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I can't open folders or My Computer.

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by KevinLao, 2007/07/07.

  1. 2007/07/07
    KevinLao

    KevinLao Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi, I'm new to this forum so before posting my question, I did a little bit of searching to see if this problem was already mentioned and/or solved.

    So basically, every time I double click to open a folder explorer.exe disappears from my task list. All my icons on my desktop disappears along with the task bar; only to reappear seconds later without the folder being opened.

    It turns out that andrewkeil (see link) had the same problem I have but I didn't mess with the services.msc or whatever.

    http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=43304&highlight=explorer.exe

    I downloaded and ran Doug Knox's folder opening fix but that didn't work.

    I ran my up-to-date Panda Anti-Virus and there were no viruses found; problem still reoccurred.

    I rebooted under safe mode and ran the Panda AV, no viruses found, still didn't fix it.

    However, under safe mode, the folders open without a problem.

    So does anyone know the solution or even the problem to begin with? Any help or input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
     
    KevinLao,
    #1
  2. 2007/07/07
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Kevin - Welcome to the Board :)

    Is this a recent problem or ongoing?
    There are two immediate options here depending on your answer to the first question. If it is a recent problem it may be resolved by running System Restore.

    As the folders open normally in Safe Mode when only basic drivers are loaded there would seem to be a conflict with something running at start up. Have you recently installed any new software and, if so, did your problem coincide with that?

    If you do not fancy trying System Restore I suggest you disable all startup items in msconfig - preferred route.

    Boot into Safe Mode and go Start > Run > type msconfig > OK and go to the Startup tab. Disable (uncheck) all items there. Reboot to normal mode and try to open a folder. If you are successful re-enable the startup items one by one, rebooting and trying to open a folder after each change until the problem reappears. You have then found the culprit :)

    If you are still unable to open a folder after reinstating all the startup items (unlikely) then we must assume that your computer is infected with a trojan or similar. In this case ....

    Please download HijackThis through Quicklinks in my signature and save it to a folder on your hard drive, say C:\HJT - not to the Desktop or a temporary location. When entries are fixed with HJT a backup is made to the folder from which HJT is run and this must be in a permanent location.

    Open the folder in which you placed HJT and double click on hijackthis.exe and select Scan and save a log file - this will be saved in the folder from which you ran HJT - post the log here.
     
    PeteC,
    #2


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  4. 2007/07/08
    KevinLao

    KevinLao Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks, Pete.

    I still get the same problem when I disable everything on the startup tab.

    I cringe at the thought of a system restore because I have a bad habit of forgetting to backup the most important things.

    This led me to download HijackThis and I ran the program. The following is the log file saved from the scan.

    Also, this is a recent problem and it happened after I downloaded a free online game called Gunbound. I uninstalled the program and deleted any folders associated with the game.

    Thanks again for all your help.
     
    KevinLao,
    #3
  5. 2007/07/09
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    I see nothing of concern in your HJT log so another check is required to look for nasties that HJT does not see .....

    Please download and install the 30 day trial version of AVG Anti-Spyware 7.5 formerly known as Ewido

    Run the program either from the Desktop icon if you chose to install one or from Start > Programs. On the main screen select the Update icon followed by the "Update now" link and click on the Start Update button. The update will start and a progress bar will show the updates being installed.

    When the update has completed select the Scanner icon at the top of the window and click on the Settings tab.

    On the Settings screen set the default action under 'How to Act' to Quarantine.

    Under Reports select Automatically generate report after every scan and deselect Only if threats were found and under 'What to scan' select Scan every file.

    Close AVG Anti-spyware. Do not run a scan just yet.

    Boot into Safe Mode and log onto your usual account.
    Do not open any other windows or programs while AVG Anti-spyware is scanning as this may interfere with the scanning proccess.

    Start AVG Anti-spyware by double-clicking the icon on your desktop or from Start > Programs and select the Scanner icon at the top of the window followed by the Scan tab and click on Complete System Scan. The scanning process will start and may take some time.

    When the scan is complete if any infections were detected you will prompted for an action - select Apply all actions.

    Then select the Reports icon at the top of the window and click on the Save report as button in the lower left hand corner of the screen and save it as a text file (be sure to remember where you saved that file, this is important).

    Close AVG Anti Spyware and reboot your system back into Normal Mode and post the scan report here.
     
    PeteC,
    #4
  6. 2007/07/09
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    PeteC,
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  7. 2007/07/09
    Arie

    Arie Administrator Administrator Staff

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    Arie,
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  8. 2007/07/11
    KevinLao

    KevinLao Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thanks Pete!

    After downloading the AVG Anti-Spyware and scanning under safemode, everything seems to be working fine. I can't believe AVG picked it up when Panda didn't. What a waste of fifty dollars.

    I think my problem were 3 rootkits(?) on my computer, I think I forgot to uncheck something because they didn't let me save the results.
     
    KevinLao,
    #7
  9. 2007/07/11
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    AVG AntiSpyware is not an antivirus like Panda - thus it is looking for other baddies. Glad to hear it came up trumps and resolved your problem. Thanks for the update.
     
    PeteC,
    #8

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