Solved Please help me fix my computer!

[user5541]

Hi, this is my first post here. My computer specs are located at the bottom of my post. I cannot connect to the Internet via either wired Ethernet or wireless. I am unable to run Network Diagnostic Tool in Internet Explorer 9.0 and the Diagnostic Service Host is not running and unable to start as a local service. Also, the error message. “Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.”: is displayed when I attempt to open any .exe file.

I tried to apply a registry patch to fix it and it worked at first and was able to open .exe files as normal, but when I restarted my system it began to display the error message again and now the registry fix no longer works in any way. I am aware that incorrectly editing the registry can be fatal, but this was only a patch to fix the .exe file associations.

I also receive the error message: “Failure to display security and shut down options: The logon process was unable to display security and logon options when CTRL+ALT+DELETE was pressed. If the operating system does not respond, press ESC or restart the computer by using the power switch,” when I press those keys. Occasionally a blank “green screen” is displayed when attempting normal start-up. The desktop as well as all icons are not visible and CTRL+SHIFT+ESC will not open Task Manager.

I can only access .exe files via Safe Mode, but cannot access Safe Mode with Networking or Safe Mode with Command Prompt, but. I can access the Command Prompt via Run > CMD from basic Safe Mode. I do not have any available System Restore points and do not want to perform a system reformat. I want to find a work-around. I have Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware Pro, virus definition update as of Dec 3, 2011.

I cannot connect to the Internet at all to update the virus definitions. I cannot boot into normal mode to install any new virus software and copy over up-to-date virus definitions from another working computer because Windows Installer is not accessible via Safe Mode. No viruses, malware, and etc. was found when I ran a full scan via Malwarebytes with the virus definitions I have.

I am not sure what is causing all of these errors. I want to know if there are certain system files that I could copy over from another system of the same operating system and replace them in order to fix some of the errors if that is what might be causing them. I am on an Administrator account and have tried the “Run as administrator” option to open .exe files, but to no avail. There are no strange programs visible in Task Manager. All of my devices are functioning properly per Device Manager and all of the drivers including the ones for the network adapters are properly installed.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. I apologize if my post is too lengthy. I don’t expect everyone to read all of it and I have outlined the key errors I experience below my system specs.

Technical details of my system:

Computer make and model: Hewlett-Packard (HP) Pavilion dv4 Notebook PC
Operating system: Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1
Processor: AMD Turion(tm) II Dual-Core Mobile M520 2.29 GHz
Memory (RAM): 4.00 GB (3.75 GB usable)
System type: 64-bit Operating System

Thank you for your help.

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Outline of erroneous behavior:

Error # 1: Unable to run Network Diagnostic Tool in Internet Explorer 9.0. Diagnostic Service Host not running and is unable to start. Cannot connect to the Internet via either wired Ethernet or wireless.

Error # 2: “Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.”: is displayed when I attempt to open any .exe file.

Error # 3: Failure to display security and shut down options: The logon process was unable to display security and logon options when CTRL+ALT+DELETE was pressed. If the operating system does not respond, press ESC or restart the computer by using the power switch.

Error # 4: Occasionally a blank “green screen” is displayed when attempting normal start-up. The desktop as well as all icons are not visible and CTRL+SHIFT+ESC will not open Task Manager even though all of the system files are loaded.

--

 

[wanchoo]

Was there a connection to the Net earlier and it has stopped doing so later on. What happens with other Browsers? I suppose they too are unable to connect to the Net. This looks like wrong settings in the modem.

Normally Windows 7 smoothly picks up the Ethernet Drivers at the installation stage.

 

[alphanumeric]

Welcome to SevenForums. Just so you know, posting all in bold with a large font won't get you help any faster. It actually makes your post harder to read for most people, so that may actually backfire on you.
So the PC was working fine previously and then this happened?
Anything out of the ordinary happen when things went south?
did you install any new software around the time things stopped working correctly?
If you can access system restore try going back to date before you had these problems.

 

[user5541]

I didn't realize that I posted in all bold with a large font. My PC was working fine previously. The only software change I did was I upgraded to Service Pack 1 via Windows Update and it seems to start producing errors after that, but I'm not sure if that caused it or not. It won't let me remove the update. All that I mentioned is out of the ordinary for my system. I don't have any available system restore points, they were all deleted. Is there a way to fix it manually? It did connected to the Internet before I installed SP1, all browsers can't connect. I connect with a network adapter Realtek PCIe FE Family Controller and Atheros AR9285 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter and the drivers for both are working fine. I normally could connect with both wired Ethernet and wireless LAN. How do I change settings that might fix the problem? Any help on the other errors? Thanks.

 

[alphanumeric]

If you go to Programs and Features in Control Panel, SP1 should be listed under the "View installed updates" option, upper left of the screen. You can attempt to un-install it from there. You could also try installing it again. You can get the full stand alone installer from here: Download: Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (KB976932) - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details
Last two entries are the one(s) you want, one is for 32 bit and the other 64 bit.

