Solved Seems Like Cascading Failure - Is Reinstall The Only Option?

[boweasel]

Apologies to gregrocker about not getting back to him about the HP All-In-One thread I started. If I get time I'll get back to it.

I've been putting off my daughter's laptop for a while (ASUS 64 bit - 7 Home Premium, SP1) problem for about a week. It started with itunes - saying 'itunes has detected a problem with your audio configuration.' A day or so later she complained that she couln't watch youtube videos.

I began with youtube which actually worked fine on IE9, just not on Firefox and Chrome. I uninstalled Flash then couln't get it to reinstall - I'd download the executable, click on it to install and the icon would disappear. I finally downloaded a Flash uninstaller, two seperate Flash installers - 1 for IE and 1 for other browsers. Using those I was able to get Flash up and running again on IE. However trying to play the same youtube video on Firefox gives me a box about Shockwave not responding, cancel or continue, and continuing gives me 'An error occurred. Please try again later'. Chrome never gives the Shockwave error, but always yhe try again later.

I have done a Firefox repair. No improvement. Have tried to start all over with Chrome, but attempting to remove it through the Control Panel told me that it had already been removed, and would I like to remove it from the list. Clicking yes did not only not remove it from the list, but Chrome was in fact still usable. I used Revo uninstaller to get rid of Chrome, but trying to reinstall gives me a msg taht some Windows updates need to happen before I can install Chrome. I cannot get any page to display when I try to access Windows Updates. Even doing a Google search for Windows Updates and clicking on windowsupdate.microsoft.com only takes me to a MS page that wants me to use the Start Menu to get to the updates page. That is what does not work.

I have run a full MSE scan that found no errors, have run a chkdsk /r /f that detected nothing, have run sfc /scannow that found no integrity violations, used F8 on boot, selected Repair your computer, but it found no problems.

One of the other 'funny' wrinkles is that although IE9 works fine, it's the 64 bit version. If I go to the program files (x86) folder, open Internet Explorer and click on iexplore it does nothing. No error and no access.

I'm out of ideas. Again.

***** Update

Was able to access Windows Updates through the Control Panel. One important Update and 1 optional. A Net Framework 4.5.1 update (important) failed with an unknown error - 00000001 and although IE10 installed correctly, it was unusable both in 64 and 32 bit. Unfortunately uninstalling IE10 and going back to IE9 did nothing, so at this point even IE9 is useless.

And I see in taskmgr that I have a slew of dllhost.exe applications with a description of COM Surrogate. Everything I seem to do to improve things only serves to exacerbate the problems.

 

[Mellon Head]

Try downloading and running MalwareBytes. The free version is great for scanning, and is quite thorough, and it's a good second opinion to MSE. I use it to scan once every few days in addition to MSE.

Malwarebytes : Malwarebytes Anti-Malware FREE

Run a scan with that and let us know how it goes. Once we're sure there's no malware on the laptop, we can go from there.

 

[boweasel]

Try downloading and running MalwareBytes. The free version is great for scanning, and is quite thorough, and it's a good second opinion to MSE. I use it to scan once every few days in addition to MSE.

Malwarebytes : Malwarebytes Anti-Malware FREE

Run a scan with that and let us know how it goes. Once we're sure there's no malware on the laptop, we can go from there.

Well, I'm down from 3 browsers earlier today to just Firefox and I can't seem to download Malwarebytes from your link, and cannot download it from CNET either. I used another PC to put it on a flash drive, and copied the mbam installer onto the laptop. It goes through all the proper steps - selecting language, putting a desktop icon, etc. But it errors on the installation step, just as the green area is at the end of the horizontal indicator. Then the green turns to red and a box displays CoCreateInstance failed; code 0x80040154. Class not registered.

 

[Mellon Head]

Well, I have to admit that I'm baffled by that one. Did you run the installer as Administrator?

 

[gregrocker]

Possible infection blocking solutions may have taken over your browsers. If you are following the practices in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 should already know to monitor Browser Add-ons to disable all but Flash Player and Google search service. If you see anything suspicious in there you should immediately uninstall it in Control Panel>Programs.

Then run the scans suggested already, followed by SUPERAntiSpyware , declining the Trial and turning off at Startup in Preferences.

In addition establish a Clean Boot, run System File Checker, cull the logs for clues and check System Resources for Problems from the Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 .

If this PC doesn't already have a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 then I would back up the data to do it now instead of wasting time with the worst possible install one can have even when it's running "correctly." Be sure to scan the data for infection.

 

[boweasel]

So you're telling me to reinstall?

Why is it that XP would let you plop in a CD for your specific OS type and do a repair install, but that sort of functionality doesn't exist in W7 & 8? Aren't these newer operating supposed to be improvements on what what MS already had? All I can do is a Startup Repair, and there ain't no problem with the laptop starting.

