[mathguy54]

Hello-
I have a problem running applications on my Win7x64 desktop. I can highlight desktop icons, but only start some of them. If I try to start something like my Avast Antivirus software, nothing happens. Nothing happens for the following, also: Google Chrome, Camtasia Studio 7, Quicktime, Lightworks, Adobe Reader 9, Skype, FL Studio 2010, iTunes, Minecraft (OH NO!! ), Steam, and Portal. In addition, trying to start applications from the Windows Explorer window, taskbar, start menu, etc, including files, like Word documents (as in not just applications, but documents that application might use). I can start IE9 by opening task manager and going to File>New Task, but I haven't found anything else that can be run like this. There ARE some programs that work, though (through desktop, explorer, start menu, etc), which include, but aren't limited to, the following: Recycle Bin, My Computer, Paint.NET, MCEdit, Eclipse (Java IDE), folders, and LMMS(Linux Multimedia Studio).

I have searched forums and knowledgebases, but haven't found problems quite like mine. I hope I do not have to pay for a computer expert to come to fix this problem, so please respond with any helpful feedback you can, whether it solves the problem or not! Feel free to ask any questions and give any instructions (I am an advanced user and have lots of even more advanced user friends), so don't limit your answers to basic instruction.

Please help (because I need it),
mathguy54

[no2pencil]

Do you get the same results booting in safe mode?

[mathguy54]

no2pencil, on 24 September 2011 - 05:29 PM, said:

Do you get the same results booting in safe mode?

I do get the same results in Safe Mode.

[no2pencil]

I would recommend booting into Safe Mode, command prompt only & running SFC /scannow to verify all of your Windows Core/DLL files. Before doing that check the event viewer & see if there are any obvious failures during boot up.

If the SFC scan fails to return anything, try booting into the 'repair/diagnostic' mode, & issuing the command : SFC /offbootdir=C:\ /offwin=WINDOWS

I have a feeling it's something malicious, my gut tells me to attack that side of it 1st.

[SixOfEleven]

Sounds like corrupted Windows files. Some of the programs, Paint.NET for example, are .NET programs and don't require many Windows files. Eclipse is run from it's own directory and doesn't have the same dependencies. You might be able to do a repair of the Windows specific files.

*edit*
#2 beat me to the punch.

[no2pencil]

Internet High-Five SixOfEleven!

[mathguy54]

no2pencil, on 24 September 2011 - 05:38 PM, said:

I would recommend booting into Safe Mode, command prompt only & running SFC /scannow to verify all of your Windows Core/DLL files. Before doing that check the event viewer & see if there are any obvious failures during boot up.

If the SFC scan fails to return anything, try booting into the 'repair/diagnostic' mode, & issuing the command : SFC /offbootdir=C:\ /offwin=WINDOWS

I have a feeling it's something malicious, my gut tells me to attack that side of it 1st.

Hmm... this is edging on my skill... I am glad an expert is here!

Just to make sure I have everything right, I have a few questions:

1. How should I proceed if SFC does return problems?
2. What should I look for in event viewer, and where in event viewer do I find that?
3. Does "SFC /offdrive=C:\/offwin=WINDOWS" work for any computer? I am not sure if I need to change any parameters for my computer (in other commands it might be the username or a file name and such).


Thanks so much for your help. I sincerely appreciate it.

SixOfEleven, on 24 September 2011 - 05:43 PM, said:

Sounds like corrupted Windows files. Some of the programs, Paint.NET for example, are .NET programs and don't require many Windows files. Eclipse is run from it's own directory and doesn't have the same dependencies. You might be able to do a repair of the Windows specific files.

*edit*
#2 beat me to the punch.

This comment and no2pencil's comment made me smile!

What causes file corruption, or is that too broad or vague of a question?

[SixOfEleven]

File corruption can be caused by a variety of things. Physical damage is a big cause of corrupted files. Magnetic interference is another possible cause of corrupted files. The computer being jarred while the drive is in use can cause it. Malware can cause damage to system files as well.