 

[gregrocker]

I would work backward using System Restore until I find a time when it was working correctly.

Otherwise work through these troubleshooting steps

 

[user5541]

If you go to Programs and Features in Control Panel, SP1 should be listed under the "View installed updates" option, upper left of the screen. You can attempt to un-install it from there. You could also try installing it again. You can get the full stand alone installer from here: Download: Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (KB976932) - Microsoft Download Center - Download Details
Last two entries are the one(s) you want, one is for 32 bit and the other 64 bit.

I cannot use the SP1 installer because it says, "Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is already installed" and I am guessing that it can't re-install and overwrite the data. I navigated to Control Panel > Programs and Features > View installed updates and then to "Service Park for Microsoft Windows (KB976932) and when I click on it the uninstall link is missing, but only for that one particular update. I opened an elevated command prompt and entered "wusa.exe /uninstall /kb:976932" and received the error message "Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB976932) is required by your computer and cannot be uninstalled." I also noticed that when I check my Windows Update log that this update was marked as "failed," but still my operating system displays as having SP1. I am thinking that this is what corrupted my system. Is there a manual way to delete and remove the service pack files and registry entries? Also, my system didn't come with SP1 already installed.

 

[alphanumeric]

I was thinking your problems were because SP1's install screwed up. There is a lot of info here, http://www.sevenforums.com/windows-...1-faqs-installation-issues-helpful-links.html it may or may not help. I just skimmed though it myself.

 

[marsmimar]

Some users may not be able to uninstall the program via the Control Panel applet. This is for instance the case if the service pack installation corrupted the system.

It is then possible to use the command prompt to try and uninstall the service pack. An elevated command prompt is required. To get there, users need to click on the start orb, then All Programs > Accessories, and right-click on the Command Prompt entry there and select Run as administrator.

They then need to use the following command to uninstall the service pack again:

wusa.exe /uninstall /kb:976932

A confirmation is again required before the service pack is uninstalled by Windows.

Source

Are you sure you used the elevated command prompt? ( Sorry, no disrespect intended. Just double-checking. ) Also the KB number you used is different than the one used in this article.

 

[user5541]

Some users may not be able to uninstall the program via the Control Panel applet. This is for instance the case if the service pack installation corrupted the system.

It is then possible to use the command prompt to try and uninstall the service pack. An elevated command prompt is required. To get there, users need to click on the start orb, then All Programs > Accessories, and right-click on the Command Prompt entry there and select Run as administrator.

They then need to use the following command to uninstall the service pack again:

wusa.exe /uninstall /kb:976932

A confirmation is again required before the service pack is uninstalled by Windows.

Source

Are you sure you used the elevated command prompt? ( Sorry, no disrespect intended. Just double-checking. ) Also the KB number you used is different than the one used in this article.

I did use the elevated prompt and the KB number I used is the same as in the article. I think the back-up files that were created prior to installing SP1 were deleted and that might be why I can't uninstall it that way. Do you know how to fix the error: “Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.”? It is always displayed when I attempt to open any EXE file. Where do I go and what do I change in the registry if that will help? EXE files will open in Safe Mode just fine, but not in normal boot mode. I tried creating a new admin account to test if the error varies per user account, but it displays the same error message for all. Also, thank you alphanumeric for the info.

 

[alphanumeric]

Normally, if an update fails, it will be offered up again though windows update for another try. You can't get online so thats not an option at the moment. with all the problems you are having I think I would backup what you want saved to external media and then run the factory recovery utility or do a clean install of Windows. Other options, although I'm not sure they will work are to do a repair install, or run the system file checker, sfc/scannow.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html?ltr=R
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

 

[Fred Garvin]

User, IMO, your computer sounds infected with malware. Have you run any virus scans?

 

[gregrocker]

Checking for malware is one of the first troubleshooting steps given in the link below. However OP has not bothered to even respond to the suggestions so apparently isn't willing or ready to do the work.

I would work backward using System Restore until I find a time when it was working correctly.

Otherwise work through these troubleshooting steps

 

[Fred Garvin]

Checking for malware is one of the first troubleshooting steps given in the link below. However OP has not bothered to even respond to the suggestions so apparently isn't willing or ready to do the work.

I would work backward using System Restore until I find a time when it was working correctly.

Otherwise work through these troubleshooting steps

Gotcha Greg. I just hate to see people going in an opposite direction when I'm sure it's a malware issue that can be corrected..... Good advice is only useful if someone takes it.

 

[user5541]

Hey guys! Sorry for the late reply, I was caught up with work. I used the Windows 7 Home Premium retail installation disc's repair option. My system is now working fine. I am pretty sure that the problem was from an incomplete service pack upgrade which corrupted my system. Thanks for all your help!