Windows Desktop Users Common problems with solutions

1. Whenever I double-click on any drive/folder in My Computer, a Search window opens.


Sol: Open regedit and goto following keys one by one:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Drive\shell

In right-side pane, delete the “Default” key. If it doesnt work then delete the key “find” under both.


2. Whenever I double-click on any drive in My Computer, I get following error message:

Cannot find copy.exe. Make sure you have typed the name correctly and then try again.

Sol: Enable “Show hidden files” option in “Tools -> Folder Options” and then search for “Autorun.inf” file in all drivers and if you get them in root of any drive (e.g. in C:\, D:\ and so on), delete them.


3. Whenever I open a folder, another folder with the same name is created under it.

Sol: Your system is infected by a variant of Indonesian virus called Brontok/Rontokbro. It creates a sub-folder in a folder with same name. Most of the times it comes from mobile memory cards. Scan with a good anti-virus and remove the virus. Also download HijackThis and scan your system with it in Safe Mode, then fix following entries:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\SSVICHOSST.exe
F2 – REG:system.ini: Shell=Explorer.exe SSVICHOSST.exe
O4 – HKCU\.\Run: [Yahoo Messengger] C:\WINDOWS\system32\SSVICHOSST.exe
O7 – HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System, DisableRegedit=1



4. Whenever I start my computer, My Documents/My Computer opens automatically at windows startup.

Sol: Open regedit and goto:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

In right-side pane, change value of “Userinit” to:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,

NOTE: If you have windows installed in other drives, then change C:\ to that drive label.

Now goto:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

In right-side pane, change value of “PersistBrowsers” to 0

Now log off windows and it should solve the problem

5. When I start my computer, I get error message:

NTLDR is missing

or

Boot: Couldn’t find NTLDR

Sol: Boot using Windows Setup CD and enter into “Recovery Console” by pressing “R”. Now Log into windows installation and enter admin password. Now give following commands at prompt:

copy x:\i386\ntldr c:\
copy x:\i386\ntdetect.com c:\

Where “x” is your CD drive, change it acc. to your system.


6. When I start my computer, I get error message:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:

\system32\hal.dll.

Please re-install a copy of the above file.

Sol: Boot using Windows Setup CD and enter into “Recovery Console” by pressing “R”. Now Log into windows installation and enter admin password. Now give following commands at prompt:

Attrib -H -R -S C:\Boot.ini
Del C:\Boot.ini
BootCfg /Rebuild
Fixboot


7. When I start my computer, I get error message:

“Windows\System32\config\system” file missing or corrupt

Sol: Boot using Windows Setup CD and enter into “Recovery Console” by pressing “R”. Now Log into windows installation and enter admin password. Now give following commands at prompt:

copy %windir%\Repair\system %windir%\System32\Config

If it doesnt work, then again boot into “Recovery Console” and give following commands:

fixmbr
bootcfg /scan
bootcfg /rebuild
fixboot


8. Whenever I start my computer, Scandisk starts running even I proper shut down the PC last time.

Sol: Do as following:

A. Open regedit and goto:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager

In right-side pane, change the value of BootExecute to:

autocheck autochk *

B. If the above trick doesnt help then give following commands in Command Prompt:

chkntfs /x drive_name

for e.g., if ScanDisk runs automatically for C: and D: drives, then give following commands one by one:

chkntfs /x C:
chkntfs /x D:


9. I can’t see Hidden files/folders in my computer. Even I enable the option “Show hidden files/folders” in “Tools -> Folder Options”, its automtically disabled again.

Sol: Open regedit and goto:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

In right-side pane, change value of “Hidden” to as following:

1 – To show hidden files
2 – To not show hidden files

If it doesnt work, then scan your computer with an anti-virus software


10. I accidentally deleted my “mspaint.exe”/”notepad.exe”/etc. file, how can I get it back?

Sol: You can use any of following methods:

A. Goto “%windir%\System32\DLLCache” folder and look for the file, if its there then copy it to “%windir%\System32\” folder.

B. Insert your Windows Setup CD and goto “I386″ folder. Now look for the same file, it’ll present there but the last letter of extension will be “_”. e.g., u’ll get “mspaint.ex_”/”notepad.ex_”/etc. Now open Command Prompt and goto “I386″ folder and give following command:

expand mspaint.ex_ mspaint.exe
expand notepad.ex_ notepad.exe
etc.

Now u can copy the file to “%windir%\System32″ folder.

C. Give following command in Command Prompt:

sfc /SCANNOW

It’ll automatically restore the files.