[mathguy54]

SixOfEleven, on 24 September 2011 - 06:03 PM, said:

File corruption can be caused by a variety of things. Physical damage is a big cause of corrupted files. Magnetic interference is another possible cause of corrupted files. The computer being jarred while the drive is in use can cause it. Malware can cause damage to system files as well.

Maybe I should create a backup on my external hard drive tomorrow...

[no2pencil]

If there were corruption caused by physical damage or file system corruption/damage, I normally see a BSOD 0x07B STOP error or chkdsk /r warnings.

This would indicate the Kernel is unable to mount the boot volume. You are getting past that, as you can make it clear to the desktop..

Quote

1. How should I proceed if SFC does return problems?

Lets see what errors it returns 1st

Quote

2. What should I look for in event viewer, and where in event viewer do I find that?

I would check under the system & application tabs, just look for errors. Lets see if anything is being reported.

Quote

3. Does "SFC /offdrive=C:\/offwin=WINDOWS" work for any computer? I am not sure if I need to change any parameters for my computer (in other commands it might be the username or a file name and such).

Assuming your windows is installed on the C: drive & under the directory "Windows", then this is what you should use.

[SixOfEleven]

mathguy54, on 24 September 2011 - 09:07 PM, said:

SixOfEleven, on 24 September 2011 - 06:03 PM, said:

File corruption can be caused by a variety of things. Physical damage is a big cause of corrupted files. Magnetic interference is another possible cause of corrupted files. The computer being jarred while the drive is in use can cause it. Malware can cause damage to system files as well.

Maybe I should create a backup on my external hard drive tomorrow...

Making a backup to an external drive is always a good idea. With Windows 7 you can create a System Image rather than a normal backup and it is a little easier to restore your computer back to a working state.

[mathguy54]

no2pencil, on 24 September 2011 - 06:13 PM, said:

If there were corruption caused by physical damage or file system corruption/damage, I normally see a BSOD 0x07B STOP error or chkdsk /r warnings.

This would indicate the Kernel is unable to mount the boot volume. You are getting past that, as you can make it clear to the desktop..

Quote

1. How should I proceed if SFC does return problems?

Lets see what errors it returns 1st

Quote

2. What should I look for in event viewer, and where in event viewer do I find that?

I would check under the system & application tabs, just look for errors. Lets see if anything is being reported.

Quote

3. Does "SFC /offdrive=C:\/offwin=WINDOWS" work for any computer? I am not sure if I need to change any parameters for my computer (in other commands it might be the username or a file name and such).

Assuming your windows is installed on the C: drive & under the directory "Windows", then this is what you should use.

Alright. One last thing before I do this: Is it ok to type "SFC /offdrive=C:\/offwin=WINDOWS" in "C:\Users\MyName", or should I first type "cd c:\"?

[no2pencil]

No no... just a minor detail

If you boot into safe mode / command prompt only you need to issue sfc /scannow
If you boot into repair/diagnostic mode (& you are on the X:\ drive), you need to indicate the boot drive & windows directory.

[mathguy54]

no2pencil, on 24 September 2011 - 06:23 PM, said:

No no... just a minor detail

If you boot into safe mode / command prompt only you need to issue sfc /scannow
If you boot into repair/diagnostic mode (& you are on the X:\ drive), you need to indicate the boot drive & windows directory.

So "cd c:\windows" and then the other long command?

[no2pencil]

At start up hit F8, boot into safe mode with command prompt only.

Once you are at a command prompt issue sfc /scannow

If that fails, reboot, hit F8,& select 'Repair my computer'. You will get a menu for repair items. The last one should be command prompt. Select it. You'll get a command prompt on the X:\ drive.

Issue sfc /offdrive=C:\ /offwin=WINDOWS

You don't need to change any directories, as it's scanning the entire drive.