Errors when opening/saving files, and other system issues

ewv · 18 Oct 2015

Long post but figured I'd put as many details as I could in here.

Everytime I save/rename a document I've been working on I get an error.
Saving an Excel document I've been working on: "Your changes could not be saved to FILE NAME because of because of sharing violation"
When I click OK on that: "Your changes could not be saved to FILE NAME but were saved to a temporary document name BLABLA. Close the existing document, then open the temporary document and save it under a new name"
When I click OK on that: "The file you are trying to open, BLABLA, is in a different format than specified by file extension. Verify that the file is not corrupted and is from a trusted source before opening the file. Do you want to open the file now?" --> I click on no coz it goes round in circles.

Saving a Word document I've been working on, it opens the Save As function.
When say overwrite the existing document: "Word cannot complete the save due to a file permission error."

When renaming any file or folder I get the warning: "INVALID MS-DOS FUNCTION"
Dragging a file from one folder to another, I get the same. I can copy/paste to another folder though.

PDF files are also affected.

Uninstall & reinstall of Office made things worse..
When I try to open any document it says: "The program can't start because MSVCR80.dll is missing from your computer. Try reinstalling the program to fix the problem" Followed by: "There was a problem sending the command to the program". Same happens when I try to open a document from my external backup.

On a different laptop I can open/save/rename/drag&drop the documents straight from my external backup or on the laptop itself. So the documents themselves are not affected.

Another thing that makes me think it’s an OS problem is that other things are strange as well.
When from C I click on Users, I get this -looks different than normal...
When from Users I click to Evelyn, I get this -which looks dramatically different from what it should look like...

Also wondering: I installed Malwarebytes and SUPERAntiSpyware on advice of forum members about a previous issue. Could running these somehow have had this effect on my OS?

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My laptop is a Toshiba with Windows 10, 64bit (had it for just over 2months!)
And I use Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007

MarkP15 · 18 Oct 2015

Hi ewv,

It would appear that you have an OS problem; Malwarebytes and SUPERAntispyware shouldn't cause problems like the ones you describe here. If the system reports .dll files are missing, and the appearance of the computer is changing the PC could be infected with sneaky malware. Have you tried any other antivirus programs other than the ones above? Also, I would advise that you stop using two antivirus/anti-malware programs at once as they commonly clash.

When did the problem start? If it's very recent, you could use system restore to jump back from the problem and prevent it from occurring.

Kind Regards,

Mark

ewv · 18 Oct 2015

Thanks Mark. So unfortunately my intuition was right about it being an OS issue... All these problems started 2 days ago, no idea how it started, what I might have done.

I don't have another AntiVirus. I've always just had the AVG free, a few days ago (maybe 4) I downloaded Malwarebytes & SUPERAntiSpyware after using them on the other laptop and figured I'd run them over mine as well.

I just looked up the Recovery point and unfortunately there isn't one. Apparently the default setting for it was OFF, I never thought to check it.

I did find out that the Toshiba settings have a recovery option. You can reset the PC there:
- Keep my files but removing Apps & Settings
- Remove everything, files, setting & apps
- Restore factory settings -removes all above & reinstalls Windows version that came with PC.

First reaction: go for option 2 (or 1 but I have all backup up so not worried about that). BUT!! Apparently Apps & settings include many drivers such as Conexant HD audio, many different Intel(R) 'pieces', many Microsoft Visual 'pieces', Realtek card reader & Ethernet Controller Driver, Synaptics Pointing Device Driver, a lot Toshiba utilities, to name but a few!
I don't feel comfortable removing those coz I don't have any recovery software CDs or anything...

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Evelyn

MarkP15 · 18 Oct 2015

Hi Evelyn,

Using both Malwarebytes and SUPERAntiSpyware could cause clashes though so it's always better to stick to one. If you're looking for a paid antivirus I would recommend Kaspersky (best through personal experience with nearly all the anti-malware software out there and you can buy older versions for less money then migrate to new versions for free) or for free antivirus stick with just Malwarebytes.

With regard to your main problem, if you have backed up all your data, I would advise you to go for 2 and if that doesn't work, perform a factory reset. I know you're cautious about removing the drivers and all that software and the software updates because you do not have the CDs to reinstall them, but when you reset you can very easily download then from the relevant companies website. You won't lose functionality as there will be versions of these drivers installed (just old ones). You never know, maybe one of these is causing the problem.

Have you seen any suspicious processes or services running on your PC through Windows Task Manager?

Also, you said the PC was 2 months old; are you referring to when you updated to Window 10 or actually how old the PC is?

Kind Regards,

Mark

Layback Bear · 18 Oct 2015

I seriously doubt that Malwarebytes or Super Anti Spyware are causing any problems.
Malwarebytes and SAS are not anti virus programs.

They will work well with any anti virus program that I know of.

Most have quiet using AVG a long time ago. I don't recommend using AVG and I don't know anybody that does.

You state you have Windows 10 installed. I would recommend using the built in Defender anti virus program from Microsoft.

