BSOD's, Unable to install programs via downloaded .exe's

Hello, I've been having a few issues with my computer lately, and as this forum has often saved my hide a few times in the past, I figured I'd come back and beg for some more mercy.

 

First off, the operating system I'm running is Windows Vista Home Premium. This computer was given to me by a friend a few years back, and though not the best computer, it does MOST of what I need it to. After receiving the computer, I did a factory reset, and have had no problems for well over a year, until a day or two ago.

 

Now for the problems! My mother was on the computer the other day, saying she took a picture and was trying to put it on the computer to show me. She then proceeded to tell me that something was installed, and after trying to decipher a computer illiterate person's description of what had happened, I eventually just went about my day. A few hours later, while playing a game online, I got a BSOD saying something like "BAD_POOL_blahblah", can't remember the last part. I chalked that up to a hardware failure, and went back on the computer and resumed what I was doing.

 

Later that day, I tried to install CCleaner to help tidy some things up, and when I attempted to install the .EXE, nothing happened. I tried again, and again, the same thing. And by nothing happened, I mean I double-clicked the .EXE, and literally NOTHING HAPPENED AT ALL. I also downloaded another .EXE for uTorrent, and was met with the same problem.

 

About an hour ago, I was attempting to manually repair my Registry via a tutorial on restoring the ability to install .EXE's where I was met with another BSOD. After that, I decided it's best to come to the pros, and see if you guys can point me in the right direction. 

 

Thanks in advance for your help,

James

Oh joy, one more thing I just noticed, it seems that whatever I just did to the registry, when I right-click an .EXE file to install, the first option says ""%1" %*" instead of "Run...".

Hi a vague blur

My name is Aura and I'll be assisting you with your issue. Follow the instructions below please.

MiniToolBox

• Download MiniToolBox and move the file to your Desktop;
• Right-click on MiniToolBox.exe and select Run as Administrator (for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 users);
• Check the following options:
  • Flush DNS;
  • Report IE Proxy Settings;
  • Reset IE Proxy Settings;
  • Report FF Proxy Settings;
  • Reset FF Proxy Settings;
  • List content of Hosts;
  • List IP Configuration;
  • List Winsock Entries;
  • List Last 10 Event Viewer Errors;
  • List Installed Programs;
  • List Devices - Only Problems;
  • List Users, Partitions and Memory size;
    
• Once this is done, click on Go and wait for the scan to complete;
• Once the scan is complete, a log will open. Please copy/paste the content of the output log in your next reply;

Please uninstall the following programs.

• Adobe Flash Player ActiveX - Outdated and vulnerable;
• Adobe Reader 8.1.0 - Outdated and vulnerable;
• Java 6 Update 45 - Outdated and vulnerable;
• Java 7 Update 5 - Outdated and vulnerable;
• Java SE Runtime Environment 6 Update 1 - Outdated and vulnerable;
• Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - Outdated, I'll link you to right version to install in the steps below;

Once done, follow the instructions below please.

Junkware Removal Tool (JRT)

• Download Junkware Removal Tool (JRT) and move it to your Desktop;
• Right-click on JRT.exe and select Run as Administrator (for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 users);
• Press on any key to launch the scan and let it complete;
  
  Credits : BleepingComputer.com
• Once the scan is complete, a log will open. Please copy/paste the content of the output log in your next reply;

AdwCleaner - Fix Mode

• Download AdwCleaner and move it to your Desktop;
• Right-click on AdwCleaner.exe and select Run as Administrator (for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 users);
• Accept the EULA (I accept), let the database update, then click on Scan;
• Let the scan complete. Once it's done, make sure that every item listed in the different tabs is checked and click on the Cleaning button. This will kill all the active processes;
  
• Once the cleaning process is complete, AdwCleaner will ask to restart your computer, do it;
• After the restart, a log will open when logging in. Please copy/paste the content of that log in your next reply;

