File Commander May Be Causing Virus.

Hi Everyone
A user on McAfee suggested I come here with my very unique problem.

I have a Compaq Evo desktop, 2000 windows professional, I recently bought from the mail order company, Heartland, via their computer vendor called Computer Express from Brooklyn, New York. No manual or back-up discs were included.

My husband downloaded a file manager program called File Commander. It worked fine for a while, but then all of a sudden, the majority of the files on my computer - games, programs - had the logo FC next to them and when I clicked on them, it brought me straight to file commander. File Commander also would load 21 times when I turned the computer on. Only my After Dark games and Internet Explorer are able to be used right now.


Is anyone familiar with File Commander? We are thinking this may be a virus. Unfortunately, I cannot download anything right now because it automatically turns into a FC file and it cannot be accessed. None of my .exe files can be accessed at this point. I went to an online scanner to check for viruses and it did not detect anything.

In addition to this, some of the essential files that were required to start the machine somehow got lost and we could not get the machine to start up correctly. My husband ran the recovery program on the hard drive which thankfully took care of that. However, now none of the controls in the control panel will work except for the administrative tools. He did some moving around of files and now the machine cannot access any of the .exe files.

I am so upset about this - I have only had my computer for 3 months. All I wanted to do with it was play games and access the Internet. Now it's totally trashed.

If anyone can help, I would be so grateful!

 

I wouldn't suspect a malware problem. File Commander may have become corrupted. Has your husband tried removing File Commander? I can't see the advantage of installing File Commander on a Win2K PC just used for normal surfing and game playing.

 

It was not my idea to put File Commander on the machine. He uses it, too, and says he has to have some sort of file manager for him to work on it.

He says he deleted it, but files I download still have that FC logo on it.

 

Okay, we think we deleted File Commander.
However, downloads are still getting that FC logo next to them.

When I click on any of my programs (that still have that FC logo on them), I get this message:

Cannot find the file "CownloadsGameConsole.wildgames.exe" or one of its components . Make sure the path and filename are correct and that all required libraries are available. "

Will I need to delete all of the files with the FC logo on it?

One more thing -
Why would my control panel commands not work? When I click on the icons, I get the same message as above or it says ACCESS TO THE SPECIFICED DEVICE, PATH, OR FILE IS DENIED.

Under Add/Remove Programs - it tells me
no programs installed, class not registered, res://appwiz.cpl/listbox.htc
Line 225

I did notice when I turned on the machine that it had some sort of message for E Machines recovery with a countdown before it goes into the logo screen.

Could another operating system start up disc cause some of the problems I am having? I am not aware of anyone putting in a disc for E machines, but I really don't know.

Sorry to be such a pest, but I am at my wits end.

Thanks so much.

 

I keep thinking of new things.

Do we have to have a disc for my machine to do a low level redo?

I do not have anything for my machine.

 

Welcome to WindowsBBS deeagle

You need to re-associate the programs (files) that are still trying to open with FC, with their original program. Right click any one of those and select 'Open With>Choose Program'. Another box will open with a list of commonly used programs. Select the one needed, check the box 'always use the selected program....' and click OK. If the program you wish to use is not listed, use Browse to locate and select it.

CownloadsGameConsole.wildgames.exe is not a proper path. It should be C:\DownloadsGameConsole\wildgames.exe
Not sure why the path is being changed though

 

Thanks for the info. All of the files are sequenced correctly. I do not have an OPEN WITH command, just an Open. . We have something called Target
Everything else we have tried has not worked. My husband has tried to do recovery, but he used an XP E machines recovery disc and this is 2000 professional. Am I correct in thinking this is incompatible with my system and won't solve the problem?
Do I need to have a windows 2000 recovery disc? I am not very familiar
with this, I am just guessing. Can we do a low level reformat without a compaq evo, windows 2000 recovery disc? How can I get one? Does anyone know?
I can't believe a company would sell computers without recovery and backup discs. I will never order from Heartland again.
Is my computer totally ruined now?

 

Last Call for help

I know I have been a pest, but this is really upsetting me.
My husband says he's been waiting on any answers here on this board
before he does a low level reformat and hopes for the best.
My concern is that we do not have a windows 2000 compaq evo backup
disc. all we have are XP E machines and Dell XP discs.
I have over 150 music mp3 player files in my windows medial player which
no longer works. I cannot download it again because of the corruption
and everything turning into an FC file.

If anyone could answer soon, I would appreciate it.
Then I promise I will be gone!

Thaks for everything.

 

You've not been a pest

Click Start>Run and type cmd then hit enter to open a command prompt. Now copy the following command and paste it into the command window and hit enter.

assoc > c:\fileassociations.txt

This will create the file c:\fileassociations.txt
Post the contents of that file.

 

Whoa ......... Just who wears the pants around there? Are you working on this or is he? Joint effort? OK, OK ........ Cut him some slack. What does he propose doing after a low level format? You need to talk about this before jumping the gun. Please elaborate on this new "game plan" once you two have kicked it around a little more.



edit: I see Dave posted while I was typing - get your husband a good cigar and a beer and follow Dave's advice.

