Shortcuts change path and becomes corrupt after each restart

them0narch · 16 Jul 2015

Dear Community,

I have been having a problem these last 6 months and it's starting to get to me. I've roamed the web for someone who've had similar issues, but no success. I apologize if this issue have been addressed before, and if it has, I'd appreciate a link to the solution.

Every time I restart my computer, all shortcuts on my desktop and in the start menu change their path to disk F: (1TB, WD1002FAEX) , although the software is located on disk C: (120GB SSD, KINGSTON). The only thing that is changed in the target-path is that the C: is replaced by F:.

As a background notice I' ll inform you that I earlier on had the Windows 7 home premium 64-bit on my 1TB hard disk. When I bought the SSD, I used my windows cd to format it and reinstalled it on my C:. No problems the first months of use, then suddenly one day I had this issue and been bothered by it ever since.

Called microsoft and they just told me to delete and reinstall everything, but I was hoping to avoid that as my both my hard disks are almost full, so I would have needed to buy a new one to do this.

Shortcut to folders do not have the same problems, and my makeshift solution have been to use shortcuts to the folders, and then open the softwares directly through the .exe files. That is becoming increasingly tiresome though, so I would be grateful for some assistance.

Kind regards Jonas

From earlier posts I gathered that having a log file from Process monitor may assist in the aid, so I've attached a file. I presume this program cannot monitor things that occur during restart of the OS, so I don't know if it's of much use. Thought I attach it anyway. It's logging a failed attempt of using a start menu shortcut to open google chrome.

GokAy · 16 Jul 2015

Get Malwarebytes Anti-Malware free (start the free premium trial, should be selected by default). Go into settings - detection and enable "rootkit scanning". Then scan with it.

After that try a clean startup - Troubleshoot Application Conflicts by Performing a Clean Startup

What happens if you create new shortcuts from the exe's directly (right click and Send To: Desktop (shortcut))?

them0narch · 16 Jul 2015

Thank you for your advice.

Using Malwarebytes I found some bloatware(probably from some CNET download) that had escaped AVAST, but nothing serious or related to the issue. Quarantined the files, did not change anything.

I proceeded with the clean startup. Worked my way through the software in the service and startup section by process of elimination as described in the nice manual you sent me. Created new desktop shortcuts directly from the .exe files every time. This did unfortunately not affect the problem.

It did however assist me in recalling why I let this slip when the issue first presented itself. It only seemed to affected google chrome. I've made a couple of shortcuts to other software located at C: and these have not had this issue during the last startup (spotify, Opera, mbam). This suggest that this is an isolated issue for chrome, but that is not the case.

Earlier today I installed asus PCE-AC68 WLAN Control Center (software for wireless network card), and after a restart this had the same issue and it sparked this post.

Any other things I can try?

(have deleted and reinstalled chrome several times. Also manually gone through both disks to make sure no files or folders were remaining. Will repeat today as well to see if there is some kind of obscure error connected to any of the malware. )

them0narch · 16 Jul 2015

Also noticed that if i go to proporties of the corrupted chrome shortcut and change the path to C: manually, it resets as soon as I click ok.. No error message or anything, but if I reopen properties it has been set to F: again.

Don't know if this add any useful information, but thought I'd mention it...

GokAy · 16 Jul 2015

Did you try disabling everything in Startup and all non-MS services (check hide MS services)? It is important that everything is disabled. Disconnect from Internet while testing this since AV will be disabled too. Disregard this if you have already done so.

Try another user account - User Account - Create

Also please post a screenshot of Disk Management as described in Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image and attach here Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

I will also ask you to scan with a couple more security software just in case:
- ESET Online
- Super Anti Spyware
- AdwCleaner AdwCleaner Download

them0narch · 17 Jul 2015

Thanks again for you suggestions.

Yes I disabled everything. I had to do some settings adjustments with AVAST to disable it, everything else was just to check and uncheck the boxes. I did't however disconnect from the internet, so I'll try that.

Here is the screen capture of disk management. I apologize for Norwegian as native language of this windows. I tried to change it last time I installed, but it seems like the version I bought only gives me the option of Norwegian. If there are words you cannot make out, please don't hesitate to ask for a translation

In the meantime I'll work my way through the other malware-software and try creating a new account.

Kind regards Jonas

GokAy · 17 Jul 2015

I suggested disconnecting from the Internet since I asked you to disable AV too :) It was a precaution to not let you catch anything while trying a clean startup.

Well, your old HDD (F) is still marked active, I wonder if that's causing any issues. Would you please shutdown and remove that HDD and try booting without? Lets see first if you need that drive to boot at all.

Edit: If it can boot with SSD alone, you can mark F inactive as instructed in Partition - Mark as Inactive

them0narch · 17 Jul 2015

Ha ha, ok, well I guess I survived.. Doesn't seem like such a bad idea to rescan for malware now..

Yes, I'll try to remove that disk. I guess removing the power-supply to it will be enough right?

GokAy · 17 Jul 2015

Yes, you can just un-plug power cable.

Deleted a double post and also edited previous post for the tutorial link.

dannalin001 · 17 Jul 2015

Thanks, u guys! The information has been very helpful for me!!!