We have a sister site for such problems with Windows 10

Ten Forums

MarkP15 · 18 Oct 2015

Layback Bear said:

I seriously doubt that Malwarebytes or Super Anti Spyware are causing any problems.
Malwarebytes and SAS are not anti virus programs.

They will work well with any anti virus program that I know of.

Most have quiet using AVG a long time ago. I don't recommend using AVG and I don't know anybody that does.

With the information I see I would try removing AVG using their online tool and for testing install MSE.

Microsoft Security Essentials - Microsoft Windows

SAS is not an anti-virus program, yes, but one assumes that Evelyn is talking about MalwareBytes Anti-Malware, or MBAM for short. That is an anti-malware program and is basically a program designed to detect and remove infections that most*antivirus programs tend to miss or are unable to remove. In addition, multiple anti-malware programs can and usually do interfere with each other, causing a few problems on the way. I do not think it is the issue, but it could cause other problems. Removing AVG is a good idea.

Layback, I'm gonna be frank here; it would appear that you're either generally obnoxious or have decide to be in retaliation to the other thread I was helping someone with about hard drive partitions. You were rude there and are being rude here. Please take into consideration that there are people who take longer or can't do things we can (not talking about you Evelyn :P).

Kind Regards,

Mark

Layback Bear · 18 Oct 2015

Well I'm not being rude.

What I'm trying to do in polite way is see how the Disk Management is before any more registry changes are recommended and made.

I know exactly what Malwarebytes and SAS are and how they work. I have use them for years.
They seldom cause any problems but AVG does cause problems often.

I do believe if the partition letter (D) on the Reserve partition could be causing problems.
I would like a look see of Disk Management before giving instructions and recommendation.

It takes 2 min to do Disk Management posting but for a new person it may take 5 or so minutes.

Once registry changes have been made it just might not matter anymore.

Continue on with your instruction for EWV.

I will watch.

ewv · 19 Oct 2015

Thanks guys. I have removed the malware & spyware programs -had them for less than a week. Also removed Hola and a couple other programs. Kept my AVG, never had problems, it's been good to me over the years. And thanks for the tip on Kaspersky, might try that.
About the drivers, I know I can reinstall them after downloading it all from Internet. It's just so much effort and energy which I simply don't have -this is already too much for me. (and by the info I just got, I'd be a disaster to do a reset to factory settings -see below)

Nothing weird to be found in TaskManager.
Disk Management looks as below.

The laptop itselt is 2,5 months old -I got it beginning of August. It had Windows 8.1 installed on it and I got an update to Windows 10 within a few days so did that. I just called Toshiba to get them to help and I'm floored by their response: basically it's not their problem because they provided 8.1 Microsoft wants you to go to Windows 10 so they offer it, and there can be bugs. And I should have had a pop-up to make a recovery disk or USB for it but I never got that (for either), so I don't have that. I could have reverted from 10 to 8 but withing 30 days. Well that time has passed. And so though I have the right to the Windows 8.1 that came with the laptop, and who's product key is in the hardware (BIOS?) I don't have the access to retrieve it. I would have to go and purchase a recovery medium for Eu 49,-
Un-be-lie-va-ble...

Anyway... (sorry about the 'rant'). Any thoughts on ways to get round this?
I should probably post in the 10 forum as it's definitely a Windows 10 issue...

MarkP15 · 19 Oct 2015

Hi Evelyn,

To be honest, I can see where Toshiba is coming from as the problems you're experiencing are most probably software related, and as you upgraded it from what they sold you, you take the responsibility.

What I don't agree with is Microsoft screwing everyone over because they cause massive problems with their buggy OS and refuse to deal with it (I had a friend who updated from Win7 to Win10 and was stuck in a BSOD loop, he couldn't even get into safe mode because Microsoft disabled the F8 key shortcut to make it boot faster 😂 and I had to fix it).

Anyway, did you always have so many partitions on your HDD?

Also, AVG isn't a good idea. It may have been good for a while but it does cause problems.

Since it's now a Win10 issue, I would try going to Microsoft and ask them to help; if there was never a popup to make a recovery USB (and Microsoft say there is) then you could say it's with them because their software is buggy. Anyway, try to talk to them and the Win10 forum. My advice; if you can't get the problem effectively solved by Microsoft or the forum, do a reset.

Kind Regards and good luck!

Mark

P.S Don't go to the Microsoft forum if you're going to Microsoft; open a support ticket with their staff.

ewv · 19 Oct 2015

Hi Mark, thanks for your quick reply. I can see Toshiba's point, it's just frustrating & the guy wasn't very friendly/helpful.
I just talked to Microsoft though & the guy was really helpful!! I can download a Win10 from a site, save that to DVD/USB & do a clean reinstall. He also told me how to find the product key so that I have that somewhere. And that if I want Win8 back I can try using Linux, checking into the partitions, it might be there somewhere (he knew more about that than Microsoft, Haha!).
And he said to that Antivirus (any) can mess with Windows. And that win10 has been a lot safer & hardly any use for an anti-virus, updates are compulsory to help increase security. Don't quite agree/trust that so I'll keep one, but guess I'll spend a little on a Kaspersky one!

So I'm gonna get going on that then... pfff...

But I'll get there!