I think she's got 40 GB worth of music and movies.

Please tell me me you're not suggesting a reinstall.

 

[gregrocker]

If you cannot perform the steps given from the top of the thread to disinfect and then repair System files, see if you can check for infection from boot using a FREE Bootable AntiVirus Rescue CDs Download List.

Then run SFC /SCANNOW Command, if necessary SFC /SCANNOW Run in Command Prompt at Boot.

Let us know how this goes. If you regain enough functionality there are other steps given which we don't even know if you tried because for some reason you only responded to the last resort given to do a Clean Reinstall. Are you able to do the work? if not take it to a shop.

 

[boweasel]

If you cannot perform the steps given from the top of the thread to disinfect and then repair System files, see if you can check for infection from boot using a FREE Bootable AntiVirus Rescue CDs Download List.

Then run SFC /SCANNOW Command, if necessary SFC /SCANNOW Run in Command Prompt at Boot.

From my original post
'I have run a full MSE scan that found no errors, have run a chkdsk /r /f that detected nothing, have run sfc /scannow that found no integrity violations, used F8 on boot, selected Repair your computer, but it found no problems.'

I repeated the system file checker and still found no integrity violations. I have installed and run mbar - funny that I could install that but not malwarebytes itself. It found no errors. I have run Microsoft Security Scan - a full scan - and found no errors.
Downloading and trying to install Super AntiSpyware gave me the msg Error creating shortcuts, aborting installation. I'll try a clean boot, but I'm not confident. It does not seem to be malware related to me. Rather it appears to be some basic OS problem, but AIAS sfc (run as an admin) found nothing. Ditto for Startup Repair.

 

[gregrocker]

Those errors happen in a corrupt OS.

Has it ever had a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 or are you still running a Factory Preinstall which is the worst install one can have and which no tech enthusiast would consider running? If so then Win7 has never even been experienced on that laptop in its native perfect form.

Until then I would Clean Up Factory Bloatware to see if it relieves the problem enough to be able to install programs normally. If not work through the Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7. Just turning off all of the crap at Startup by establishing a Clean Boot as shown may relieve it greatly.

You can also run one of the FREE Bootable AntiVirus Rescue CDs Download List like Bitdefender or Kapersky which are very good.

 

[boweasel]

Those errors happen in a corrupt OS.

That's EXACTLY how it seems to me GR, which makes me revisit my earlier rant - when XP was corrupt you'd plop in your XP Home SP3 CD, boot from it and do a repair install. No fuss, no muss. I have no such capability in W7 beyond the system file checker. I've run it twice in the past 2 days, it takes about 20 minutes and finds no system integrity violations. If SFC scannow finds nothing, doesn't that mean my OS is not corrupt? Am I being too simplistic? And given that Start Up Repair finds no problems, doesn't that 'put a cherry' on Microsoft's software telling me I'm clean?

Has it ever had a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 or are you still running a Factory Preinstall which is the worst install one can have and which no tech enthusiast would consider running? If so then Win7 has never even been experienced on that laptop in its native perfect form.

Still running the OS as pre-installed by ASUS. But if I go out and buy a printer, a television set, a clothes dryer, I don't have to strip it down and rebuild it for it to work properly, and given that ASUS supplies no installation disks (and if they did, wouldn't that simply be reinstalling that same flawed OS? Why would they supply disks that had something different from what was already installed when we bought it?)....
No ASUS install disks also means that after reinstalling the OS I'll have no drivers, which means using another PC to go to the ASUS website to download the Chipset, Network Adapters (wireless and wired), Audio, Video, etc. drivers onto a flash drive and more etceteras... What exactly would be different from the OS as originally configured, and the one I'd have by using a Microsoft W7 64 bit disk (which I do have), and ASUS' downloaded drivers? The only thing I can think of is the bloatware that every manufacturer slaps in their PCs. And the bloatware is gone. It's starting with a clean boot now, the only add-on in the only browser I currently can use is the Shockwave Flash for Firefox. And since I cannot play videos in Firefox I might as well disable that as well.

Until then I would Clean Up Factory Bloatware to see if it relieves the problem enough to be able to install programs normally. If not work through the Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7. Just turning off all of the crap at Startup by establishing a Clean Boot as shown may relieve it greatly.

You can also run one of the FREE Bootable AntiVirus Rescue CDs Download List like Bitdefender or Kapersky which are very good.

As I said, bloatware is gone, I can't install SuperAntiSpyware, I also can't install Tweaking.com's Windows All In One Repair Tool - I get a similar error to SAS's install - can't create uninstall shortcut. Seemed like it would be a good tool since I'm convinced there's no malware on this puppy

 

[gregrocker]

You don't seem to know that Win7 is driver-complete in the installer and then via optional Windows Updates. Only one or two drivers may be missing after that which are easily found on the model's Support Downloads webpage.