 

Try this, before you right click on the file, hold down the SHIFT key then right click on it, you should have Open With appear in the Context Menu.

You have stated you cannot access executables, how so? Do you get a message such as "cannot find somefile.exe ", like this wildgames.exe? If you do, get EXEfix08. It will work on XP, W2K, and 95 to ME machines. although I do think your problem is deeper than this but is worth a shot, all it does it put the 'exefile' entry in the registry as it should be.

If you format the drive, and do not have a W2K Pro Install CD, you will not have an operating system. Those XP CD's from Dell and Emachines may/should not work for you at all on this machine. If they could, we couldn't advise on this.

FYI, if you decide to buy a copy of XP, you could get what is called an Upgrade CD, they do cost a bit less, but you do need to have a Microsoft Windows Operating System Installation CD for 98 or ME for Home Edition, for XP Professional you need to have 98, ME or a Windows 2000 CD.
OEM recovery CD's do not qualify for this, you'll need the Full version.

On Ebay, I found a Full copy of Windows 2000 Pro on sale for $81, perhaps look there?

 

Thank you all so much!
My husband is a computer tech. He taught DOS back in the 80s and has
always been able to fix our machines, but this file commander problem and being without the operating system disc or backup disc for this machine, even he has been stumped, which is why I came here to see if we could get some help. He is on pain medication for his disability and I am trying to help as
well. I am glad you vindicated my opinion that we have to have the discs
for this system.
I finally got the phone number for Compaq and was switched around so many times that by the time I got to the right department, they had already closed. I will call them on Monday to see if I can buy the operating disc and quick store discs.
I printed out your messages and gave them to him. He will read them when
he is feeling better. The rain kills his back!
You all have been very helpful. Thank you.
I will be writing to Heartland to inform them that their advertising is fraudulent. Their ad for this machine states it is new and under warranty when in fact the warranty ran out 07/18/06!
We obviously got a used machine.
I definitely will not recommend Heartland to anyone who wants to buy a computer!

 

Thanks for the update. Should you decide to persue fixing the machine rather than waiting on the disk, start by posting the fileassociations.txt I requested above.

 

I've been so busy I haven't had a chance yet to sit down at the computer. New job. I'm just checking my email this morning before I run out.
when I get paid this week, I will order the discs. And I will do what you
wanted me to later today, okay?
I really appreciate everything you have suggested to me. This is a great
place!

 

OK, I'm assuming today was your payday.
and, .................................................

 

I tried to run the cmd file but the system could not find it.
The discs were ordered last week and were shipping yesterday.

I appreciate all the help you have given. You have been so helpful and I am very grateful for all the responses.

Thank you!

 

Please advise results of running markp62's recommendation as per post #11.

 

Update

HP said the windows 2000 install disc would be there, too. It's not just the exe files that aren't working now, cd run won't work, you can't get into anything properly, the machine is a total mess. The discs should arrive any day now, and I'll let you know what happened.
All of the programs say cannot find file.

 

File Commander Gone, but not other problem!

Okay, I'm BAAACK!


We got in the compaq quick restore disc and the OS disc and used them. The machine now recognizes all the files as they are supposed to be, without that darn FC icon. We did not order the additional discs which supposedly have drivers on them and such. I am wondering if we need them? My speakers do not work, and all of our program files that were on the disc previously are back on the machine, but we are unable to get into them. I thought the quick restore discs were supposed to wipe everything out on the hard drive? I am so confused!

We are still unable to get into a lot of the programs on the computer (even if we reinstall them).

I can download from the internet now but the files will not open.

With just about everything we go into, the machine cannot find it, even if it is something brand new I just downloaded.

The machine beeps, then says it cannot find the.exe file for whatever program we have on the machine.

CANNOT FIND THE FILE c:\DOWNLOADS\CHAMEOLONGEMS.SETUP.EXE
(OR ONE OF ITS COMPONENTS). MAKE SURE THE PATH AND FILENAME ARE CORRECT AND THAT ALL REQUIIRED LIBRARIES ARE AVAILABLE.

When I tried to do the run command cmd, the machine gave me the same message saying it could not find the cmd file. I could not get into the cmd file to check out the fileassociation.txt.



In addition, only 2 icons are working in the control panel. All the others give me this message:

ACCESS TO THE SPECIFIED DEVICE, PATH OR FILE IS DENIED.

Any suggestions? I'm glad I've got the machine somewhat back to normal, but I still can't re-download my games that I purchased or windows media player because it doesn't recognize the path or file name.


Any suggestions would be most appreciated!

You all have been so wonderful!

 

Open C:\Windows\system32, locate the file cmd.exe and double click it. Did a command window open? If so, type or paste the following command.

assoc > c:\fileassociations.txt

Now open C:\fileassociations.txt and post it's contents here.