I had to do a repair install of Windows XP and now XP
does not recognize any program that I load . . . I can't
even launch some of the control panel options or the My
Computer icon on the desktop.
".ink" or ".lnk"? Files with the *.LNK extension (small L can look like an
i but it isn't) are shortcut files.
Did programs get moved? If yes, create new shortcuts to replace the broken
ones. If no, your *.LNK association is damaged. This can happen from
registry corruption. It can also be damage done by a virus, trojan or worm.
To fix the LNK association, use the REG download for LNK files on Doug
Knox's page of file association fixes:
(
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm)
You mention in another post not being able to run an EXE file either - same
advice as above. Doug has an EXE fix on his site too.
Since these particular file types are damaged and you've lost access to a
tool that would help you to remove a virus, this raises the likelihood that
this is what has caused the damage.
1) Be sure run a full system scan with an up to date antivirus program. If
you think you have a virus and that your AV program may be damaged from it,
use one of the online scanners:
http://security.symantec.com/default.asp?productid=symhome&langid=ie&venid=sym
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/
http://www.avp.ru/remoteviruschk.html
http://www3.ca.com/virusinfo/virusscan.aspx
If a virus is detected by name, look it up in the online in one of the
virus encyclopedias maintained by the various antivirus vendors. This is
important as there are some repairs the antivirus program can't do and you
will need to perform extra steps to finish the cleanup.
2) Many of these things will block the running of MSCONFIG, Task Manager
and the Registry Editor -thus making the removal of the intrusion more
difficult. Since the system tools are blocked by name, renaming their
executables is a workaround. Example: Rename regedit.exe to regedit.com
Or you can run the tool created by MVP Doug Knox that creates a "backup
set" of those three programs for you:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_emerutils.htm