Windows 7 - some progs only start if run as administrator used?

Doing my head in

I have clean re-installed Windows 7 32 bit yesterday after formatting my c: drive.

I have installed several programs (firefox, chrome, Winamp) each ran initialy OK but none now run unless i choose to run as administrator (i am the administrator, so when this option is chosen i dont need to enter the password). When attempted from the guest acct again "run as administrator" is needed, then the password prompt is provided.

I have installed VLC and MS Office 2010, these progs run fine without the need to use run as administrator for myself or the guest account.

This seemed to happen amid the multitude of microsoft updates, as on original installation all worked fine.

I now also find that windows update hangs (this also only runs as administrator) while attempting to update SP1s for office 2010 KB2510690 and Windows 7 SP1 KB976932.



advice gladly accepted

Run sfc /scannow from an elevated command prompt (run as administrator).

thanks for the reply,

i ran Administrator command prompt sfc /scannow, but no integrity violations were found.

what next?

i notice that when i double click a program shortcut the cursor seems to be preparing to start the app for 5 secs but the cursor then normalizes and still no program has started.

when looking in windows start manager no apps are shown running in the applications tab, but under the processes tab i can see a chunk of memory is taken for the same app. if i attempt to start the app again, i get a double entry in the WINDOWS START MANAGER, PROCESSES TAB, but still no prog starting and still zero in the APPLICATIONS tab.

Hmmm, could you run a MBAM scan? Malwarebytes : Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a free download that removes viruses and malware from your computer

Thanks to the advice for the MBAM scan, it found a trojan which it removed but after reboot no change to the symptoms i describe.

What next?

Try using Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper, which runs from a Windows PE Environment (not Windows), so it can catch tougher threats. Microsoft Standalone System Sweeper Beta | Microsoft Connect

Found the issue went away when I removed my soundcard software!

It is an asus xonar d2, the driver is fine but somehow the software was causing loads of grief.

Thanks for your supported.