ooc: potential availability issues and HELP OMG.

[solo_sword]

I have no idea wtf happened to my computer, but it decided it was going to read all the program applications on my desktop as Adobe files, and when I decided I'd try to open the Explorer app with Internet Explorer, it turned all the applications into Explorer files that make me try to download the app as a link that doesn't exist. (Though I'm running a virus sweep and the sweep is running fine but the icon says Internet Explorer. See, I have no idea.) I'M HAVING A FUN NIGHT REALLY.

This might be an unnecessary post, since I can get Firefox and Pidgin and stuff if I use previous files, but I don't know how long before those get deleted off or whatever. Plus I can't seem to restore anything and it's looking like I can't afford to bring the computer in to be fixed yet. So this can serve as my "just in case I poke something that screws everything up worse" notice that I hopefully won't need. At the very least I expect to not be around a ton/totally distracted on Wednesday as I try to fix this without throwing anything.

And if anyone is using a Windows 7 Starter (which is different than the full Windows 7) and has any idea how to restore my system, please please please email me because I have no idea wtf I am doing.

Comments

[trigons_child]

Weeeeeird!

What are you running as a virus scan? Try AVG; it's served me well in the past.

You might also want to try uninstalling adobe reader and see what that does.

[justwantsquiet.livejournal.com]

AVG is great, omg -- I use Microsoft Security Essentials, which works beautifully for me as an every day thing.

And I agree with the uninstallation of Adobe -- I'll see if I can get my techie boy on the phone today and see what he recommends, too.

[weetuskenraider]

Sounds like there could have been something wonked up in the registry.

Can you try downloading and running CCleaner to see if that clears anything up? (Actually, I recommend CCleaner to anyone running Windows in general. I heart it.)

(Also, did you get a Win7 Starter disc with the computer by any chance? You'd need an external optical drive, but I can help out there . . .)

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

That really sounds like a virus.

The thing is, some of the smarter viruses are able to infect virus checkers and prevent them from finding anything. If you can, make an emergency disk from a virus checker on another computer and then boot from it on the messed-up computer.



...Another thing, too: If the icons are all wrong, but the files themselves are fine, that's just a problem with your computer's icon cache. It sounds like you're saying they're all opening with the wrong program, though, which is a different issue entirely.

[solo_sword]

Thank you for the advice, cuz two different virus scans came back clean. I just have to see if I can do it from work, since the only other computers I have are Macs, where I don't have any of that. (I miss my Macs.)