windows explorer not responding

virus fixed; now windows not responding; have to reboot. also, cannot get java to download.

Hi dismall03,
I took a look at your logs over in the Virus and spyware removal forum and it was good to see that
Satchfan has has cleared up the malicious/undesirable code on your machine.

I did notice that there were indications in your logs of serious corruption/damage to the hard drive structure in your computer, and its possible that it was not resolved completely by running chkdsk with the r switch.

There is a possibility therefore that your hard drive is failing….. before it finally fails it would be wise to check that your back up strategy is sound, that it has worked correctly, and there is nothing of any importance or value to you on the machine that has not been backed up to removable media, and with at least one extra copy kept safely offsite… You should also take the opportunity now to verify the integrity of the back ups, and confirm that the data is all reproducible without error.

Hopefully you also have good disc images, taken when your machine was running fast and sweet, with no malicious code, all junk files deleted, defragged and with all correct drivers installed and with all protections and Windows Updates installed and working correctly. These will be invaluable and help you to be and up and running again in less time than it takes to walk the dog should it be necessary to buy and fit a new hard drive and reinstall Windows, your Programmes, drivers, protections email and Internet configurations and the like….(without good disc images the reinstall, should it be necessary, is likely to be time consuming and therefore costly if you commission a professional to do it for you.)

We can suggest some checks that you can perform to help you assess the health or otherwise of your hardware, but before running these its important for you to be 100% happy with your back ups…..(the tests stress your hardware and if a hard drive is on the point of failure then its possible that the stress could "push it over the edge" into electro mechanical failure…. with the possibility of taking all your data with it.

Post back when you are happy that your back ups are satisfactory, and we will advise the next steps.

Regards
paws

I have carbonite backup; windows says cannot install updates, even tho it reboots overnight and tries to

Before we proceed, are you 100% happy that there is nothing on your computer that is important to you that is not backed up effectively, (with at least one validatd copy kept safe offsite on removable media) and that you have everything you need to reinstall Windows on a new hard drive, reinstall all your applications, settings, email, Internet, drivers and copy across all your data files, should this prove to be necessary?

Post back with you confirmation and we will advise the next steps.
Regards
paws

So the short answer is no.

See this Tutorial: How to Do a Clean Installation with Windows 7

If you don't have a Win 7 install DVD, see this note in the tutorial:
 
📎Win7DDLink.jpg

first thing would be to find and make a note of any keys, especially the windows os key it's currently using ztrucker.

 

Good point. Download and run this script to get the Win 8 install key.

 

📎ShowKey v1.2.zip

after all keys are found and noted, i'd recommend making a full image too before running any tests paws may want or doing the full win 7 clean install from your link.

 

at least with the keys found and noted, the os and windows office can be gotten and installed safely from the internet, not sure about any other paid for software he may be running tho.

 

with the image made if the drive should fail or something he will have a way to restore everything back to the way it is now on a new hard drive.