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XP SP3 Issue

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 1:24 pm
by Clouseau
After cleaning out a virus from fatrher's Dell:

1. Shortcuts on the desktop do not function when clicked. When right clicking on the shortcut, the target is able to be found. Double clicking the shortcut does not produce any results.
2. Drag & drop does not work
3. Restore points are not working. System comes back with the system restore failed, no changes were made. Does not matter what restore point is picked; always get that error message
4. Repairing function on the install disk does not function properly. Starts but then ends with a command prompt without repairing anything.
5. System functions perfectly well except for the above four issues

Hoping the os is not hosed. Not wanting to do a fresh install; too many programs to restore from backups. Have never incountered these issues before. Any help would be appreciated.

Re: XP SP3 Issue

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 4:57 pm
by Major_A
Kind of sounds like a virus/spyware. Have you scanned lately for anything. Another option if the virus/spyware scans come back clean is to try something like this app. I don't know if there's a fix for your problem specifically but it's worth a look.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=7141

Re: XP SP3 Issue

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:05 pm
by Clouseau
Just downloaded it and will try it after the game. Thanks.

Re: XP SP3 Issue

Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:07 pm
by egloeckle
Not really enough info, do any exe files actually run? Try pulling up a command prompt and see if you can start something. Most likely it is malware, however I have run into (more than once) malware that breaks the ability to run exe and other files. You have to re-create registry entries to be able to execute anything if that is the issue. I have some files to fix that but wont post them until you provide more info as they can potentially cause issues.

Re: XP SP3 Issue

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:51 am
by Clouseau
@egloeckle: All exe files run without issue. The only issues are exactly as stated. If right clicked on the shortcut and then clicked properties and then find target, the program could then be lauched from the exe file. It was just that by clicking on the shortcut produced no results. Will try running an exe file trough the command prompt when get back home. Thanks.

@Major_A: Thanks, that repair tool fixed the drag & drop issue. Unfortunately the other issues remain.

Looking through the registry on the .lnk entries, found that there were discrepancies between father's Dell and my XP rig. There was only an entry for ShellNew that exactly matched my rig but the dang link wizzard on the dell cannot create the link. There was no ShellEx entry.

If I was to copy the .lnk entries on my rig to the other, would that work or those entries unique to each installation?

Re: XP SP3 Issue

Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 6:22 pm
by egloeckle
Below are the registry entries for .lnk files that should exist on XP. See if you have them all on the affected machine, if not try to recreate them.


Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk]
@="lnkfile"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellEx]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellEx\{000214EE-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellEx\{000214F9-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellEx\{00021500-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellNew]
"Command"="rundll32.exe appwiz.cpl,NewLinkHere %1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile]
@="Shortcut"
"EditFlags"=dword:00000001
"IsShortcut"=""
"NeverShowExt"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\CLSID]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Offline Files]
@="{750fdf0e-2a26-11d1-a3ea-080036587f03}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\DropHandler]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\IconHandler]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\ShimLayer Property Page]
@="{513D916F-2A8E-4F51-AEAB-0CBC76FB1AF8}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
@="Shortcut"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\InProcServer32]
@="shell32.dll"
"ThreadingModel"="Apartment"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\PersistentAddinsRegistered]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\PersistentAddinsRegistered\{89BCB740-6119-101A-BCB7-00DD010655AF}]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\PersistentHandler]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\ProgID]
@="lnkfile"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\shellex\MayChangeDefaultMenu]

Re: XP SP3 Issue

Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 12:17 am
by Clouseau
Thanks to the both of you. All shortcuts and drag & drop now work. Found this site after writing the keys: http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

This is the only site where no egos get in the way. <-- Why I have been a loyal reader since 2006.

Re: XP SP3 Issue

Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2012 7:26 am
by Major_A
Hey no problem, I didn't really help. I'd still recommend you scan for malware just to be safe.