SYSTEM32.EXE MISSING! please help.


  1. jcatha1
    Posts : 3
    windows 7 - 74 bit
       New #1

    SYSTEM32.EXE MISSING! please help.


    Hi, I'm really hoping someone can help me. I'm not totally pc savvie so layman's terms would be great, thank you.

    I uninstalled Itunes. Downloaded it again and installed a newer version (and have since uninstalled it again due to this problem). From that moment on everything started to go wrong. All my icons took on the Itunes logo. I click on icons on my desktop and I get the Choose a Programme Window, the same happens when opening Windows Explorer. I can't so a System restore because the System32.exe file appears to be missing, therefore I am unable to do anything that requires this file. I did a repair in safe mode but I don't think it's made any difference.

    My security software isn't opening on start up, i.e., Avast icons missing from taskbar.

    I hope I've given enough information for someone to be able to help me.

    Thanks in advance.
    Jean
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  3. samuria
    Posts : 3,785
    win 8 32 bit
       New #2

    Welcome to the forum. System32.exe isn't a windows file it's a virus. To system restore from CMD prompt type rstrui.exe see if that will run. Check task manager if you see system32.exe running note were it's running from then kill it and delete file. Do a virus scan if your installed won't work use a online one there are plenty of free ones
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  4. jcatha1
    Posts : 3
    windows 7 - 74 bit
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Thanks for your reply. I can't run rstrui.exe, I can't run anything. I've found an online scanner but, and forgive my ignorance here, I get asked to choose a programme in which to run the scanning process...I don't know what to choose. Also in task manager I can see the system32 is running...grrrrrr Can you help further, please?
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  6. jcatha1
    Posts : 3
    windows 7 - 74 bit
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    Sorry, I was mistaken about seeing System32 running...I saw it because it was running in Task Manager because I had the folder highlighted. There is a System32 folder on my system but it appears to have all the files necessary to run my PC. I am hesitant to meddle with this. Is there a way i can run System Restore with having no access to that either?
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  7. samuria
    Posts : 3,785
    win 8 32 bit
       New #5

    Download RKill download this run it then try running anti virus and restore it kills any none ms software if you reboot you have to run it again also note what it kills. If you use ie for online scan it normally installs a ActiveX to do the scan
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  8. RolandJS
    Posts : 2,774
    Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
       New #6

    Going forward, create from your chosen anti-virus and your chosen anti-malware programs their respective USB and/or DVD boots. Then, in the future, whenever necessary, you can boot those things and do viri and malware scans/removals independent of Windows. Well, presently, on a different computer, you can create those boots and use them on the infected computer.
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  10. samuria
    Posts : 3,785
    win 8 32 bit
       New #7

    Do you have "C:\Windows\System32\rstrui.exe" in that folder try running from the folder right click choose run as admin If it wont run run the rkillit should kill anything thats stopping you running it
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