can't access personal files from desktop

[Guest]

xp seems to work, not too slow, but whenever I click on direct access icons
to my documents or try to access them through the start menu or task bar, the
screen goes blank ( but leaves wallpaper intact). All the icons and taskbar
return after a couple of seconds without opening the appropriate window.
Direct access to programs such as adobe, nero are unaffected. Control panel
is affected.

I've also found a sinister undeleteable file which contains a file which
contains a file etc. ad nauseum. I've learnt to live with it and rename it
empty...would that have anything to do with it? Panda antivirus scans and
cheerfully announces all is well.

Time to reload windows xp or is there a solution?

 

[Guest]

xp seems to work, not too slow, but whenever I click on direct access icons
to my documents or try to access them through the start menu or task bar, the
screen goes blank ( but leaves wallpaper intact). All the icons and taskbar
return after a couple of seconds without opening the appropriate window.
Direct access to programs such as adobe, nero are unaffected. Control panel
is affected.

I've also found a sinister undeleteable file which contains a file which
contains a file etc. ad nauseum. I've learnt to live with it and rename it
empty...would that have anything to do with it? Panda antivirus scans and
cheerfully announces all is well.

Time to reload windows xp or is there a solution?

 

[Guest]

GOT TO GET THE TERMINOLOGY RIGHT FIRST...

xp seems to work, not too slow, but whenever I click on direct access icons
to my documents or try to access them through the start menu or task bar, the
screen goes blank ( but leaves wallpaper intact). All the icons and taskbar
return after a couple of seconds without opening the appropriate window.
Direct access to programs such as adobe, nero are unaffected. Control panel
is affected.

I've also found a sinister undeleteable FOLDER which contains a FOLDER which
contains a FOLDER etc. ad nauseum. I've learnt to live with it and rename it
empty...would that have anything to do with it? Panda antivirus scans and
cheerfully announces all is well.

Time to RE INSTALL windows xp or is there a solution?

By the way how does one sort the wheat from the ".exe" chaff in the task
manager?

thanks

 

[ernie]

Does the Event Viewer give any errors? Does it even run?
Start > Run > type "%SystemRoot%\system32\eventvwr.msc /s" without the
quotes.
ern.

 

[Guest]

The event viewer does run and does show errors in the application and system
subfolders. In the application subfolder there are userenv warnings and
errors described as application hang, application error, and messenger
mainly. The errors in the system subfolder originate in the service control
manager. What to do?

I had someone take a look at the tower and by deactivating the firewall and
"truprevent" functions in the Panda 2007 antivirus, the problem seems to have
stopped, but the computer is still sluggish. I've always had them activated,
why would they cause this problem know? should I look for other causes?

thanks for your interest
Alde

 

[ernie]

Sorry for the delay, alde, malware can cause problems with security
applications, firewall, antivirus etc. Coupled with your discovery of the
mystery folder I suggest that is the problem. You may be able to clean the
system rather than reinstall but.. Do the symptoms persist in Safe Mode? You
could also try deleting the folder in safe mode and also perform a virus
scan.

To get to Safe Mode: restart the computer and click F8 key after post until
the boot menu appears, Safe Mode is at the top of the list, use the arrow
keys to navigate. Safe mode looks weird but explorer works and some mouse
functions are missing.

Hth,
ern.

 

[Guest]

ernie,
I've tried getting into safe mode by pressing f8 when booting, but I get a
screen simply asking me which drive I would like to boot from, there is no
safe mode option. Any hints? Is safe mode documented in microsoft help in
order to guide me?

thanks again

 

[ernie]

Sorry, alde, I should have said click F8 repeatedly, as fast as you like.
I hope this helps you to get to Safe Mode.
ern.