Error message for all applications

[Jennifer]

When I went to grad school two years ago, I purchased an
IBM think pad loaded with Windows 2000 Professional.
Everything worked (more or less) fine until a few weeks
ago. Of course, I have since graduated and have no IT
support at my disposal, so I'm not sure how to get help.
The problem is that every time I try to run any program on
my laptop I get the following error message: "Cannot find
the file xxxxxxxxxx (or one of its components). Make sure
the path and filename are correct and that all required
libraries are available." I can access Internet Explorer
but not through the shortcut on my toolbar. But no other
applications work. Does anyone know what the problem
might be and how I can fix it?

 

[dcdon]

Jehifer,

First try...
Start >Run... >cmd /k sfc /quiet (press enter)
Afterward, boot and try again.

don
---------



When I went to grad school two years ago, I purchased an
IBM think pad loaded with Windows 2000 Professional.
Everything worked (more or less) fine until a few weeks
ago. Of course, I have since graduated and have no IT
support at my disposal, so I'm not sure how to get help.
The problem is that every time I try to run any program on
my laptop I get the following error message: "Cannot find
the file xxxxxxxxxx (or one of its components). Make sure
the path and filename are correct and that all required
libraries are available." I can access Internet Explorer
but not through the shortcut on my toolbar. But no other
applications work. Does anyone know what the problem
might be and how I can fix it?

 

[dcdon]

Jennifer,
Let's take everything by priority.
You probably need to get any data you off

Try to open a program by using a search...
Start >Search >*.exe
Scrolldown to something simple like Notepad.exe
Cllick or d/c to see if it opens; if it does open a file.
If that worked good.

Do this
Start >Run... >"type" cmd /k sfc /quiet
after "type" exit
Boot and see how we working now.

Do you have an ERD and/or full backup.
If we didn't get fixed up, restore if you have one.
If so, we can do a restore in backup.
Start >Programs > Accessories > System Tools >Backup
Choose Restore and direct to file location of your latest (*.bkf) file.

If you do not have a backup...
Boot into Safe Mode Command Prompt
"type" CHKDSK /R/F (press enter)
this will take up to an hour
(be sure it is plugged into power;don't want the battery to give up in the middle
of this.

After it gets thru, let's try to open defrag first, and go ahead and run defrag.

If we get through this, try opening one of the programs.
If it doesn't work, get ready to format and reinstall W2K.


don
-------------




When I went to grad school two years ago, I purchased an
IBM think pad loaded with Windows 2000 Professional.
Everything worked (more or less) fine until a few weeks
ago. Of course, I have since graduated and have no IT
support at my disposal, so I'm not sure how to get help.
The problem is that every time I try to run any program on
my laptop I get the following error message: "Cannot find
the file xxxxxxxxxx (or one of its components). Make sure
the path and filename are correct and that all required
libraries are available." I can access Internet Explorer
but not through the shortcut on my toolbar. But no other
applications work. Does anyone know what the problem
might be and how I can fix it?

 

[George Hester]

I would try an online virus scan. This is Code Red or Nimda behavior not sure which. Can you open jpegs by double-clicking on them?

 

[sgopus]

More than likely a virus, if you have a good anti virus
software cd, then boot with it and scan your system.
once clean, then do an inplace reinstall.
I assume you have an installation cd of w2k?
if so place it in the cd drive and boot to it.
then make sure you DONOT choose format.
instead do an install. this should save your data
as is, you will have to re-apply your service packs
and patches.