Can't run exe files

[JW]

HI,

I'm running Win2000 with Office 2000. When my computer boots into windows desktop I get a error OSA9.exe error. Afterwards I am not able to run any executable files or programs. I managed to run a virus check and I'm pretty sure it not a virus. I'm stumped to say the least! Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jason

[Statica]

OSA9 is the office startup assistant; have you tried removing it from your startup folder and seeing if your computer is more responsive?

[JW]

Yes I've tried removing it. the initial OSA9 error went away but unfortunately I'm still not able to run any programs hardly.

thanks

[Iman74]

We are having this problem at work and it happened to be a glitch in Mcafee that's causing it. Just to see if you are having the same thing do the following steps:
- Click "Start" "Find"
-Type *.vir
-Click Find (make sure you are doing the find on the root of c: )

If you are experiencing what we are; then what you will find is a good number of *.exe files will have *.vir in front of them. If that is the case, you need to upgrade your Mcafee engine, then the dat files, and then take off the *.vir of each file. Assuming this is what you are experiencing.

[mairving]

It could be a permission thing. I know that if you install Office97 on a XP/2K machine, you will get errors when you try to run Office programs if you are not an admin. The fix is to login as admin or change the permissions on the Office directory, certain files in the System32 directory and some registry keys or upgrade to Office XP.

[JW]

thanks for all the responses. I'll be sure to check find, but mcaffee isn't loaded on this computer. Unfortunately office programs aren't the only ones I can't access. for example I'm unable to run the find command, or regedit, and unable to go to device manager, basically unable to navigate windows. I'm pretty much to the point that I'll try anything. I don't want to format and start from scratch but I will. I'd rather try to get it fixed outright so I'll know what to do in the future.

Thanks,
Jw