BleepingComputer.com: Hard drive failure, then empty desktop

So as I was using the computer I received a notice in the lower right hand corner that said something along the lines of "hard drive failure, please restart computer." So I did. But when I did, I came back and the desktop was empty and the background was blue. The only thing left was the taskbar at the bottom, but even there, most of the quick launch icons were missing too. I clicked the start button and under programs there were no programs! However upon looking under "my computers" supposedly everything is still there...

I ran anti malware bites, I have Mcafee Antivirus installed, and I ran Emisoft Anti-Malware... all found a few things, and I have a few icons on my desk top now, but still for the most part it is exactly the same! What do I do?!!?

Oh and the internet still works, as I'm using the computer with this problem on it. I just use the "run" function. I guess I should also add I'm using XP Professional.

This post has been edited by hamluis: 24 June 2011 - 05:30 PM
Reason for edit: Moved from XP to Am I Infected.

your system is infected. I'm asking a mod to move this to the appropriate forum. Sit tight.

Thank you!! :D !!!

Let's see, if we can recover your missing features.
Download and run UnHide

eshman, on 24 June 2011 - 07:55 PM, said:

Woops... no it didn't fix all of the items, some are missing!

This post has been edited by eshman: 25 June 2011 - 05:29 PM

Well done

okay, no it didn't fix the problem.

I think this is all part of the same problem, but my computer is reallllly slow, and there is a program called: Windows XP Repair that appeared on my desktop...

Two more things that may be of interest: the computer sometimes doesn't restart properly, it stays stuck on the first page (dell loading page); and when I did get it to restart there was a green pop up in the bottom right hand corner that said "windows had to restart, but is now updated."

Quote

What exactly is not working?

Quote

You can safely delete that shortcut.

Let's run some checks...

Download Security Check from HERE, and save it to your Desktop.

* Double-click SecurityCheck.exe
* Follow the onscreen instructions inside of the black box.
* A Notepad document should open automatically called checkup.txt; please post the contents of that document.

===============================================================================

Download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (aka MBAM): http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free to your desktop.

* Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
* At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
* If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
* Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.
* When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
* Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
* When completed, a log will open in Notepad.
* Post the log back here.

Be sure to restart the computer.

The log can also be found here:
C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\log-date.txt
Or at C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\log-date.txt

Hope this helps. I guess one more issue is maybe of relevance. When I click the scroller button on the mouse to open a new tab with a link, it opens to a yahoo website that says "the link is not available." But if I copy and paste the link, it works!

Results of screen317's Security Check version 0.99.7
Windows XP Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 7 Out of date!
``````````````````````````````
Antivirus/Firewall Check:
Windows Firewall Disabled!
McAfee Virtual Technician
McAfee SecurityCenter
Antivirus up to date!
```````````````````````````````
Anti-malware/Other Utilities Check:
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
Java™ 6 Update 23
Out of date Java installed!
Adobe Flash Player 10.1.102.64
Adobe Reader 9.1
Out of date Adobe Reader installed!
Mozilla Firefox (x86 en-US..) Firefox Out of Date!
````````````````````````````````
Process Check:
objlist.exe by Laurent
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware mbamservice.exe
Emsisoft Anti-Malware a2service.exe
Emsisoft Anti-Malware a2guard.exe
``````````End of Log````````````


------------------

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.51.0.1200
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: 6940

Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 7.0.5730.13

6/25/2011 2:18:25 PM
mbam-log-2011-06-25 (14-18-24).txt

Scan type: Quick scan
Objects scanned: 240233
Time elapsed: 15 minute(s), 52 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 0
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 0

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

What exactly is not working is that the program files are empty (start>programs>any program>empty). So the program names are there in the start programs menu, but when u want to open them, you can't because it says (empty) on any specific program.

Is mouse scroller the only remaining issue?

1. Update Internet Explorer to version 8.

2. 1. Update your Java version here: http://www.java.com/en/download/installed.jsp

Note 1: UNCHECK any pre-checked toolbar and/or software offered with the Java update. The pre-checked toolbars/software are not part of the Java update.

Note 2: The Java Quick Starter (JQS.exe) adds a service to improve the initial startup time of Java applets and applications. If you don't want to run another extra service, go to Start > Control Panel > Java > Advanced > Miscellaneous and uncheck the box for Java Quick Starter. Click OK and restart your computer.

2. Now, we need to remove old Java version and its remnants...

Download JavaRa to your desktop and unzip it to its own folder

• Run JavaRa.exe (Vista users! Right click on JavaRa.exe, click Run As Administrator), pick the language of your choice and click Select. Then click Remove Older Versions.
  
• Accept any prompts.

3. Update Adobe Reader

You can download it from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
After installing the latest Adobe Reader, uninstall all previous versions.
Note. If you already have Adobe Photoshop® Album Starter Edition installed or do not wish to have it installed UNcheck the box which says Also Download Adobe Photoshop® Album Starter Edition.

Alternatively, you can uninstall Adobe Reader (33.5 MB), download and install Foxit PDF Reader(3.5MB) from HERE.
It's a much smaller file to download and uses a lot less resources than Adobe Reader.
Note: When installing FoxitReader, make sure to UN-check any pre-checked toolbar, or any other garbage.

4. Download Temp File Cleaner (TFC)
Double click on TFC.exe to run the program.
Click on Start button to begin cleaning process.
TFC will close all running programs, and it may ask you to restart computer.

5. Please run a free online scan with the ESET Online Scanner

• Disable your antivirus program
  
• Tick the box next to YES, I accept the Terms of Use
  
• Click Start
  
• Accept any security warnings from your browser.
  
• Check Scan archives
  
• Click Start
  
• ESET will then download updates for itself, install itself, and begin scanning your computer. Please be patient as this can take some time.
  
• When the scan completes, push List of found threats
  
• Click on Export to text file , and save the file to your desktop using a unique name, such as ESETScan. Include the contents of this report in your next reply.

Quote

I didn't see the above, when I posted previous reply.
Hold on with those previous steps...

Please download SystemLook from one of the links below and save it to your Desktop.
Download Mirror #1
Download Mirror #2
64-bit users go HERE

• Double-click SystemLook.exe to run it.
  
• Vista\Win 7 users:: Right click on SystemLook.exe, click Run As Administrator
  
• Copy the content of the following box into the main textfield:
  

  :dir
  %Temp%\smtmp /s
  

  
  
  
• Click the Look button to start the scan.
  
• When finished, a notepad window will open with the results of the scan. Please post this log in your next reply.

Note: The log can also be found on your Desktop entitled SystemLook.txt

I tried both mirrors, but when I click "look," I get the error: "Script required!"

eshman, on 26 June 2011 - 04:49 AM, said:

Woops, never mind. Heres' the log:

SystemLook 04.09.10 by jpshortstuff
Log created at 02:49 on 26/06/2011 by ltvalenzuela
Administrator - Elevation successful

========== dir ==========

C:\DOCUME~1\LTVALE~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\smtmp - Unable to find folder.

-= EOF =-