Unresponsive shortcuts, system files and folders

[Sondi]

After installing a spyware program that about crashed
my entire system I was just getting completely caught up
when I realized that I could not access most of the icons
on my desktop. When I double-click on the I get my info
tool, but it quits unexpectedly. I have also noticed
that I cannot create a shortcut from any of my drives
onto my desktop. I have tried many options including
re-installing windows and windows updates completely. I
was wondering if there could have been an error in the XP
update that would cause an unchecked buffer in the
Windows shell to permit a system compromise. I do not
have Windows 95 or 98 installed to complicate. I read in
a troubleshooting guide that I could have a problem
because the size of the environmentally variable path is
greater than 512 charcters.......is this as silly as it
sounds? Thanks for your help!

 

[Kelly]

Hi,

Spyware programs do not crash systems. It scans, you read, you select or
unselect.

Without knowing more:

EXE and LNK Fix for Windows XP - Line 12
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

HTM/HTML Fix for Windows XP
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/fileassoc/html_association_fix.zip

To use the Regedit: Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double click it
and answer yes to the import prompt. REG files can be viewed in Notepad by
right clicking on the file and selecting Edit.

Shortcut Keys Do Not Work After You Add the "Remove Frequently-Used Programs
List from Start Menu" Policy Setting
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q330459

Desktop Shortcut to the 3 1/2 Inch Disk Drive or to the CD-ROM Drive Does
Not Work
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;824143&Product=winxp