Most Programs will not Execute

[mabowden]

I have a PC running XP Home, SP2. It had many viruses and spyware on
it which have now been cleaned up. But after booting and logging in
as an administrator, most programs will not load. On icons such as
Internet Explorer, Symantec AntiVirus, or Command prompt for example,
clicking the icon results in the pop-up message "Choose the program
you want to use to open this file", and a list of registered programs
is displayed. Essentially, any .EXE file seems to have this program.

But oddly enough, I can right-click most of these same programs,
choose "Run As" and execute the program that way. For example, right-
clicking Start - All Programs - Accessories - Command Prompt and
choosing "Run As" and selecting the currently logged in user, but de-
selecting "Protect my computer and data from unauthorized program
activity" will allow the program to run. Any thoughts?

 

[Malke]

I have a PC running XP Home, SP2. It had many viruses and spyware on
it which have now been cleaned up. But after booting and logging in
as an administrator, most programs will not load. On icons such as
Internet Explorer, Symantec AntiVirus, or Command prompt for example,
clicking the icon results in the pop-up message "Choose the program
you want to use to open this file", and a list of registered programs
is displayed. Essentially, any .EXE file seems to have this program.

But oddly enough, I can right-click most of these same programs,
choose "Run As" and execute the program that way. For example, right-
clicking Start - All Programs - Accessories - Command Prompt and
choosing "Run As" and selecting the currently logged in user, but de-
selecting "Protect my computer and data from unauthorized program
activity" will allow the program to run. Any thoughts?

Either the computer is not virus/malware-free and/or the operating system
was too badly damaged by the infections.

1. Back up your data.
2. Try a Repair Install.
3. If the Repair Install doesn't work, do a Clean Install of Windows.

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm - Repair Install
How-To
http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows - What
you will need on-hand

Malke

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I have a PC running XP Home, SP2. It had many viruses and spyware on
it which have now been cleaned up.

If you truly had *many* viruses and spyware on it, I would not be so
sure that it's cleaned up.

My guess is that you are still infected. Any time you have a massively
infected system like that, I would not trust anything less than a
clean reinstallation of Windows.

 

[mabowden]

If you truly had *many* viruses and spyware on it, I would not be so

sure that it's cleaned up.

My guess is that you are still infected. Any time you have a massively
infected system like that, I would not trust anything less than a
clean reinstallation of Windows.

I have run three scans with Symantec AV and on the third pass got a
clean scan. Some of the other weird problems have disappeared since
then. The one I am experiencing now is the main thing I notice.
However, when I right-click the desktop and try to choose
"Properties", I get the Windows Pop-up message, "C:\WINNT
\System32\rundll32.exe" - "Application Not Found". (This computer
appears to be an upgrade from an older version, hence the WINNT
folder.) I suspect these two issues are related. Thanks for the
responses thus far.

 

[Elmo]

I have a PC running XP Home, SP2. It had many viruses and spyware on
it which have now been cleaned up. But after booting and logging in
as an administrator, most programs will not load. On icons such as
Internet Explorer, Symantec AntiVirus, or Command prompt for example,
clicking the icon results in the pop-up message "Choose the program
you want to use to open this file", and a list of registered programs
is displayed. Essentially, any .EXE file seems to have this program.

But oddly enough, I can right-click most of these same programs,
choose "Run As" and execute the program that way. For example, right-
clicking Start - All Programs - Accessories - Command Prompt and
choosing "Run As" and selecting the currently logged in user, but de-
selecting "Protect my computer and data from unauthorized program
activity" will allow the program to run. Any thoughts?

Fix the associations for .LNK, and .EXE, listed here:

Fix File Associations.
http://dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

You might have to download to another machine, then move to the damaged
machine.