BleepingComputer.com: IE7

cannot get 1E7 to open @ all.
click on the icon,it just 'flashes' for a moment,then nothing.
i recently downloaded several windows updates,& since then,my comp has started to act up.firstly my taskbar & start menu disappeared. i managed to get those back.
now i can't drag my desktop icons,
my firewall,Comodo,wont initialize.
Malwarebytes wont open.
cant access System Restore @ all
& no audio device.
& my printer isnt recognized! i get error messages on all the above when i try to open them.
i can get online using Firefox,& Kmeleon.can also access Outlook Express with no problem.its just IE7 thats giving me probs.
any ideas whats happened?is something corrupted?
should i reinstall IE7,or install IE8?
help!!!

Hi there is the same happening in safe mode or haven't you tried !

thanx for your reply.haven't tried that yet.
if i can,then what?

If Mbam is fully updated and you can open it in safe mode theres nothing wrong with running it in safe mode and see what it comes up with, also forgot tyo ask whats your OS !

XP.Service Pack 4
just to clarify a few things i dont understand.
i can get online with Firefox,Kmeleon.
i can access Outlook Express.
iCANNOT=drag my desktop icons.this is whats bothering me.why can't i drag them?i had them grouped in a bunch in the top left corner,but now every time i boot up,they line up in a straight line down the left hand side & they wont move!
i can download & run Comodo,but it wont initialize.
same with Superantispyware.can download,but it wont open.
& it seems all my restore points on System Restore have been deleted!
i'm just worried about surfing the net with no firewall.i've tried the Windows firewall,but i get a pop up saying that it cant initialize too.
so i'm at a loss.

As i said earlier If Mbam is fully updated and you can open it in safe mode theres nothing wrong with running it in safe mode, you don't have to be online to do this !!
Also when did you update with XP SP4 and where did you download it from was it just through updates or did you download from some somewhere else !

Scanning with MBAM in safe or normal mode will work but removal functions are not as powerful in safe mode. MBAM is designed to be at full power when malware is running so safe mode is not necessary when using it. In fact, it loses some effectiveness for detection & removal when used in safe mode because the program includes a special driver which does not work in safe mode. Further, scanning in safe mode prevents some types of malware from running so it may be missed during the detection process. For optimal removal, normal mode is recommended so it does not limit the abilities of MBAM. Doing a safe mode scan should only be done when a regular mode scan fails.

If you cannot use or complete a scan in normal mode, then try performing a Quick Scan in "Safe Mode". After reboot, click the Logs tab and copy/paste the contents of the new report in your next reply.


That said if MBAM won't run then run this first and try MBAM after that.