desktop icons no longer working?

[Terminator2000]

A link on that site had a Trojan Horse....

it ruined all my desktop icons. Now when i click on anything, i can't get the programs to start up.

How do i fix it?

All the desktop icons are no longer operating.

Its like the navigation tree for the windows operating system has gotten deactivated. Im running windows professsional Xp.

Every icon no longer works. It only works when i go into program files. But then again, i still have trouble.

I can't even get the antivirus software to open up because all the desktop icons have been deactivated or become null and void.

Oh also, the desktop picture on the screen has been removed and now there's just a white screen

 

[Knave]

Could someone be pulling a prank on you?

Could someone be pulling a prank on you? You could be looking at a screen-capture of your desktop and not your real desktop. Right click > properties < and change your desk top if you think this is likely.

 

[Terminator2000]

No, i click on all the icons. But when I click the icons, I get message error boxes saying "program not found" or "file not found"

 

[Keebler Elf]

Try googling your problem. You can't be the only one.

 

[Terminator2000]

I tried doing a system restore, but suddenly, i no longer have administrator access. In fact, I suddenly can't access most webpages now

you need administrator's access to do a system restore.

 

[popodaki]

I'm not sure if this will help, but it's worth a try.

Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware from herehttp://www.besttechie.net/tools/mbam-setup.exe

Follow these instructions:

Make sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, then click Finish.

If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.

Once the program has loaded, select Perform Quick Scan, then click Scan.

The scan may take some time to finish,so please be patient.

When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.

Make sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.

When disinfection is completed, a log will open in Notepad and you may be prompted to Restart.

 

[Terminator2000]

How does one go into safe mode with windows xp professional?

 

[vavog]

F8 (after bios screen and before you see the Windows Logo)

 

[CharlieX]

Try do a system restore. Pick a date from last week to restore and see if helps.

 

[Terminator2000]

Paul - says:
how do you access the msconfig program when you type in msconfig in the command console, to run the "safe mode" when restarting the computer. I press F8, and it gives me options, but not safe mode. The internet says I have to do an msconfig command and check the safemode box, before restarting and pressing F8.
But, it won't allow me to access the msconfig command because it cannot find the msconfig file.

Bryan says:
if u want to get into msconfig, go to Start>Run and type msconfig

Paul - says:
ya exactly but when i do that. it goes, what file do you want to use to open this file?

Paul - says:
MSConfig.exe.

Bryan says:
a window should pop up and give you diff options if it does not then i dunjno ur widnows might be messed up

Paul - says:
it is. all the navigation tree and icons are not longer working. im trying to do a system restore but it won't let me do an msconfig. a window does pop up and give me diff options. but what file opens msconfig?

Bryan says:
you dont do a system restore from msnconfig.

Bryan says:
your windows is probably fucked. you probably need to reinstall.


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Note: He couldn't figure it out. But if I manage to do a system restore. It could fix everything and put things back the way they were, before the virus messed things up. The only way I think I can do a system restore is if someone links a laptop (a professional obviously) and commands my computer to do a system restore....

 

[Terminator2000]

Why don't you give Future Shop a call?
Maybe they have some system restore disks there. I don't know how much they'll charge you and I don't know if they'll only have Vista OS.

Yeah. I don't feel like doing an entire reformat and windows reinstallation.

 

[vavog]

If you have the windows cd.. do a Repair (second repair optioni, not first). Are you able to boot in Safe mode?

 

[bullwinkle]

Yeah.. I had similar problems ..

What i did was :

1. get a free prog called vcleaner.exe

2. reboot to safe-mode with command-line

3. execute the vcleaner.exe within CMD window-- runs a while

4. re-boot & download free Avast software & install

At this point, your icons should work ..

What the virus did was to append a small code to most of your .exe files and so they stop working.

I have found Avast to be the only software that stops this ..

HTH

 

[onehunglow]

Keep in mind that a virus/trojan/malware could have not only affected your desktop icons but also the copy system restore "keeps safe" for when you need it. You might have to take the long road and repair or even worse start from scratch. Best of luck.

Its a pain in the ass but i ghost my entire system to a spare HD every so often for this reason. (3 systems) takes about an hour total. Found this to be the only sure way for me.