Software disappeared from start menu/search but file/folder available

mystvearn · 04 Mar 2013

I am using my laptop (Asus U46SV 8 gb ram) which I recently installed Crucial m4 512 gb for 3 days now. Windows is working fine but programs are gone/disappeared from start menu. Also from the quick launch bar. A lot of programs have disappeared, including windows programs like paint, snipping tool. I have no idea why. I've included a screenshot of the start menu. Even weirder when I use the search function, I can't find it. However, if I open windows explorer go to program files, I can manually find the program and launch it. Though the program icon has changed to a generic non-icon. I noticed it this morning when my logitech mouse failed to detect.

Any ideas why this happens?

VistaKing · 05 Mar 2013

Take a look here

Files should be in %temp%\smtmp\1,2,3,4

%Temp%\smtmp\1 files in there will go C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu

%Temp%\smtmp\2 files in there will go to C:\Users\<your login name here>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\

%Temp%\smtmp\3 will in there will go to C:\Users\<your login name here>\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar

%Temp%\smtmp\4 files inside there will go to C:\Users\Public\Desktop

Save the smtmp folder to a flash drive. Then remove the virus . Don't run any temp files remover programs like Ccleaner .

Also might want to do a scan with THIS program and upload the log file

Sir George · 05 Mar 2013

mystvearn said:

I am using my laptop (Asus U46SV 8 gb ram) which I recently installed Crucial m4 512 gb for 3 days now. Windows is working fine but programs are gone/disappeared from start menu. Also from the quick launch bar. A lot of programs have disappeared, including windows programs like paint, snipping tool. I have no idea why. I've included a screenshot of the start menu. Even weirder when I use the search function, I can't find it. However, if I open windows explorer go to program files, I can manually find the program and launch it. Though the program icon has changed to a generic non-icon. I noticed it this morning when my logitech mouse failed to detect.

Any ideas why this happens?

Check the following site;

"Windows 7 Recovery" Virus - BleepingComputer.com

The symptoms appear to match what you are experiencing.

HTH

mystvearn · 05 Mar 2013

Thanks for the replies. I had MS security essentials and Spybot S&D installed during that time. Everything is fine now. Will follow the methods listed in future. I decided to clean install. Just did a clean install 2 days ago, so nothing major.

VistaKing · 05 Mar 2013

Please mark this thread as solved if you no longer request help.