Getting error messages when i access C: drive

Getting error messages when i access C: drive

Hi Doyle,

This error occurs when there is a corruption in your Windows installation. This is known to be caused by a virus or some installed applications like StompSoft, Reno, or Spydawn.

Here are ways to determine the source of the error and steps on how to fix the problem:

1. If you check the above stated programs installed:

• Press CTRL+ALT+DEL.
• Click Start Task Manager > Application tab > New Task.
• To Create New Task box, type “cmd” in the Open:, then press Enter.
• In the command line, type dir "Program Files" (including spaces and quotation marks), press Enter.
• If you see any folder named Digital Vault, Reno, or Spydawn, you may need to update the version of the program or uninstall it if you prefer.

2. Remove virus in Safe Mode – Some Viruses and other Malware can hide themselves from the system and even from the antivirus itself in the normal mode but cannot in Safe Mode since they wouldn’t be operational. Therefore there is a better chance that the antivirus or anti malware can detect these malicious software inside your computer.

• Update your Antivirus.
• Restart your computer and as soon as it lights up hit F8 multiple times until you get to the Windows Advanced Options Menu.
• Choose Safe Mode.
• Choose your operating system.
• Login as the Administrator.
• Do another scan of your PC.
• Remove or Fix the infections found.

3. Other Malware – If you have not found any virus and as mentioned above, it may not be a virus at all. It could be a worm, rootkits, Trojans or other malicious software that is changing your settings. Some Antivirus software cannot detect other malware or at least some of it. You need another layer of protection to make sure your PC is really malware free.

Try some of these popular Anti-malware and Anti-Spyware:

• Spybot Search and Destroy.
• Malware bytes Anti malware.
• Ad-Aware.

Download and install them in Safe Mode (see solution #2.)

4. Installed Trojan – There are instances where a Trojan has already installed itself in your PC and your antivirus is not picking it up. As the name suggests, Trojans disguise themselves as a safe program, therefore the antivirus isn’t considering it as a threat.

• Press CTRL+ALT+DEL.
• Click Start Task Manager > Application tab > New Task.
• To Create New Task box, type “C:Program Files” in Open, then press Enter.
• If it closes, just keep repeating the above steps. Eventually it will not close anymore.

Vista:

• In the left pane of the Program Files window, click Folders > Control Panel > Program and Features.
• Select Installed on, this should sort out the programs by the date of installation.

XP:

• In the left pane of the Program Files window, click Add/Remove Programs.

• If you see any programs installed on the day that this error began, or any unrecognized program, remove them. Especially when you see something listed as “Safety Alert”, “Messaging Service”, “Windows Warning”, or anything to that effect.
• After removing the program(s), Windows may prompt you to restart. Don’t.
• If you see a message saying that the uninstall failed, click “Uninstall Using Recommended Settings”.
• Repeat the steps until you removed all the unrecognized installed programs beginning on when the day of the error first appeared and until Explorer stops restarting.

5. User Account Control – In some cases, turning off the User Account Control does the trick and solves the error problem.

• Click Start > Control Panel > User Accounts > Turn User Account Control on or off.
• Type the administrator password if prompted and if there is.
• Remove the check mark on the Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer.
• Hit OK.

6. System File Checker – This process compares each operating system file with the ones from the on-disk cache. Then it replaces any missing or damaged ones. Have your Windows XP CD ready, System File Checker may need to check it too.

Vista/Windows 7:

• Click Start > All Programs > Accessories.
• Right click on the Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator.
• Put in the password if prompted.
• In the command line, type in “sfc /scannow”including the space.
• Have your Windows VISTA DVD ready, System File Checker may need to check it too.

XP:

• Click Start > Run then in the box type in “sfc /scannow” including the space.
• Note: While SFC is running, it’s not advisable to have any programs running, until the scan is complete.

Note: While SFC is running, it’s not advisable to have any programs running, until the scan is complete.

7. CheckDisk – This window command checks for the status of the hard disk for any errors and recover them if possible.

• Click Start > Run, type cmd, press Enter.
• In the C: prompt, type “chkdsk /r” and then press Enter.

8. Do a System Restore in Safe Mode with command prompt:

• Restart your computer.
• Once it lights up, press F8 and keep pressing until you see the Windows Advanced Option Menu.
• Choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
• At the Command Prompt, type C:WindowsSystem32Restorerstrui.exe and press Enter.
• Follow the rest of the instructions given there to perform the System Restore process.
• Remember to choose a restore point before this error began.

9. Do a System Restore from the Repair Mode – There are cases when the above solution (#8) does not help them get rid of the problem, but it did when they ran System Restore from the Recovery Options.

• Restart your computer.
• Once it lights up, press F8 and keep pressing until you see the Windows Advanced Option Menu.
• Choose Repair your computer.
• Select the Operating System and click Next.
• Click System Restore.
• Choose the date before the error began.
• Reboot.

10. Repair Windows Installation – Aside from having bad sectors, there may be missing or corrupted system files. Those can be replaced using the Windows Setup CD.

• Restart your computer.
• Once it lights up, press F12 and keep pressing until you see the options where to boot.
• Choose Boot from CD.
• In the blue "Welcome to Setup" screen, Press Enter to Setup.
• Accept the license agreement.
• Choose the Windows installation and press R to repair it.
• Do not choose to boot from CD if asked.

Note: All your applications, files and settings will not be deleted. The Repair will only repair the system.

I hope that one or a combination of the solutions above will help you fix the problem. Good luck!