Help! Missing system32 files? Where can I get them?

[jakobkraft]

I ran an online virus scan after my PC started running extremely slow, but when I selected 'Delete' corrupted files, it seems to have deleted system32 files that Windows needs!

None of my .exe files are working - I get a message saying WIndows cannot find C:\Program files, etc. even though they're there!

I've never had a problem like this before and am clueless as what to do!

I already tried doing a repair using my Xp Pro cd but instead, during the reinstallation I got several missing file messages. It allowed me to skip over them but it ended up making the reinstallation totally ineffective.

And when I go to Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools ->System Restore, I get the same Windows cannot find C:\Windows\system32\restore\rstrui.exe - it's like whatever file WIndows uses to recognize .exe is gone!

The only way I was even able to get online is by going to Start -> Connect To ->Access4Less.
And the only way I'm able to browse is by opening 'My Computer' (the ONLY shortcut that is working) and typing urls in the address bar.

I really don't want to have to do a whole system restore, as getting my programs, games, etc. back to their settings would take me a week...


Is there any way I can download whatever the file is that enables Windows to recognize .exe files?

Any help would be profoundly appreciated, thanks!!

 

[mechBgon]

What malwares did the online scan find, remember some names?

 

[jakobkraft]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
What malwares did the online scan find, remember some names?

ssmyk, I think, and snd16 were two that I saw over and over...

 

[mechBgon]

If you're determined to battle it out, I'd set up a different computer with some good current-generation antivirus software like this maybe, and the Microsoft AntiSpyware beta software, put your affected hard drive into the other computer as a slave, and do exhaustive scans with the antivirus and anti-spyware software to pry loose the bugs. Then you could try another repair installation and see what happens.

I was looking at Symantec's virus descriptions and found the tactics of this one pretty interesting:

http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.elitper.a@mm.html

Notice how it disables running a whole list of .exe's in item #6 there, and disables editing the Registry. If your repair install still misbehaves, you could check those areas of the Registry using the command-line repair option (the first Repair option you're offered when Windows Setup is beginning). If you found that's where you're being locked out, or your programs blocked, you could try reversing those alterations there.

Good luck! 🙂

 

[imported_JFG]

run a system file check (sfc /scannow) to restore system files. You'll need the CD in.

 

[Bozo]

The XP Pro cd actually has two repair modes. When you come to the first 'Repair or do a fresh install' select fresh install.
Then you should see the license agreement. After that, you should get a screen that says XP has found a previous version of XP, repair or fresh install. Now pick repair. It will repair XP but not destroy any of your settings or programs.

Bozo 😀