The corruption from bloatware is insidious and does not end when you stop the crap from running at startup. The only way to get clean is to do the reinstall. Until then you don't even have Win7 but a ruined version of it. Of course, we are purists here at its home.

You mention it several times so have you tried a Repair Install?

I would run at least one bootable AV like Bitdefender or Kapersky first. These will clear you for Repair Install since going through it on an infected system is likely fatal.

But if you're going to reinstall the OS as a Repair INstall does, you might as well do the perfect reinstall. Why argue with having the proven best vs. having the absolute worst?

 

[gregrocker]

Can we see exactly what's happening when you try to download and install Malwarebytes?

Use the Problem Steps Recorder - Windows 7 Help Forums

Try first normally and then in Safe Mode

Then attach the Recorder file in reply box using the paper clip. If necessary you may need to rightclick to Send to: Zip file to attach it.

 

[boweasel]

You mention it several times so have you tried a Repair Install?

What an idiot I am!!! Let's just chalk it up to a senior moment... Of course I know about Repair Install on Windows 7. I had somehow forgotten it.

I have a Dell 64 bit Home Premium SP1 disk. I just wanted to see what would happen if I tried it. Selecting the upgrade goes through a checking compatibility process. When it generates the Compatibility Report, it says, The following issues are preventing Windows from upgrading. Cancel the upgrade, complete each task.... (blah, blah)... These programs might not work properly after the upgrade. We recommend uninstalling before upgrading.

itunes (please deauthorize computer prior to upgrade).

So now I've come full circle, since my daughter's complaint about itunes was the first indicator that something was amiss.

 

[boweasel]

Can we see exactly what's happening when you try to download and install Malwarebytes?

Use the Problem Steps Recorder - Windows 7 Help Forums

Try first normally and then in Safe Mode

Then attach the Recorder file in reply box using the paper clip. If necessary you may need to rightclick to Send to: Zip file to attach it.

This is normal mode. I can do safe mode if you'd like, but it'll pretty much look the same

 

[boweasel]

Safe Mode Install Malwarebytes

Pretty neat tool. You need to see what happens when I try to update Windows, or install Chrome, or SuperAntiSpyware, or run Internet Explorer, etc...

 

[gregrocker]

Deauthorizing Itunes is standard for any reinstall. You can sign back in afterwards.

The zip files are empty on this end

 

[boweasel]

The Zip files are on this laptop, however when I went to manage attachments and clicked on the 'Browse' button, nothing happened. I was never taken to explorer where I could navigate to the files and select them. So I typed the path into the lower box that reads 'Upload a file from a URL'. It did populate the correct name of the file into the attachment, so I hoped it would work. I'll copy the zip files onto a thumb drive and use another PC to upload them. Sorry about that. I guess that whole Manage Attachments problem is simply another indicator that her laptop is rapidly descending into PC Hell.

I'll have to look up how to de-authorize itunes. My personal taste in music is so esoteric I'd be surprised if itunes carried much of anything I liked.

 

[boweasel]

Resubmit of PSR Files. Curious that when I clicked Manage Attachments on this laptop, the Browse box was on the left. On the problem laptop Browse was on the right. Different OS? Or another sign of doom?

 

[gregrocker]

Nice job with the steps recorder.

Always run an .exe by rightclicking to Run as Admin. Try that now.

However when we google the error message we see it's likely related to serious infection. So what I would do is run the BitDefender and Kapersky rescue disk full scans from FREE Bootable AntiVirus Rescue CDs Download List.

This may give you something to go on so that our Security experts can guide you with the proper solution.

At any point you can save time and frustration by backing up files to quarantine to later be scanned with MBAM and MSE, wipe the HD with Diskpart Clean Command, then do the Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 with our help to get it perfect. This will end with a perfect install instead of the infected grossly inferior factory install you are trying to salvage which would never be more than the worst install of Win7 one can have anyway.

 

[boweasel]

Nice job with the steps recorder.

Always run an .exe by rightclicking to Run as Admin. Try that now.

Didn't do it on the recording just to save a step, but believe me, it makes not a whit of difference. I pretty much always run as admin on any OS higher than XP.

However when we google the error message we see it's likely related to serious infection. So what I would do is run the BitDefender and Kapersky rescue disk full scans from FREE Bootable AntiVirus Rescue CDs Download List.

Serious infection that wasn't detected on a full MSE scan? Or an MBar scan? Or TDSSKiller? (sigh...) Will download BitDefender and create an ISO CD (or does it have to be a DVD?) tomorrow, using a different PC. Again.