Help--desktop

[redvette]

Hi gang

Got a problem all my desktop icons, except IE7 and my Desktop, recycle bin, have changed to that icon, (I forget what you call it) but nothing happens when you click on it, and it requires another program to open what ever. But noting happens when I click on any of them . When I go into the control panel nothing works in there either, what ever I click on don't open. I was doing some changing on my active x controls in my tool for IE7, when this happened.

Any help will be appreciated. My e-mail is working and I can open my browsers.

Thanks and take care..........Gunny

[redvette]

Hi GLC

That is the problem too it will not let me open any files, this goes along with the icon problem. I forget what you call those icons that they changed to. But when you click on one of them it refers you to a program that will open it.

I down loaded the Tweak and it will not let me open it.

Gunny

[rjfvillarosa]

Have you tried a system restore back to before this happened?

[redvette]

I thought of that, but that is not working either. Anything I bring up does not open up, none of my programs are working. When I click on restore it just goes away, does not open up. I have tried different ways of getting to restore but no sucess.

Thanks

[redvette]

Hi gang

I went back and changed all the settings back to what they were. I was messing with that flash player at the time and doing what it said to be able to down load this. Why what ever I did that changed the icons, is a mystery to me. One way it seems to have been triggered by what I did, and in another way it don't but that was the only thing I messed with today, when it happened. All the chnages I did was under Internet tools, and security. I don't see why what I did would change the icons like this and change it to these that you cannot open. I believe I have the programs yet just cannot open them in this state.

Cant even do system restore, or open anything in my control panel. Any of the icons that are on my taskbar and a program will not open either.

Thanks and take care.............Gunny

[redvette]

All my desktop shortcuts/files have been changed to LNK files. I cannot get into my registry to see what is going on there. So now what.?????? All the fixes I see require you to be able to get into the registry.

Any suggestions.

Thanks and take care...........Gunny

[Jose Suarez]

Your OS was damaged, reinstall XP just like an upgrade and every thing should be back to normal, or press F8 before XP splash screen and go on to safe mode and do a system restore should be on Accessories, system tools restore to were your computer was running normally, and wen you restore you will have a SVCHOST problem, solution disable automatic upgrades.

[redvette]

Hi Jose

Thanks I have tried that but when I put the XP disk in it will not stsrt the download, I think because all the files that it has to start are changed to those LNK files and they will not open. That is the only idea I have, as to when I click on it to start download it will not do anything. And when I click on propertys from the disc they show up as those LNK files.

How does one get around this. I have a back up system, but I think it is those files too.

Thanks.............Gunny

[rjfvillarosa]

Gunny. you might find it easier to do a repair/install to replace the damaged system files, have a read of this thread for the instructions:
http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=151522
You will need an XP installation CD.

[redvette]

Hi Gary and rjfvillarosa

Thanks for the info, I appreciate your time and effort. I have done so much reading on this subject/fix that I going crosseyed. And all the repairs bottom line is getting into the registry, and I cannot do that, due to this problem. I guess from all the reading this can happen this way, still have the basic problem but can still get into the registry. And this all started trying to figure out why Adobe flash would not show up in my computer.

I evidently left a door open or something, I cannot blame this on any one else, it was my fault. But if I get out of this mess, I have learned a lesson, and I have learned a lot. I have an external backup system, and I thought no matter what this will get me out of a hole, but I don't think it would this time with this problem. Because I did a little quick look and it seemed to me that the files in it was the same as what are giving me the problem, they were changed too or they were installed in the backup that way so they are no good to me. I might be wrong here but I don't think so. I am going to look into this a lot more, because I don't think a backup system should do that. That would defeat the idea of having one, I would think.

Well sorry for the long winded reply, I will give this a try and let you know how it turns out. Keep your fingers crossed.

Thanks and take care..........Gunny

[rjfvillarosa]

The repair/install doesn't involve you touching the registry.
To do a repair/install, you boot from your XP CD and follow the normal steps to do a fresh install, then at a certain point just before formatting the harddrive SetUp detects an existing XP install and gives you the option to replace all the system files.
This procedure does not affect your programs or personal files, but it does require you to carryout a load of Windows updates and you will probably have to update your antivirus software.

[redvette]

Hi rjfvillrosa

Ya I know I have done these before, with 98 never XP. I did not mean to imply that I thought you had to go into the registry. That was one thing I was wondering about the formatting, I don't want to do that if at all possible. I have too much crap, some needed some not needed but in all would be a pain to replace. But if it came down to formatting and getting rid of the problem I would bite the bullet and do it. But if I can correct the problem and not format that is what I will do.


Thanks and take care..........Gunny

[rjfvillarosa]

Thats the beauty of a repair/install, you don't format the harddrive.
As SetUp is about to format it checks the drive and finds the existing OS install and gives you the oportunity to repair the sytem files of the existing install, none of your files are touched during this procedure.

[glc]

The repair reinstall procedures are in a sticky thread in the Tips and Tricks forum.