quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: Everything was good until last night. Suddenly, I can't open my "My Computer", "My Documents", "My Network Places", etc. icons! I don't know why! But I have no trouble opening Internet Explorer!
Yeah, that sounds like what happened to me (except I could NOT open Explorer). When you shut down, does everything that you opened and can't see suddenly appear on the screen?
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From: Long Island, NY | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
Yup, that's exactly what happened last time. I guess it's time to uninstall SpyBot too.
When you uninstalled Cap, were you able to open all that stuff up again, or did you have to take further steps?
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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One thing I was worried about was that the SpyBot may have removed something important that wasn't supposed to be removed. Is this a possible problem?
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: Yup, that's exactly what happened last time. I guess it's time to uninstall SpyBot too.
When you uninstalled Cap, were you able to open all that stuff up again, or did you have to take further steps?
Unfortunately, you're going to have to take a drastic step..., delete your Windows XP account.
When you first boot up the computer, do you have a choice of accounts to access or only yours?
For instance, when I boot up my computer, I can access one of three accounts:
Kira Kimberly Shannon
(My two daughters and my wife.)
I had to delete my account due to the problems you're experiencing, C.K.
If you don't have another XP account besides your own, create one and then transfer all of the files from your old account to your new one. Then delete your old account.
I experienced your problems a few months ago, and after I consulted with my university tech support people, I was told the ONLY way to fix the problem was to delete the account.
Questions?
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From: Long Island, NY | Registered: Apr 2004
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quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: Windows XP. What do you have in mind?
Just checking, since a Win 9x/ME box is more likely to have problems. Did you buy it with XP, or is that upgraded from an older version?
quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: One thing I was worried about was that the SpyBot may have removed something important that wasn't supposed to be removed. Is this a possible problem?
Not unless you had something nasty tied directly into the OS, which isn't likely. Spybot CAN break programs which depend on spyware/adware, but it's upfront about it. And at any rate, provided you have System Restore on (you DO, don't you?), you should be able to hit rewind, since Spybot creates a Restore Point in XP every time you make significant changes (unless you have System Restore off, or you've disabled the option from within Spybot [which since you've confessed to a certain degree of computer ignorance, isn't likely since it'd require you to use Spybot's Advanced mode]), so you should be able to revert if absolutely needed.
In order once you've done what capt_dallas said (since his advice is specific - this is just general good practice), do the following:
1) Update VirusScan's definitions (although this shouldn't be needed, since you've got the autoupdate turned on, haven't you, it's still a good idea). Scan. Never even THINK of turning it off unless you're upgrading/replacing it and you're offline at the time.
2) Update Spybot's definitions. Scan.
Make sure you've got a firewall (like ZoneAlarm. I'm still using 4.5, since there was some trouble with early v5, but 5 should be okay by now).
I also recommend downloading & running AdAware Personal and Spyware Blaster (neither of which ahve Resident programs - you only run AdAware Personal to scan and update & Blaster to update it)
Obviously though, the more programs you run, the more memory & CPU cycles they'll take up and your computer will slow a bit. With a firewall, Spybot Resident and a [current, updated] anti-virus program, things will be a bit slower, but it's Safe or Sorry, and you've already tried Sorry as I recall.
[ August 26, 2004, 05:36 PM: Message edited by: SoM ]
-------------------- My views are my own and do not reflect those of everyone else... and I wouldn't have it any other way.
I already updated Virus Scan and ran it, and nothing came out of it. I ran SpyBot again, and nothing appeared there either.
Here's the first step I've taken, after worrying it might be SpyBot. I'm restoring all the systems on it (you're right, I never changed anything and it still existed). I want to see what this does and if things will go back to normal. So if Spybot did screw things up, this should restore it.
After this, I'm going to see where to go next. SoM and Cap, you guys are really great, I appreciate everything. Keep all the suggestions coming.
Oh, here's one more thing about my computer I've learned: I ran 'HouseCall' on it's free website, since I've been told it can give a quick run through your computer and tell you what's on it. It scanned for viruses, and found one that it could not remove 'Troj. SMALL KQ' in 'windows\msopt.dll'. When I ran both McAffee adn Spybot, it never came up in either. Have you guys (or anyone else) ever heard of this, and have any idea how to get it off?
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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quote:Originally posted by Cobalt Kid: How exactly do I create another one, transfer my files to this one, and then delete my current one?
Go to the Control Panel, then User Accounts (if you've got the subcategories on, I can't remember which one it's in offhand, but it shouldn't be too hard to find). Then click on "Create a New Account" and follow the instructions.
If you're not given an option to copy the files over, they'll be in (I'm assuming the C:\ drive, since that's by far the most likely, but it could be elsewhere) C:\Documents and Settings\Des . Copy everything you need out of there to the equivalent location in C:\Documents and Settings\(New Account).
-------------------- My views are my own and do not reflect those of everyone else... and I wouldn't have it any other way.
posted
Thanks SoM! I'm going to do the virus thing first, then get to the account transfer. I'll update this thread with my progress.
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
SoM, I've created a new user Administrator User account (Desmond). Now I'm unsure how to transfer the files.
I can go to C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator.Des and copy everything, but I don't know where to paste it. Should a new file have popped up, under Administrator.Desmond now? I'm a bit unsure of where to transfer it to.
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
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From: Long Island, NY | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
There should be a folder containing the name "Desmond" in C:\Documents and Settings
Paste the stuff in there from Desmond, after clearing your internet cache (Internet Options | Delete Files) from Des (once you've done that, DON'T go back into Des)
[ August 26, 2004, 06:34 PM: Message edited by: SoM ]
-------------------- My views are my own and do not reflect those of everyone else... and I wouldn't have it any other way.
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