Spy bot problem

[BCA]

Hey,

I have a huge problem with my computer at the moment... when I turned it on this morning, the ad-watch program (that auto loads) said it had detected a change in something or other %1e% or something like that - it seemed dodgy, and then spybot came up with an "accept or block" registry change thing... I blocked it. then it came up again, and again and again, so I went mad with the button and blocked everything it came up with, until I realised I was blocking normal things with changes detected on them.

Now my programs will not load - it says something like "this file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the folder options control panel" - its basically not recognising any .exe files. Nothing will load up and system restore doesnt help. The only way I can get firefox up is to "search for .lnk file" or something to get on here. Nothing works otherwise.

Any ideas? Im panicing like mad!!!

thanks in advance,
BCA

[Plotloss]

Sounds like you've hosed the file association section of the registry with the spybot reg blocker and over enthusiastic clicking.

Best thing to do would be to system restore at the last point before yesterday.

[GreenV8S]

Just booting shouldn't result in any changes to the registry file associations. If that was me, I'd start by rebooting and see if it keeps happening. If so run a hardware check, look for unusual errors in the system log, and then start looking for spyware / virus infection.

[BCA]

tried the system restore thing to a week before and it doesnt help... ad-watch still logs several registry changes and things dont work.

[BCA]

Also, the desktop icons are now the same as the ones where it cant work out what program it is. GRRRRR

[tobym]

Boot into "safe mode" by hitting F2 during boot-up, then re-run spy-bot. Should fix it. If not re-install from your set-up disc. You wont loose your programs or data, but it is never a bad idea to back-up your data etc.

[BCA]

I dont think that will help as I have given the ok to spybot to change the registry to block these things at start up AFAIK?

I can open things, but I have to right click> openwith> select a program from list... doesnt seem good at remembering.

Cheers for all the help so far, further ideas are very much so welcome!!!

[BCA]

tobym said:

Boot into "safe mode" by hitting F2 during boot-up, then re-run spy-bot. Should fix it. If not re-install from your set-up disc. You wont loose your programs or data, but it is never a bad idea to back-up your data etc.

Actually... are you suggesting I reinstall windows XP Pro?

[BCA]

ok, this is really doing my head in... I have to system restore to an earlier point whenever I want to half use the computer (it still doesnt manage to link to the .exe files on its own) - as if I just reset it, everything stops working, like AVG/ Zonealarm etc etc

Is there anyone here who can shed some light on this problem?? I really need this resolving quickly as possible, im quite reliant on this computer for uni work. If not, can anyone recommend any online forums that may be of more use to this, im afraid to just google it and mess things up more.

Thanks in avdvance,
BCA

FWIW, I cant repair/reinstall windows as it doesnt seem to be able to find my hard disk... which is so far beyond infuriating that I cant even begin to describe, the computers just come back from having that problem sorted - where they reset the bios and hoovered it ffs.

[FunkyNige]

Does the adware program you use have a registry backup tool? You may have a backup of your registry drifting around somewhere without you realising it.

[BCA]

FunkyNige said:

Does the adware program you use have a registry backup tool? You may have a backup of your registry drifting around somewhere without you realising it.

Cant even open it at present.