My PC had some virues and now, after I've cleaned it off, when I try to open
my hard drive C: or D:, I get a "browse program" window

How can I fix this ?

Polish Don wrote:

> My PC had some virues and now, after I've cleaned it off, when I try to
> open my hard drive C: or D:, I get a "browse program" window
>
> How can I fix this ?

If the computer is truly clean, then right-click each drive and choose Open.
Then look for an auto.inf file at the root of each drive and delete it.

Be sure the computer is clean:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

Problem is, I cannot open the drive c: or d: easily. If I double click, It
opens a "Select Program" window. If I try to explore, I get the same
response. The only way I can access is to right click on the start bar, and
select the C: drive from there. All files are in tact and the PC boots fine.

"Malke" wrote:

> Polish Don wrote:
>
> > My PC had some virues and now, after I've cleaned it off, when I try to
> > open my hard drive C: or D:, I get a "browse program" window
> >
> > How can I fix this ?
>
> If the computer is truly clean, then right-click each drive and choose Open.
> Then look for an auto.inf file at the root of each drive and delete it.
>
> Be sure the computer is clean:
> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP
> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
> FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
>
>

Polish Don wrote:

> Problem is, I cannot open the drive c: or d: easily. If I double click,
> It
> opens a "Select Program" window. If I try to explore, I get the same
> response. The only way I can access is to right click on the start bar,
> and select the C: drive from there. All files are in tact and the PC boots
> fine.

Open it in any way that works and look for an auto.inf file as I already
told you. If you have the computer set to hide file extensions (example is
the .inf in "auto.inf") then set it to show these from Folder Options>View
tab, uncheck "Hide file extensions....".

If there is no auto.inf on either drive, the computer is either not really
virus/malware-free and/or the operating system has been damaged. What you
do next depends on that and your level of technical skills.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

Well,

I'm checking a perfectly good PC that is identical (make/model/OS) that
works fine in this regard and there is no Auto.inf on that PC either. Both
PC's have Windows XP Media Edition 2002 SP3

"Malke" wrote:

> Polish Don wrote:
>
> > Problem is, I cannot open the drive c: or d: easily. If I double click,
> > It
> > opens a "Select Program" window. If I try to explore, I get the same
> > response. The only way I can access is to right click on the start bar,
> > and select the C: drive from there. All files are in tact and the PC boots
> > fine.
>
> Open it in any way that works and look for an auto.inf file as I already
> told you. If you have the computer set to hide file extensions (example is
> the .inf in "auto.inf") then set it to show these from Folder Options>View
> tab, uncheck "Hide file extensions....".
>
> If there is no auto.inf on either drive, the computer is either not really
> virus/malware-free and/or the operating system has been damaged. What you
> do next depends on that and your level of technical skills.
>
> Malke
> --
> MS-MVP
> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
> FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
>
>

>I'm checking a perfectly good PC that is identical (make/model/OS) that
>works fine in this regard and there is no Auto.inf on that PC either. Both
>PC's have Windows XP Media Edition 2002 SP3

My guess is that the file association / action that's normally
supposed to open your C: or D: has been disassociated or damaged and
the only way to fix it would be to manually do it by seeing the file
associations on a working PC and compare them to the broken PC or
maybe to do a repair install using a slipstreamed SP3 CD for your MCE.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

The other PC is virus free and acts properly

"Polish Don" wrote:

> Well,
>
> I'm checking a perfectly good PC that is identical (make/model/OS) that
> works fine in this regard and there is no Auto.inf on that PC either. Both
> PC's have Windows XP Media Edition 2002 SP3
>
> "Malke" wrote:
>
> > Polish Don wrote:
> >
> > > Problem is, I cannot open the drive c: or d: easily. If I double click,
> > > It
> > > opens a "Select Program" window. If I try to explore, I get the same
> > > response. The only way I can access is to right click on the start bar,
> > > and select the C: drive from there. All files are in tact and the PC boots
> > > fine.
> >
> > Open it in any way that works and look for an auto.inf file as I already
> > told you. If you have the computer set to hide file extensions (example is
> > the .inf in "auto.inf") then set it to show these from Folder Options>View
> > tab, uncheck "Hide file extensions....".
> >
> > If there is no auto.inf on either drive, the computer is either not really
> > virus/malware-free and/or the operating system has been damaged. What you
> > do next depends on that and your level of technical skills.
> >
> > Malke
> > --
> > MS-MVP
> > Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
> > FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ
> >
> >

Ok, How do I fix it? How/where do I find the file associations ?

