Windows cannot find "copy"

When I boot up Windows XP Professional, I get the message "Windows cannot find 'copy'. Make sure you typed in the name correctly and try again. "

I have no idea what this means but it I have to delete this message before I can continue to open Windows XP.

It began after I tried deleting a trojan virus file unsuccessfully. I may have deleted a system file, but have no idea what "copy" is or where to find it to reinstall it. Windows XP came with my computer and I don't have the installation discs.

Thanks,
TJP
Montreal

 

Thanks but I can't figure out how to run sfc/scannow. When I checked the Windows help section it said "Must be logged on as a member of Administrator's group to run scannow ".

What does this mean?

Tom P

 

Hey, TJP.

You said that tried to delete a trojan unsuccessfully. What do you mean by that?
It sounds to me that the message is a leftover from a trojan or a virus, that tries to copy itself or something else... If it is run at every boot, it might be in [RUN] section in the registry, or even in Start->Programs-> Startup folder. It can be in the AUTOEXEC.bat file...
Try to search all these places and be certain that you don't have any fishy batch files or commands ...
And try to get those installation disks, to have them handy... They maybe your only chance ...

Good luck.

 

Sorry I was away for a while.

when I type sfc/ scannow I get the message "Windows cannot find "sfc" make sure you typed the name correctly and try again.

Also, someone else told me to log on in "safe mode" but I have no idea how to do this. I used this term in windows "search" function but came up with nothing.

As to going into my autoexec files, I am very reluctant to fool around with them since I don't want to mess with my operating system and don't know enough about how they work to try to alter or delete any. I already suspect that I deleted a file that is causing my current problems.

TJP

 

TJP - XP doesn't make use of any autoexec files except as needed to run older programs that want it. None of the XP startup is based on the contents of those files as it was with earlier OS versions (non-NT systems).

The suggestion to run sfc with the /scannow switch is probably the best for trying to restore your system. It checks and if any system files are corrupt or missing, they are replaced.

You just need to note the change Pete made where there is a space after sfc and no space in /scannow. If you want, just copy

sfc /scannow

and after you click start~run, paste it into the line and click OK.

 

Apparently malware/trojan? leftovers as suspected:

These two posts pretty well toss around and cover the issue:

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=sw_winxp&message.id=96104

http://www.computing.net/windows2000/wwwboard/forum/53645.html

Looks like theres a couple of cures.

 

Well with the space now in the right place I ran sfc /scannow and rebooted the computer and so far, so good. The message no longer appears when I boot up.

I hope this does it for good.

Thanks,
Tom

 

Hi TJP,

I sure hope this is all you'll have to do and the problem is behind you but please note that the posters, included in the liinks via previous thread, all, described this error to be sporadic, meaning they'd be bothered by it for a few bootups and then the problem would disappear only to show again.

Just keep this post in mind in case the links "cleanup" references turn out to be needed in the future.

And thank you for taking the time update your post.