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How do you clear everything off of the search menu?

Help computer virus, my start menu is empty!?

  • Ok, don't know much about computers so please bear with me. I have Windows XP and recently contracted a Trojan Virus. I ran Antivirus and everything cleared up. When I logged back on my whole computer was blank, my shortcuts were gone, my task bar was empty, and the only thing that was in my start menu was, "PC Help and Tools (empty)". I don't even have the My Computer, My Docs, Control Panel, etc. tabs in my start menu. I know everything is still there because I can type things into the "run" box and see and select all my folders (like my internet) I can pull everything up and it runs fine. The only things I couldn't see were personal folders, docs, pics, music, etc. I did something and 7 shortcuts (all MSN games) showed up on my start menu. I figured out how to go to the Control Panel and selected "Show hidden folders". That brought back all of my shortcuts onto my desktop and now I can search for and open all of my personal folders (pics, docs, music, etc.) so nothing was lost. The only thing that's inaccessible is my start menu, NOTHING is there. The only way I can open anything is by searching for it in the run box. Please, please help me. Thank you SOOOOOO much. I'm so sorry if I've confused you, but trust me you're not half as confused as I am! LOL Thanks again!

  • Answer:

    Hello Pottergirl! Well, what a nasty virus that was! Ah well, there is a solution though. I google'd your problem and came up with this link. The solution you are looking for is located within the 2nd post (The reply to the question that was asked on there) and it should help you. http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic401172.html If this doesn't help you and the virus was contracted recently (Few days?), you can try to do a System Restore to a date before you contracted the virus. That is a sure-fix without much hassle unless you had installed programs and had documents after you removed the virus. I hope this helps! Aaron.

pottergi... at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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with xp you should fin it has created it's own restore points run system restore and it should find them for you also check with avg anti-virus and do a anti root-kit scan as it seems as if you may still have a bit of the virus on the system

mick

Everything is still there, the malware just hid it. Was there a program telling you that you are infected, and wanted money to fix it? Even if there wasn't, the first thing you need to do is shut off the computer, then go to the bleepingcomputer forums, they are computer experts there, and can tell you how to fix the computer. They are very busy there, so it may take up to a week to begin to help you, and you must answer them quickly, or they will close the thread, and move on. Create an account, give them as many details as you all can remember on how this all happened, and follow the advice they give, the help is free, and so are all the tools they will want you to use. http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum22.html Don't turn the computer on again until bleepingcomputer experts tell you to. Give the name of that program to bleeping computer, that program is whats doing this to your computer. In the future you can protect yourself from those kinds of rogue programs by getting the pro version of MBAM, it's only 25 dollars for a lifetime license, and will not allow those kinds of programs onto your computer.

Casca Longinus

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