Can't Open System32\Drivers folder

July 30, 2007

I cannot open the windows\system32\drivers folder.

If I click on it with Windows Explorer I get the following error: "Refers

to a location that is not available ..."

If I right click on the folder and select properties the Size and Size on

Disk show as 0 bytes and that it contains 0 files and 0 folders.

I also cannot open the folder in Safe Mode.

Yet, if I boot WindowsXP using Bart PE on my Flash Drive I can open the

folder and see all the driver files it contains.

If I boot with DOS and select the folder I get the following message:

"Path

not found"

I seem to have the correct permissions - I am in the Admin Group

Booting from the Flash Drive I was able to rename the Drivers folder and

then copy its contents to a newly created Drivers folder.

But when I remove the Flash Drive and reboot the new Drivers folder can't

be

opened, but the old renamed Drivers folder can.

I have also tried to use UNLOCKER. It shows three processes - 2 are shown

as

winlogon.exe and one is svchost.exe, but

clicking the unlock button does not unlock the folder.

I've run scans for Viruses, Spyware and Rootkits and everything appears to

be clean.

I've tried to use the CACLS command to reset the permissions but that

doesn't work either.

I've run HijackThis and that looks ok too (but I'm no expert at

interpreting

the output log file).

Finally, aside from the locked drivers folder my PC seems to be operating

normally.

I would appreciate any help or suggestions.

At this point I'm ready to give up.

Pete

I'm protected by SpamBrave

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