[help] Can't Run Any Apps

I fired up my old PII today so I could network it and my Athlon system to transfer/back up some stuff. I installed Trend Micro PC-Cillin Internet Security 2004 and while it was doing the pre-install system scan, it detected a virus and I deleted it. After rebooting, I can't run any programs anymore. I can't even run system restore to bring it back to where it was before I deleted the virus.

Whenever I try to open an application ,an error window pops up saying that Windows can't find the app. The same error will come up whether I run an application from a shortcut or straight from the .exe in it's install folder. Something tells me that a vital part of XP was infected and consequently deleted. Is there any way to fix this or will I have to go through and do a repair installation of XP? (Both systems are running XP Pro SP1 with all critical updates as of today).

#153018

I'm not sure if this will work, but you can try this:

1) Goto Start>Run...

2) Type in 'SFC /scannow' (minus the quotes)

3) Insert the Windows XP CD if prompted.

If that doesn't work, you can always pop-in the Windows XP CD and run the recovery console, then try SFC /scannow from there too.

If that doesn't find anything missing or wrong, you may have to restore the file deleted manually. What's the file that was deleted?

#153137

I don't remember. Running that from the Start > Run menu doesn't work. Guess I try recovery console next.

#153351

Was it the sircam virus? If so, maybe this will help: removal.

#153558

Urgh, sorry to say but this happened to me too, i posted here too and couldn't do anything but reformat Good luck with that...

#153655

Fixed it. It was a variety of the Backdoor.OptixPro trojan. A registry tweak allowed me to run .exe's again which led to PC-Cillin functioning again, which led to removal of the little bastard virus.

Thanks for the help.

#154099