Prefetch problem HELP

[Richard Rhooms]

Hi

I had a unidentified virus on my pc and removed it by
trial and error. I then noticed it had a file in the
\windows\prefetch directory WNPRT32.EXE and deleted it.
Now any time I try and run any installed program or try
to re-install the programs I get the "open with" box with
the list of programs to select, then it just keeps going
round in a circle.

But programs like internet explorer and microsoft outlook
still work but WORD does not, it comes up
with "application error".

I have done a clean install to make it multi boot, but it
does not have the same WNPRT32.EXE in the prefetch
directory. And I have upgraded to SP2, but to no avail.
But when it was updating I got the error with
regsvr32.dll/exe(?) But it did complete.

Does anyone know how to correct this problem? I really
dont want to restart from scratch.

Thanks in advance,
Richard Rhooms

 

[Craig]

Hello Richard,

Sounds like you have SP2 installed on your computer. I
recommend un-installing it.

Un-install SP2:
- Go to Start/Control Panel/Add-Remove Programs and
select SP2
- Next boot to the WinXP CD
- Select Repair and follow other screen instructions.
- After it Reboots go to the Desktop.
- Run a 3rd Party Windows Registry cleaner program.
- Defrag the Windows Registry file.
- Then reboot.
- After it Reboots go to the Desktop.
- Check your problem, as it should be ok now.
- Then go to the Windows Update Site and download and
install them again without SP2.
- Wait for a while until Microsoft gets SP2 fixed.

If you would like to correspond further, I have created a
temporary email address you can contact me at and I have
images that would show more details about how to do these
tasks:

(e-mail address removed)

Sincerely,

Craig McIntosh
GNIS Support