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - Clean Mode

• Download and install the free version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
  Note: It's your choice if you want to enable the free trial of Malwarebytes Premium or not. Enabling it will give you real-time protection from the program, as well as access to all the Premium features.
  Note: If you have Malwarebytes already installed, you don't need to install it again. Simply start from the next bullet point;
• Once Malwarebytes is installed, launch it and let it update his database. You might have to click on the Update Now button;
• Once the database update is complete, click on the Scan tab, then select the Threat Scan button and click on Start Scan;
• Let the scan run, the time required to complete the scan depends of your system and computer specs;
• Once the scan is complete, make sure that the checkbox by Threat is checked (it means that every item detected is checked), then click on the Remove Selected button;
  
• Click on Save Results after the deletion (in the bottom-right corner) and select Copy to clipboard. Paste the content in your next reply;

Your next reply(ies) should therefore contain:

• Copy/pasted JRT log;
• Copy/pasted AdwCleaner clean log;
• Copy/pasted Malwarebytes clean log;

JRT log:

 

ADwCleaner Log:

 

# AdwCleaner v5.034 - Logfile created 18/02/2016 at 12:46:03

MWBAM log:

 

Alright Follow the instructions below please.

Windows Repair All-In-One
NOTE: Before following to step below, please disable your Antivirus software or any other real-time security software that you have enabled.

• Boot in Safe Mode with Networking;
• Download the portable version of Windows Repair All-In-One;
• Move the file (archive) on your Desktop, and extract it there;
• Go in the tweaking.com_windows_repair_aio folder, then Tweaking.com - Windows Repair folder, right-click on Repair_Windows.exe and select Run as Administrator;
• From there, click on the Next button until you are presented with an Open Repairs button and click on it;
• Let the Registry back up complete, and move on to the check-list window;
• Click on the Unselect All button at the bottom, then check the following items:
  • Repair File Associations - Make sure that all the options are checked underneat;
• Once done, click on the Start Repairs button and let the scan execute;
• If you are being prompted with a Security Warning, allow it to go through;
• Once the repair is complete, it'll ask you to restart your computer, please do it;

When I downloaded the portable version of Windows-All-In-One, extracted it to the desktop, I didn't see a "tweaking.com_windows_repair_aio" folder. The main folder was "Tweaking.com - Windows Repair", I opened that, and in that folder was the "Repair_Windows.exe" you referred to. Is this okay?

Yes sorry, the file might have changed name since I wrote this canned a while ago. Launch Repair_Windows.exe, yes.

I've run the Windows Repair All-In-One and followed your instructions. Just finished restarting. Is there anything else?

Now are you able to install CCleaner if you download it from the link below?

https://www.piriform.com/ccleaner/download/standard2

Yes, I can download and install .exe's now. Is there anyway I can fix the problem where when I right-click a program, it says "%1" %* instead of "Run..."?

Yes. Follow the instructions below please.

• On Windows Vista & 7, click on the Windows Start Menu, then enter cmd in the search box, right-click on the cmd icon and select Run as Administrator
• On Windows 8, drag your cursor in the bottom-left corner, and right-click on the metro menu preview, then select Command Prompt (Admin);
• On Windows 8.1, right click on the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner and select Command Prompt (Admin);
• Enter the following commands, one after the other. You'll know when you're ready to input the next command when a new line with a blinking cursor will appear under the precedent one:
  Note: You can copy and paste these commands instead of typing them. To copy a command inside the command prompt, move your mouse over the blinking cursor, right-click and select Paste. You must have copied the command prior to that (via Ctrl + C or left-click and Copy).
  

  reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile /s > "%userprofile%\Desktop\HKCR_exe.txt"
  reg query HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open /s > "%userprofile%\Desktop\HKCR_exe_shell.txt"
  

• Once you're done running the commands, two files will have appeared on your desktop:
  • HKCR_exe.txt
  • HKCR_exe_shell.txt
• Open both of them, and copy/paste their content in your next reply;