Deleted Explorer.exe, can't get it back, HELP, please!

I

imbrium16

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Ok, so I was using Avira Antivirus and it found a virus.

It asked me to restart my computer in order to get rid of the virus in explorer.exe. It restarted and completely got rid of explorer.exe.

It deleted explorer.exe, not like it is in the recycling bin, like it is gone.

I have been told there are many of these "explorer.exe" files in the computer. At first, I couldn't even see a desktop.

The whole screen was black.

I did a System Restore and now I can see my desktop and everything works fine including the Internet, but files won't open, neither will my computer or control panel or recycling bin. I just get this message "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item."

My audio doesn't work at all either.

I have googled the problem, but I only find solutions for windows xp and I have windows 7.

Does anyone know how to restore explorer.exe for windows 7?

I saw a similar thread but it said to go to command prompt and type in cd/cdWindowsdri. I tried that and all it said was that it couldn't find whatever it needed to. I also tried scf scannow (I think that was the name) and it didn't help either. HELP PLEASE?
 

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@Logicearth: I just tried what you suggested, and it gave me the message "Windows Resource Protection could not start the repair service." Nothing has changed. Is there anything else to do?
 

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@whs, there was nothing to repair in startup repair. I'm having the computer do "Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool" test.
 

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If you can download this. Install. When you open click the update tab and update then run a full scan- not a quick.
Free version is blue button at top left of page.
Malwarebytes

Lets make sure the bug is gone. You need to make sure. If it is still there that may be the entire problem.
The bug may still be there or it may have damaged something.

Mike

Also when Malwarebytes gets done scanning it will make a log file. Save it to desktop or somewhere you can find it and upload the log with your post.
Posting instructions if you need them.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-screenshots-files-upload-post-seven-forums.html
 

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You may have to download recuva file recovery, just google for it, it is freeware. If you deleted it it can be recovered, are you sure it was a virus? It could have been a false positive. Another way I guess you could get it is that someone could maybe email you a clean copy of it of your operating system and put it right back where you deleted it from that will work to. I had to do that when I had a corrupted chkdsk.exe at one time..So give those options a try..:geek:

On my computer the file is located in 13 locations the winxs folders I will just exclude: The primary locations are:

C:\Windows\
C:\Windows\System32\
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ (if you are running 64bit)

Now the windows locations and the 32 and 64 bit locations are different sizes the window being the different size and 32 and 64 being the same...
 

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imbrium16 said:
Ok, so I was using Avira Antivirus and it found a virus.

It asked me to restart my computer in order to get rid of the virus in explorer.exe. It restarted and completely got rid of explorer.exe.

It deleted explorer.exe, not like it is in the recycling bin, like it is gone.

I have been told there are many of these "explorer.exe" files in the computer. At first, I couldn't even see a desktop.

The whole screen was black.

I did a System Restore and now I can see my desktop and everything works fine including the Internet, but files won't open, neither will my computer or control panel or recycling bin. I just get this message "Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item."

My audio doesn't work at all either.

I have googled the problem, but I only find solutions for windows xp and I have windows 7.

Does anyone know how to restore explorer.exe for windows 7?

I saw a similar thread but it said to go to command prompt and type in cd/cdWindowsdri. I tried that and all it said was that it couldn't find whatever it needed to. I also tried scf scannow (I think that was the name) and it didn't help either. HELP PLEASE?
Click to expand...

I just had something similar happen to me and it turned out that files hadn't been deleted, they had just had their permissions changed so I couldn't see them. Actually, no one could except for TrustedInstaller.
I had to start at drive C and change ownership and permissions on everything.
You can probably boot to Repair Computer and then go to the command prompt.
Change to c:\windows and try start explorer.exe.
If this works you can go from there changing ownership and permissions as needed.
If that's not possible, try control-alt-delete and choose task manager. Then look at processes where you should see explorer running. If you highlight that file, then right click and choose properties, then security, you can see who owns it and what permissions they have.
At least this will let you know it the problem is changed permissions or something else.
It took me 3 days to get this far in fixing my mess so I wouldn't swear by this solution, but I hope it helps.
 

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Malware Log, if this works

Ok, I did the Malware thing, Sorry it took so long. My computer doesn't like to let things scan for a long time. I had to let it cool down first. Here is the log, if I do this right, I'm not sure if anyone can read this. When I previewed it, it was tiny and hard to understand. Hope this works. Actually, I just checked: If you click on the picture, it still isn't perfect, but you can see it better :

Malware Log.jpg
 

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EMcCann said:

I just had something similar happen to me and it turned out that files hadn't been deleted, they had just had their permissions changed so I couldn't see them. Actually, no one could except for TrustedInstaller.
I had to start at drive C and change ownership and permissions on everything.
You can probably boot to Repair Computer and then go to the command prompt.
Change to c:\windows and try start explorer.exe.
If this works you can go from there changing ownership and permissions as needed.
If that's not possible, try control-alt-delete and choose task manager. Then look at processes where you should see explorer running. If you highlight that file, then right click and choose properties, then security, you can see who owns it and what permissions they have.
At least this will let you know it the problem is changed permissions or something else.
It took me 3 days to get this far in fixing my mess so I wouldn't swear by this solution, but I hope it helps.
Click to expand...

Ok, I will try to do this, but I'm not sure I entirely understand. I have to go to Repair Computer and then command prompt and entering what you said, that will change my permissions? and as needed? I'm not sure what you mean. Will I need to change the permissions for everything, and how do I do that? How do I specify? and I can't do this on my regular account? Sorry about all the questions. I'm just not very technologically savvy and I'm trying to figure this out.
 

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I'm going to find one of the security aces. Looks like you have a mess there.

Mike

Jacee is going to look at the Malwarebytes log and get back to you soon.
 
Last edited:

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Hi imbrium16, rescan with MBam ......
* When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
* Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.

* When completed, a log will open in Notepad. Please save it to a convenient location. Copy and Paste that log into your next reply.
 

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@Jacee, won't that delete pivotal things in my computer, parts of my registry? And are you sure I can do that with a free version of Malwarebytes?
 

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By the by, I tried going to Avira and getting it to let the explorer.exe back from the quarantine. There were 4 explorer.exe files. I told it to restore them and it said that the objects were already on the computer and asked if I should replace them. I did, and nothing has changed.
 

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Malwarebytes will remove all the viruses and malware you have on your system that is all.

You have about 3-5 infections going at once. At least three are listed in your last log posting.
That is why nothing works right they have hijacked your system.

That is why I went and got Jacee who is the Ace on security and bugs.

So please run and select delete for what is found and post the notepad log after Malwarebytes is done.

Mike
 

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Hopalong/ Godzilla
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Windows7 Pro 64bit SP-1; Windows XP Pro 32bit
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Intel Core i7-870 Lynnfield 2.93GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core
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ASUS P7P55D-E PRO
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8GB@1400MHz Crucial Ballistix DDR3-1600 4x2GB
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ASUS ENGTX460 DirectCU/2DI/1GD5 1GB 256-bit GDDR5
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imbrium16 said:
By the by, I tried going to Avira and getting it to let the explorer.exe back from the quarantine. There were 4 explorer.exe files. I told it to restore them and it said that the objects were already on the computer and asked if I should replace them. I did, and nothing has changed.
Click to expand...

There are instances when explorer.exe is infected. Please follow Jacee's instructions.
 

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You are going to be better off backing up your data if you have anything you need to save, and simply reinstalling the OS. It will take less time and headache than fumbling through possible fixes.
 

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with trackball - no mices
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DSL 6000
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