Windows 7: Disk check utility changed file names, now I got problems.

I periodically get notices from Windows 7 that I need to run the disk check utility. This is usually after a BSOD. These events have been occurring from the day I bought this laptop and I have posted them here in the past.



This time, the disk check utility changed names on at least 12 files. I don't know WHAT files, because the utility said the file names were corrupted.

After the reboot, I found that my Libraries were missing from the file manager. My Documents, Pictures, Videos and Music were gone. If I looked by clicking on C: and then navigating to them, I could find them, but the file manager could not.

Also, clicking on the Start button, then All Programs, gave me an empty screen. All the shortcuts were gone. Many of the shortcuts on my Task Bar are missing their Icons, but they work.

Many of my music files will not play because the file extension is now m4p. Changing the file extension to mp3 or mp4 does not work, the system sees them as an unknown file type.

I ran Microsoft Security Essentials, a FULL SCAN, and it scanned about 86,000 files. That was all it could find.

I have attached images that show the start menu and virus scan results as well as the usual dump files. The images show a black desktop, but I corrected that by re-choosing the custom theme I had made.

I tried to use Restore, but the restore points have dissapeared, and I cannot restore to before this event.

Please....................

Try this first:
SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

Then try this:
Icon Cache - Rebuild

Then try running Malwarebytes:
Malwarebytes : Free anti-malware, anti-virus and spyware removal download

BSOD on first attempt to sfc. Second attempt success, but I got errors. Log file attached.

Icon cache did not rebuild properly, I tried both methods.

Malwarebites will not run. Apparently it is affected by the file name changes. I will have to redownload it tonight.

I realized that I forgot to mention two other problems. The system seems to think MS Office was uninstalled, and if I try to use any of its programs it attempts to install the programs. It cannot, because it cannot find the files.

My Gagdets have gone away. I cannot get them to reappear.

I think I am screwed. Have transfered all my documents, pics, vids and music to my office computer in case I need to wipe.

Try running the SFC Scan 4 more times since your issue looks a bit serious.

Have you got a Reinstall Disk or a blank disk, you could burn a iso to a blank disk and reinstall using your product key.

Or do you have a Recovery Partition on your Computer?

I have the original clean install disk, so I can reinstall the system. I will try the sfc several more times, but my instinct says that too many files got changed.

No recovery partition, the HD is only 160gig, no room for one.

I wish I could figure out what was causing the periodic BSOD's. I am convinced that it is hardware, because my two other machines run Windows 7 with never an error. I have run multiple utilities to determine problems, but every one says everything is fine. I have run check utilities that say I am good, and I BSOD 5 min later.

I curse the day I bought a Dell.

Maybe the answer is to upgrade my HD, and reinstall clean.

I will repost after dinner tonight and I have time to run the sfc a few times. Headed home from work now.

constant and random BSoDs that result in disk corruption are almost always memory errors or something more serious with the motherboard. If you post your mini dump here, someone will likely look it it for you and confirm. Or you can run the memtest86 boot disk (use a good computer to create it) and try that yourself first:

Memtest86 - Download Page

4 sfc's, same message each time. Says it found bad files, but cannot fix them all.

My memory is only 3 months old, and I ran memtest86 for 16 hours with no errors.

The dump files are attached to the original post.

Use the Fakerean removal tool and see if it resolves the problem. This sounds like an OS 2012 virus (most antivirus systems will not pick these up because they take sophisticated steps to remove the virus and return the files to their rightful places). That tool should resolve the problem. Post back if it works.

Either that is not the problem, or it did not work. It ran VERY fast, and during the very short period the command window was open I could not read much of what it said, but I did see one line; "File not found", then about 4 more lines, then the window closed and the machine rebooted.

I ran it 3 times, same results.

Thanks for the hint, I have bookmarked that site for future use.

If it is not an OS 2012 virus, it is likely that the hard disk errors are what caused this as you originally surmised. I am wondering if there are still hard disk errors or file system corruptions that have not been fixed.

Have you tried running a Disk Check with both boxes checked since the problem occurred?