Programs won't execute

[alan]

System is HP PC running XP Home Edition, 1.6Ghz, 512MB.
About 1 yr old.
Has always worked fine. 3 days ago, began experiencing
these symptoms:
1) Double click desktop icons (eg: Internet Explorer),
get hourglass, but the pgm does not execute.
2) Choose a program from the Start Menu and get the same
results.
* Some programs WILL execute fine. Appears applications
that I have installed work (Quickbooks, Worldnet, etc.).
Word, IE, even clicking on Control Panel does *not*
display anything.
* Another weird thing is when you execute a program,
either way, the desktop icons and the task bar disappear
for about 2 seconds and then are refreshed.

I'm thinking maybe hardware (memory), registry problems,
a virus????

Any ideas how to trouble-shoot this?

Many Thanks for your input.
Alan

 

[Rich]

-----Original Message-----
System is HP PC running XP Home Edition, 1.6Ghz, 512MB.
About 1 yr old.
Has always worked fine. 3 days ago, began experiencing
these symptoms:
1) Double click desktop icons (eg: Internet Explorer),
get hourglass, but the pgm does not execute.
2) Choose a program from the Start Menu and get the same
results.
* Some programs WILL execute fine. Appears applications
that I have installed work (Quickbooks, Worldnet, etc.).
Word, IE, even clicking on Control Panel does *not*
display anything.
* Another weird thing is when you execute a program,
either way, the desktop icons and the task bar disappear
for about 2 seconds and then are refreshed.

I'm thinking maybe hardware (memory), registry problems,
a virus????

Any ideas how to trouble-shoot this?

Many Thanks for your input.
Alan
.
I've got the same exact problem. Started happening 3

days ago as well. I've got a Gateway. Went out and
purchased spy sweeper and cleaned up the system.
Nothing. Even tried to uninstall explorer.. nothing.
Anyone got an idea?

 

[Tom W]

Hi Alan and Rich,
Have you tried using "System Restore", it has cured some unexplainable
problems for me. Tom

 

[alan]

Hi Tom,
I did try to do a "system restore". After the system
reboots, it says "unable to do system restore from
<date/time>. I tried different date/times to no avail.
I don't know if this failure to do a system restore is
related to the problem, or if that's something else. I've
never done the "system restore" function before. I have
the "disk space allocated" for the system restore
function set to 4gb. I don't know how much space is
needed for XP to do a single system restore function, so
i don't know how many "system restores" can be done with
this 4gb space that's allotted. But it should have at
least ONE system restore's data.
Alan

 

[Rich]

-----Original Message-----
Hi Tom,
I did try to do a "system restore". After the system
reboots, it says "unable to do system restore from
<date/time>. I tried different date/times to no avail.
I don't know if this failure to do a system restore is
related to the problem, or if that's something else. I've
never done the "system restore" function before. I have
the "disk space allocated" for the system restore
function set to 4gb. I don't know how much space is
needed for XP to do a single system restore function, so
i don't know how many "system restores" can be done with
this 4gb space that's allotted. But it should have at
least ONE system restore's data.
Alan some
.
Hi Tom and Alan - I also did a System Restore - twice.

Both worked, but neither fixed the problem. My AOL
connection works, but Internet doesn't. I can't get
Control Panel to execute nor Windows Explorer. But other
(non-MS) programs seem to work. I've also updated
windows with any 'critical' patches. Still no luck.
Anyone have other ideas?

 

[Brad Brown]

-----Original Message-----

days ago as well. I've got a Gateway. Went out and
purchased spy sweeper and cleaned up the system.
Nothing. Even tried to uninstall explorer.. nothing.
Anyone got an idea?
.
I also have the same problem. Virus checkers find nothing

(some however will not start). I attempted to restore to a
point in time where this was not happening. No luck (by
the way the restore trashed the system). I ran the Dell OS
recovery disk and got it back though. I am still stumped
at this point.

Any new information on your part?

Thanks,
Brad