoise CVS has been known to cause this.

 

[Chuck]

Ad-aware picks up nothing. From the START menu, I can
launch most any program very quickly. If I click on
Control Panel, My Network Places, My Documents, My
Computer, etc. -- no launch. Very strange.

Sherry

Sherry,

Ad-Aware doesn't pick up everything. You also need to use HijackThis
and Spybot. They're all free. You have nothing to lose but time.

Cheers,

Chuck
I hate spam - PLEASE get rid of the spam before emailing me!
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Guest]

I've already done that. Disabled everything in the last
two tabs and restarted--no help. Restarted in Diagnostic
mode--no help. Restarted in SafeMode--didn't help.

I haven't downloaded Tortoise CVS and just checked to see
if there are any files with cvs in the name on my computer-
-none.

 

[David Candy]

In Folder Options - View turn off Rerstore Folder Windows At Logon. What happens.

If you have Pro type
tasklist >"%userprofile%\desktop\tasklist.txt"

a file will appear on the desktop.

 

[Guest]

It is already unchecked.

 

[Guest]

David and Chuck:

Thanks for your help. It appears my computer has been
hijacked by a harvard medical student. Harvard IT is
working on it.

Thanks again.

 

[Chuck]

David and Chuck:

Thanks for your help. It appears my computer has been
hijacked by a harvard medical student. Harvard IT is
working on it.

Thanks again.

Sherry,

Thanks for the update. If you feel like posting details, so we can
better help more victims like you in the future, please feel free to
do so after this is resolved.

Cheers,


Chuck
I hate spam - PLEASE get rid of the spam before emailing me!
Paranoia comes from experience - and is not necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Guest]

i read somewhere that clay aikins and steven segal would be great together cause clay sings like a girl and segal runs like one you need to get over yourself;