Chunker,
If you haven't already, then you might run a sfc /scannow command to see if that may help. If not, then you might consider a repair install.
Personally since a virus was involved, I would recommend to format and do a clean install of Windows 7 to be safe.
I believe I've already done your latest suggestion. I totally agree with the restore and I do have a system image saved on an external drive that was about 2 and a half months before the virus hit. If all else fails I can always do that. But right now I'm still looking for a quick fix. Since the virus I've done so many changes and improved my security I would hate to lose those and start all over again rebuilding. From Google searches on this subject I see where it is a widespread problem. I'm hoping somewhere someone had an answer.
Something that I have given some thought on. Maybe you can tell me if it's a far out possibility or not? During the fix period I've been given a few registry entries to merge into registry. Let's just say the one you provide in this forum. I've done that one a couple of times. Now that I know how to find certain things within the registry I know how to search it for items. Well, another person gave me a couple of files that should have fixed my problem. It was two entries both containing the words "HideSCAHealth". I merged that some time ago. Now when I do a find within my registry that term is not found. However when I merged I got the message that it was merged successfully. The same with your reg fix, I got the answer back that it merged successfully. Could it be this virus has done something whereas I'm unable to add items to the registry? I used your file but don't know the word or phrase within it to do a find on it. Maybe it didn't merge either? Could this be possible?
Chunker,
By default the HideSCAHealth string value is not in the registry. It's only added with a data value of 1 when Action Center is disabled. Deleting HideSCAHealth, or changing it data value to 0 (zero) would normally enable Action Center again. The REG files and group policy do the same thing for this registry setting.
Since the find and find next didn't find any HideSCAHealth entries in your registry, I'm thinking that there's got to me some other unknown item affecting this than the normal group policy setting for this. Unfortunately, I'm not sure what else it may be yet.
Then I might be on to something? I don't see those entries at all, at least they can't be found. I'm also pretty sure your icon fix reg file isn't in there either even though I've merged it 2 or 3 times. Thank you for your insight.
When my REG file is merged, it deletes the HideSCAHealth string value from the normal locations in the registry that group policy places it to usually enable Action Center after restarting the computer. That's why you do not see it in the registry.
Ok, that makes a lot of sense. How can I verify that your entry has really been merged into my registry. What can I do a search for to see if it is indeed in there? Sorry to be so bothersome.
It's no problem mate. I think you are just misunderstanding the REG files a bit. That's all.
My REG file doesn't add anything to the registry. It deletes the HideSCAHealth string value from the two locations specified in the REG file from the registry if there.
If you right click on the REG file and click on Edit, you will see what it does to help.
Thank your for your explanation. I've also read where that HideScaHealth has a value of 0 to turn it on, and a value of 1 to turn it off, so that is where I'm getting a little confused. I feel like I'm batting my head against a wall dealing with this issue. Guess I'm going to end up having to live with it as long as I live.
Guess I got my last post backwards, 1 to turn it off and 0 to turn it on.
Yeah, you have it right with that example then. You could delete it or have 0 for the value to enable it. I just preferred to delete it instead to keep the registry cleaner, and since that's what it does when done from within group policy. That's all.
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