Most Programs will not Execute

[Guest mabowden@hotmail.com]

I have a PC running XP Home, SP2. It had many viruses and spyware on

it which have now been cleaned up. But after booting and logging in

as an administrator, most programs will not load. On icons such as

Internet Explorer, Symantec AntiVirus, or Command prompt for example,

clicking the icon results in the pop-up message "Choose the program

you want to use to open this file", and a list of registered programs

is displayed. Essentially, any .EXE file seems to have this program.

 

But oddly enough, I can right-click most of these same programs,

choose "Run As" and execute the program that way. For example, right-

clicking Start - All Programs - Accessories - Command Prompt and

choosing "Run As" and selecting the currently logged in user, but de-

selecting "Protect my computer and data from unauthorized program

activity" will allow the program to run. Any thoughts?

[Guest Malke]

Re: Most Programs will not Execute

 

mabowden@hotmail.com wrote:

> I have a PC running XP Home, SP2. It had many viruses and spyware on

> it which have now been cleaned up. But after booting and logging in

> as an administrator, most programs will not load. On icons such as

> Internet Explorer, Symantec AntiVirus, or Command prompt for example,

> clicking the icon results in the pop-up message "Choose the program

> you want to use to open this file", and a list of registered programs

> is displayed. Essentially, any .EXE file seems to have this program.

>

> But oddly enough, I can right-click most of these same programs,

> choose "Run As" and execute the program that way. For example, right-

> clicking Start - All Programs - Accessories - Command Prompt and

> choosing "Run As" and selecting the currently logged in user, but de-

> selecting "Protect my computer and data from unauthorized program

> activity" will allow the program to run. Any thoughts?

 

Either the computer is not virus/malware-free and/or the operating system

was too badly damaged by the infections.

 

1. Back up your data.

2. Try a Repair Install.

3. If the Repair Install doesn't work, do a Clean Install of Windows.

 

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm - Repair Install

How-To

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows - What

you will need on-hand

 

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

[Guest Ken Blake, MVP]

Re: Most Programs will not Execute

 

On Wed, 16 Jul 2008 06:20:00 -0700 (PDT), mabowden@hotmail.com wrote:

> I have a PC running XP Home, SP2. It had many viruses and spyware on

> it which have now been cleaned up.

 

 

If you truly had *many* viruses and spyware on it, I would not be so

sure that it's cleaned up.

 

My guess is that you are still infected. Any time you have a massively

infected system like that, I would not trust anything less than a

clean reinstallation of Windows.

 

 

> But after booting and logging in

> as an administrator, most programs will not load. On icons such as

> Internet Explorer, Symantec AntiVirus, or Command prompt for example,

> clicking the icon results in the pop-up message "Choose the program

> you want to use to open this file", and a list of registered programs

> is displayed. Essentially, any .EXE file seems to have this program.

>

> But oddly enough, I can right-click most of these same programs,

> choose "Run As" and execute the program that way. For example, right-

> clicking Start - All Programs - Accessories - Command Prompt and

> choosing "Run As" and selecting the currently logged in user, but de-

> selecting "Protect my computer and data from unauthorized program

> activity" will allow the program to run. Any thoughts?

 

--

Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Guest mabowden@hotmail.com]

Re: Most Programs will not Execute

 

> If you truly had *many* viruses and spyware on it, I would not be so

> sure that it's cleaned up.

>

> My guess is that you are still infected. Any time you have a massively

> infected system like that, I would not trust anything less than a

> clean reinstallation of Windows.

 

I have run three scans with Symantec AV and on the third pass got a

clean scan. Some of the other weird problems have disappeared since

then. The one I am experiencing now is the main thing I notice.

However, when I right-click the desktop and try to choose

"Properties", I get the Windows Pop-up message, "C:\WINNT

\System32\rundll32.exe" - "Application Not Found". (This computer

appears to be an upgrade from an older version, hence the WINNT

folder.) I suspect these two issues are related. Thanks for the

responses thus far.

[Guest Elmo]

Re: Most Programs will not Execute

 

mabowden@hotmail.com wrote:

> I have a PC running XP Home, SP2. It had many viruses and spyware on

> it which have now been cleaned up. But after booting and logging in

> as an administrator, most programs will not load. On icons such as

> Internet Explorer, Symantec AntiVirus, or Command prompt for example,

> clicking the icon results in the pop-up message "Choose the program

> you want to use to open this file", and a list of registered programs

> is displayed. Essentially, any .EXE file seems to have this program.

>

> But oddly enough, I can right-click most of these same programs,

> choose "Run As" and execute the program that way. For example, right-

> clicking Start - All Programs - Accessories - Command Prompt and

> choosing "Run As" and selecting the currently logged in user, but de-

> selecting "Protect my computer and data from unauthorized program

> activity" will allow the program to run. Any thoughts?

 

Fix the associations for .LNK, and .EXE, listed here:

 

Fix File Associations.

http://dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

 

You might have to download to another machine, then move to the damaged

machine.

 

--

Joe =o)