Sudden major problems. Win 7 Ultimate

[paulkruger]

I suddenly have some critical problems on my Win7

Starting today:

• Thunderbird email cannot send any emails out. This effects all accounts. Can receive only.
  Settings are correct. Server okay can send from a different computer or via webmail. No specific error, just says "unable to send email"
• Firefox cannot download any files. Can download via Chrome.
• Cannot install any .exe, .msi files. Get an error about creating temp files from 7-Zip This means I cannot install a fresh version of either TBird or FFox.
• Cannot restore to earlier version with restore point.

Actions taken. No resolution.

1. Disabled Firewall, Anti Virus
2. reboot ( several times including Safe Mode )
3. Ran scans with Bitdefender and Malware Bytes both find no infections.

I would try some added scanners but cannot install them.

I hesitate to update to Win 10 as the problem could just me carried over.

Ideas?

 

[SIW2]

Could be file system corruption or any number of other things.

I assume you didnt make a backup system image or you would have mentioned it.

There are several possible fixes.

You need boot media - you can borrow mine
17514x64v26.iso

extract the iso to create a bootable usb stick using this View attachment Usb7ice.zip

Boot up the usb you just made and Backup the activation using dism++ which is in the boot media
SEE HERE

then run checkdisk.

Then you can :

back up any data you need from your installed os by copying it to a different disk.

You could copy the users\yourusername\appdata\roaming\Thunderbird

and the users\yourusername\appdata\roaming\Mozilla folder

and your documents and pictures folders if you want anything from there

somewehere safe i.e to a different disk.

And/or use shadowcopyview ( it is under the startmenu of the boot media)
and copy those two folders
users\yourusername\appdata\roaming\Thunderbird
users\yourusername\appdata\roaming\Mozilla
out of a shadowcopy to a safe place
That will be all your firefox settings and emails

Then do a clean install - if you need installation media we can link you to it.

I have done all this many many times. It is not as daunting as it might first appear.

- - - Updated - - -

Alternatively, you could reconstruct the os from a shadow copy onto a different partition/disk, but it is a bit of a fiddle, it is much easier to reinstall.

 

[samuria]

Have you installed any new AV as they often block writing to temp folders, try copying a file to the temp folder and check permission on the folder

 

[paulkruger]

Have you installed any new AV as they often block writing to temp folders, try copying a file to the temp folder and check permission on the folder

No new software of any kind prior to the problem.

- - - Updated - - -

Ran more scans and still no sign of malware or virus. I have backups, image file etc. but last attempt from restore point failed.

Found one think I did resolve in trying to install a program to check my license key. temp folder was not inheriting any permissions. Used "take ownership" on that folder and install proceeded.

Something must have messed with file/folder permissions causing these issues...but what.

I tried to repair from the same disk I installed from but that option says it was not compatible with my OS version...even though I installed from that. It was a all-in-one distribution for Win 7. I have Ultimate.

If I am faced with a clean install I may as well go win 10 since I can do that at no cost upgrade.

Now that you have the easy ability to disable Cortana and auto updates it does not bother me as much. I just built a new machine with W10 and can transfer files over so wont actually lose much.

 

[torchwood]

hi

the repair likely failed as it was just W7, youll be running W7 SP1.

as for permissions, try this handy little prog, just select Repair permissions
Download Windows Repair (All In One)