Officially on hiatus ... again.

[genlisae]

Until I get my computer situation sorted, which is looking to be round about ... when it is done. :/

I believe (along with general OS corruption, thank you very much various assorted users of my network who keep leaving me fun presents of the infectious, destructive type. This is not the way to convince me let my computer be the assorted media server on the network to save your HD space.) I will need a new CPU as well. It just isn't "acting right".  Which again I saw coming, in the form of an upgrade if nothing else (I don't remember for sure how old my computer is but I know it is first generation dual core and has just had assorted parts replaced around it ... that needs upgrading on principle)

So pretty much I am at the stage where I can still use things like Photoshop and Word, but when I try to load say games, that doesn't go so well with the "missing .dll" and "can not locate .exe" (or the unistall so I can reinstall them! Manual removal results in "Okay, I can't delete the registry key if it is not damn well here to begin with!") notices and the whole 45 minutes to load The Sims  (WTF? Like 2 months ago it was taking 15 and I have NOT increased the amount of CC, I have actually reduced it) and then have it crash after 5-10 minutes is just frustrating, aggravating and as much as I want to just push through it and get the next chapter finished it is taking the fun out of it!



Not gone, just no sims for a bit.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

I'd suggest a system restore to the last working point (Start Menu/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Restore or rstrui.exe), then run exefix, fixNCR, fixshell (in that order), then CCleaner registry fix until it stops showing fixable items in the registry (may take 2-5 times running the program). Create a restore point for your computer's current state FIRST using the System Restore window, before you do anything else!

Here are links:
Download these before system restore
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm (Exefix for XP)
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/File-association-fixes-for-Windows-Vista.html (Exefix for Vista)
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/file-asso-fixes-for-windows-7/ (Exefix for 7)
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic434612.html (FixNCR download link in first post)
http://fix-shell-registry.fyxm.net/ (Fixshell - download link is BELOW THE INFO POST & is marked with an orange arrow - it is not the big Free Download button)
Download this whenever
http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner (CCleaner - freeware, the registry fixer is included in the program & is accessed by clicking the 2nd icon on the left side of the program UI, can't miss it)

Should straighten your computer right out most of the time & shouldn't take more than 30 minutes to do. From what you describe, it could be a few things - hard to say exactly without having a look at it, but what I've given you to do to it should cover almost all the bases. If you don't have restore points, skip that step, but in any case please create a restore point through the System Restore window before you do anything else on this list!

Good luck! I hope this fixes it for you.

[genlisae.livejournal.com]

Oh. There are things on that list I haven't tried yet even.

As a rule, system restore is off on my computer (previously mentioned infections destructive presents having turned system restore into a thing of nightmares rather than the helpful tool it should be). CCleaner has been used almost to death by itself with no effect, but will definitely give it a try again with the rest of your suggestions.

Upgrading to 7 simply because it is an upgrade is much preferable to doing it because nothing works. Thanks.

[genlisae.livejournal.com]

No go :/ Still doing exactly the same things only now with the added bonus of I don't own any of my folder that are not on my desktop or in my documents and can't take possession of them either, instead of just a few folders here and there (that were of course needed to be written to) that it locked me out of before.

I do appreciate the help though and all of your suggestions (besides being here if I ever need them again) have been sent to Mathew so he can remember them too.

[(Anonymous)]

There's a couple other things that you can still try that might fix it, depending on if you want to put the effort into it.

First, you can try running a full scan of Malwarebytes &/or Emsisoft
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/
Both have freeware versions that are a lot better at catching viruses than most normal antivirus programs & will make sure that whatever virus was on there has been completely removed. If you're losing folder permissions, it sounds like there might still be an active virus infection. Be careful with these if you run them. They will show the filepath of everything but they've both also had results for files in my Sims download folder. Look at what is being removed before you remove anything.

Second, if you have your original Windows CD (the Windows that's installed on the computer right now), just put it into the drive, open up command prompt (Start Menu/All Programs/Accessories/Command Prompt). Type "sfc /scannow" into the command prompt (minus quotation marks) & hit enter. This will use the files on the CD to attempt to repair any Windows files that have been broken.

Both of these things can take a long time. It depends on whether you want to put the effort in.

It does sound like reinstalling Windows might be the best option for your computer... but if the issue remains you may want to consider doing a full reformat on your hard drive prior to upgrading to Windows 7. Windows 7 will keep the old Windows files in a "Windows.old" folder in your C drive in most cases & depending on what's causing the problem you might run the risk of reinfecting the computer if the issues are not resolved before you upgrade.

Also, sorry about the anon posts but I wanted to provide whatever help I could. Best of luck!

[genlisae.livejournal.com]

Yeah, already been the Malwarebytes route a few times (it always has issues with files in my Seasons install folder. After the second time it removed seasons on me I learned to read the list! lol) it finds nothing at all. I had hoped it would to begin with since all of this started after the "successful" removal of an infection (I don't remember which one) that infected a lot of files and required a bit of running around finding what didn't work anymore (because I didn't know what half of them were and forgot to do something smart like print the list *headdesk* I swear there are times my braindead amazes me!), reinstalling and tracking down bits of programs. I think I missed putting something back as it just seems to be snowballing from there.

I should probably mention I don't have any sort of resident protection. I don't like them. They are usually big clunky and slow and those that aren't end up that way eventually. I do have a more than decent idea of what process run when and do regular checks and run Malwarebytes weekly, so if the virus was still here, I should have seen evidence of it somewhere. Nothing :/

Unfortunately, I don't have the disk (never did thanks to the wonders of "pre-built" systems). Last time I installed was not with the original disk because the system was purchased through one of the big chain stores and Acer doesn't supply physical copies with pre-built systems. The copy I had was then lent to someone else for the same reason and never seen again.

I do appreciate your help, anon or not! (I have no issues against anon :D ) At this point though, you're right, it probably is just easier to reformat. I have back-ups of everything important which I am in the process of double checking and even when counting in putting everything back and setting it all up again ... less frustrating than trying to track down an issue probably caused by one little file getting deleted somewhere I would never even think to look.

[azzy.livejournal.com]

AW sweetie. I hope you get it up and running eventually. =)

Oh and next time you get a computer with a preinstalled windows, do copy it down on a disc, you can do that. =) (But i'm sure you remember that so you never has to be in this situation again.)

Hugs Dolly_riot

[genlisae.livejournal.com]

it is getting there! Slowly but happening.

I never remember to make a copy of the 0.S. *headdesk* I should, but I don't. :( keep thinking "oh,l'll do that right after l..." and the list of "right afters" grows and eventually l just forget.

Yay! for you still being around though.

[azzy.livejournal.com]

LOL yeah i'm still here.

I have no plans to reinstall sims at all, i don't miss the fandom to any extend. But i do lurk the hell out of you guys anyway. ^^ That's why i haven't gotten around to delete the sims lj. =)