"Thee Chicago Wolf" wrote:

> >I'm checking a perfectly good PC that is identical (make/model/OS) that
> >works fine in this regard and there is no Auto.inf on that PC either. Both
> >PC's have Windows XP Media Edition 2002 SP3
>
> My guess is that the file association / action that's normally
> supposed to open your C: or D: has been disassociated or damaged and
> the only way to fix it would be to manually do it by seeing the file
> associations on a working PC and compare them to the broken PC or
> maybe to do a repair install using a slipstreamed SP3 CD for your MCE.
>
> - Thee Chicago Wolf
>

>Ok, How do I fix it? How/where do I find the file associations ?

Start by opening a session of Windows Explorer or My Computer. From
the top, click Tools > Folder Options. Now, you'll see the "File
Types" tab. These are all the file extensions and associated actions
with files and devices (i.e. CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Physical Drive, etc.).
You'll want to look specifically at "(NONE) File Folder", "(NONE)
Folder",and "(NONE) Drive" associations. Highlight one, and click the
Advanced button. Drive should only have "Find" as an action, if not
add it. File Folder should only have "Find" as an action, if not add
it. Folder should have "Open" and "Explore" as actions, if not add
them.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

>Ok, How do I fix it? How/where do I find the file associations ?

Additionally, from the browse program menu, you can scroll down and
choose explorer or browse your C:\Windows\... folder for it and when
you choose it, you'll see a check-box down on the bottom that says
"always use this program to..." or some such message. Try that as
well.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

ok,

I tried the tools option, they show the proper find/explore as stated. I
cannot set Windows explorer as default in the use program window

"Thee Chicago Wolf" wrote:

> >Ok, How do I fix it? How/where do I find the file associations ?
>
> Start by opening a session of Windows Explorer or My Computer. From
> the top, click Tools > Folder Options. Now, you'll see the "File
> Types" tab. These are all the file extensions and associated actions
> with files and devices (i.e. CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Physical Drive, etc.).
> You'll want to look specifically at "(NONE) File Folder", "(NONE)
> Folder",and "(NONE) Drive" associations. Highlight one, and click the
> Advanced button. Drive should only have "Find" as an action, if not
> add it. File Folder should only have "Find" as an action, if not add
> it. Folder should have "Open" and "Explore" as actions, if not add
> them.
>
> - Thee Chicago Wolf
>

>I tried the tools option, they show the proper find/explore as stated. I
>cannot set Windows explorer as default in the use program window

The last thing I can think of is to try the registry fix from Doug
Knox's web site to fix Drive associations:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

Look for the link "Drive Association Fix (Restores default settings
for hard drives)".

Beyond that, I don't know what else to say.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

Well,

I tried that. It installed an line "Expore from here" in the tools menu,
but I still cannot enter the drive by double click. I created a new item
"Open 2" that works in the right click menu, which opens the drive fine, but
I cannot make it the default for the double click. (even when set to default
in the tool menu)


"Thee Chicago Wolf" wrote:

> >I tried the tools option, they show the proper find/explore as stated. I
> >cannot set Windows explorer as default in the use program window
>
> The last thing I can think of is to try the registry fix from Doug
> Knox's web site to fix Drive associations:
> http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm
>
> Look for the link "Drive Association Fix (Restores default settings
> for hard drives)".
>
> Beyond that, I don't know what else to say.
>
> - Thee Chicago Wolf
>

Problem is that "set as default" box is ghosted out. I cannot select that.

"Thee Chicago Wolf" wrote:

> >Ok, How do I fix it? How/where do I find the file associations ?
>
> Additionally, from the browse program menu, you can scroll down and
> choose explorer or browse your C:\Windows\... folder for it and when
> you choose it, you'll see a check-box down on the bottom that says
> "always use this program to..." or some such message. Try that as
> well.
>
> - Thee Chicago Wolf
>

>Problem is that "set as default" box is ghosted out. I cannot select that.

Yeah, I was hoping it wasn't as by default it should be allowed to be
manipulated or changed from being explorer.exe.

- Thee Chicago Wolf