My computer had a heart attack

Question

It's not dead, but it sure has a couple problems as a result. I'll list what I have noticed, but there it is very glitchy so these are most likely just symtoms of the actual problem.   1) Every shortcut on my computer has lost all of its information including icon and target, rendering allot of my programs unusable.   2) iTunes refuses to recognize some songs on my computer and everytime I turn iTunes on it runs through its tutorial program, as if it was the first time I had run it.   3) System checkup doesn't seem to find anything wrong.   4) My preferences in certain programs, namely Avant Browser and Trillian messenger were reset. The preferences in the control panel were also reset.   5) Every link in my start menu isn't working, I've replaced a few but many such as system tools don't want to work in any condition.   6) PeerGuardian, Ad-Aware, AVG AntiVirus, Google Desktop and IE do not seem to be affected by this at all.   I first noticed this problem when my quicklauch icons were replaced by the broken link icons, I reset my computer and the above problems occured. Can you suggest any method of helping? I went to the microsoft site and they directed me here. Thank you for your time.   Sorry, forgot one thing, my Wallpaper reset as well, just want to give as much info as possible. Message Edited by Soliberating on 05-26-200612:46 AM

Soliberating · Answer

So...  what should I do dell? I have the fullest warrenty I could buy from you valid until 2009.

sun2006247 · Answer

I hope you computer is not affected by virus as you have AVG active.

If you have the operating system CD handy you can run sfc /scannow to check the system files. You can also run PC Restrore if available on the computer. But all the data will be lost in the computer and it will return back to the factory settings.

Soliberating · Answer

I would only do the restore thing if the operating system has been compromised, however it appears that the damage was limited.   iTunes however does not seem to work regardless of how many times I reinstall it, so I replaced it with WinAmp.   I've been fixing the start menu, shortcut by shortcut as I've been using them. This method seems like it will take awhile.   There doesn't appear to be any virus, but I am shocked that Dell doesn't ship computers with an IP blocker such as Peerguardian 2. The IP blocker, along with Lavasoft Ad-watch, AVG firewall and Windows firewall act as a proactive guard against viruses and AVG acts as a reactive guard against them as well. Thus the likelyhood of a virus penetrating all of these guards and not being logged by any, or any registry change being logged for that matter, casts doubt on the likelyhood of the damage being caused by a virus.   The only cause of this problem seems to be a corrupted system dll. This would explain why the damage seems to have ceased after restart and why the shortcuts were cleared. However the iTunes bug seems to be a mystery.

sun2006247 · Answer

alright.

So if there is a problem with the system files you can try running the sfc /scannow to check for any damage in the system files. But you may require an operating system CD. Try to get one or check if any of your friends have an OS CD to run sfc /scannow

Windows General

My computer had a heart attack

Was this post helpful?