File Icons Missing and Un-Openable

Hey, its Mack

Something I downloaded must have caused this but I dont know what th
download was. For some reason my files and drives are either no existen
or show up as "My Computer" icons. WhenI try to open one of these file
the window does not respond and there for I cannot interact with an
files on my computer. I do not wasnt to system restore or system wipe s
any other alternative will be greatly welcomed. I don't want to pay 5
dollars for a problem such as this

Here is a link to the screenshot that shows my problem

'http://fileshack.us/get_file.php?id=...e=tmpTf4Lw.jpg
(http://fileshack.us/get_file.php?id=...e=tmpTf4Lw.jpg)
Help would be welcomed asap

Thank you

Mack :geek

--
Mack.

Here are some ideas:

1) Use Task Manager and see if you can find the culprit process or service
that is causing Windows Explorer "not responding." Track it down and delete
it.

2) If you don't have malware protection software, now is the time to
purchase or download a safe freeware version. Use it to try to find and
destroy the malware culprit.

3)In this case, do not rule out System Restore. System Restore will not
affect your documents. It may be a quick fix, if you're lucky.

Good luck...
--
oscar

....Right click is your very good friend...


"Mack." wrote:

>
> Hey, its Mack.
>
> Something I downloaded must have caused this but I dont know what the
> download was. For some reason my files and drives are either no existent
> or show up as "My Computer" icons. WhenI try to open one of these files
> the window does not respond and there for I cannot interact with any
> files on my computer. I do not wasnt to system restore or system wipe so
> any other alternative will be greatly welcomed. I don't want to pay 59
> dollars for a problem such as this.
>
> Here is a link to the screenshot that shows my problem.
>
> 'http://fileshack.us/get_file.php?id=...e=tmpTf4Lw.jpg'
> (http://fileshack.us/get_file.php?id=...e=tmpTf4Lw.jpg)
> Help would be welcomed asap.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Mack :geek:
>
>
> --
> Mack.
>

Google is your friend:
http://www.google.com/search?num=100...a+&btnG=Search

TinyURL= http://tinyurl.com/5fbs5e

For the lazy and/or impatient among you, this is probably the procedure that
fits your case, from some newsgroup repeater I won't name, but edited for
your benefit, with an eye towards being explicit:

1. Click on the Start "Orb", type in CMD, look for the file CMD.EXE at the
top of the menu, right-click it and Run as Administrator. Then just leave it
there.

2. Right-click the Taskbar, then click Task Manager and on the Processes
tab, kill EXPLORER.EXE. Leave Task Manager open.

3. In the Command console, run the following commands, pressing <enter> at
the end of each line:

cd\
cd users
cd your_user_name
cd appdata
cd local
attrib -h iconcache.db
del iconcache.db
exit

4. In Task Manager, go to File menu, then New Task, type in Explorer.exe and
<enter>. Then close Task Manager.

5. Report back if that doesn't help (or even if it does, please), and
meanwhile try to think of what you might have installed around the time this
problem showed up. For instance, if you go to Programs and Features in
Control Panel, you can sort the list of installed items by the date
installed.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com

"Mack." <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> Hey, its Mack.
>
> Something I downloaded must have caused this but I dont know what the
> download was. For some reason my files and drives are either no existent
> or show up as "My Computer" icons. WhenI try to open one of these files
> the window does not respond and there for I cannot interact with any
> files on my computer. I do not wasnt to system restore or system wipe so
> any other alternative will be greatly welcomed. I don't want to pay 59
> dollars for a problem such as this.
>
> Here is a link to the screenshot that shows my problem.
>
> 'http://fileshack.us/get_file.php?id=...e=tmpTf4Lw.jpg'
> (http://fileshack.us/get_file.php?id=...e=tmpTf4Lw.jpg)
> Help would be welcomed asap.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Mack :geek:
>
>
> --
> Mack.

I did exactly what you said, I don't know what the process is. I can'
find the features thing and I did the thing in console AND I did
system restore

--
Mack.

I said it was the solution that "probably" fit your case. And I forgot to
tell you to reboot. But I also gave you a Google Search with lots of other
articles returned. Have you looked at any of the others? And how far back
did you go with your System Restore? SR includes restoring the Registry to
that point in time, and that was next on my list of probable causes. Do you
have problems using Desktop shortcuts, Startup shortcuts, etc? I know
already that your Start Menu works.

Check for a corrupt system file. Start another Elevated Command Prompt (Run
as Administrator) and run:
sfc /scannow

Aside: Please include *all* of the previous content with your replies. It
makes it easier to keep track of who you are and what your problem is.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com

PS -- I'm going to steal this again from PA Bear. I hope it isn't
habit-forming.

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis log
to an appropriate forum.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_R...:_Introduction
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware

When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use (in
conjuction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix anything on
its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html, or other appropriate forums for review
by an expert in such matters, not here.**

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.

--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

"Mack." <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> I did exactly what you said, I don't know what the process is. I can't
> find the features thing and I did the thing in console AND I did a
> system restore.
>
>
> --
> Mack.