Can't run executables
Discussion
Chaps,
My desktop machine (Win2K) is refusing to run executables. I have suspected some nasty has been on it for a while, but never quite been able to put my finger on it (AVG always scans it as clean, as does trend.com's housecall.)
I have just tried to update the Java software on the computer, but although it will download the update just fine it won't run it. Now I have tried to run hijackthis.exe, supposed to be a way of finding and cleaning problems, but it refused to run this either.
Anyone any ideas?
Oli.
My desktop machine (Win2K) is refusing to run executables. I have suspected some nasty has been on it for a while, but never quite been able to put my finger on it (AVG always scans it as clean, as does trend.com's housecall.)
I have just tried to update the Java software on the computer, but although it will download the update just fine it won't run it. Now I have tried to run hijackthis.exe, supposed to be a way of finding and cleaning problems, but it refused to run this either.
Anyone any ideas?
Oli.
If you suspect some kind of Virus (unlikely I think) boot into safe mode and try and run them from there. If that doesnt work either then I reckon windows is playing silly buggers. Might also be some kind of firewall issue that stops the machine from running .exe files but unlikely again.
Plotloss said:
If you try to select an application through the start menu does it come up with a dialogue message stating something about denied or not allowed?
No, it runs them all fine (i.e. I can fire up Word/Excel/FireFox/Everything else all OK.) I guess these all run from executables as well, don't they?
Oli.
road2ruin said:
If you suspect some kind of Virus (unlikely I think) boot into safe mode and try and run them from there.
Does running from safe mode make a difference then? (It must, otherwise you won't have asked me to try it!)road2ruin said:
If that doesnt work either then I reckon windows is playing silly buggers. Might also be some kind of firewall issue that stops the machine from running .exe files but unlikely again.
How do I stop Windows playing Silly B's? I do have a firewall ... I'll try turning it off and see if that makes a difference. Thanks,
Oli.
Plotloss said:
Yeah, every program is an executable pretty much.
Is there a specific function that you cant start?
Thus far, it will download the Java update but refuses to run it, and also refuses to run the hijackthis.exe file. Is there a specific function that you cant start?
I have had it refuse to run executables before but have kind of ignored it (naughty, I know).
Oli.
OK, it's now started to work (hijackthis, that is.) Not sure why. I closed IE and FF and it decided it wanted to play ball.
Very annoying.
It won't run the Java update I want it to tho'. I've resorted to downloading the whole of the latest java program from their website ... see if that works.
Oli.
Very annoying.
It won't run the Java update I want it to tho'. I've resorted to downloading the whole of the latest java program from their website ... see if that works.
Oli.
zcacogp said:
ThePassenger said:
Safe Mode, AV scan and also let SpyBot S&D and AdAware thunder through the system. When you say refuses to run, does anything at all happen? An error box appear or stuff?
'Twas an error box, saying "Prog X caused errors and has been shut down". Oli.
Great. Window's equivalent of a "Check Engine" light. Could be anything from a bad extension/plug-in in a web browser (assuming it's running) causing hassle, a program you've used leaking memory (memory leaking is where is allocates itself memory but doesn't de-allocate it properly on close... or constantly increases it's memory use despite not doing anything). Incompatible driver floating around that the program doesn't like, wrong revision of an API (.net 1.0 when 1.1 required... although this example will usually give a .net error). Malware running. Even a firewall/router being greedy and eating packets during download, so you've got a buggered .exe.
In XP/2k go Start > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Event Viewer. See if it gives any more of a clue about what happened when the program ran.
Best advice, reboot, Windows Update for all critical updates so you're at the current patch level, try again. If that doesn't work, try downloading again and installing with nothing running (disable AV, firewall, MSN, et al for the duration of this experiment).
Edited by ThePassenger on Friday 26th January 13:50
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