[cangst]

I first have to thank you guys for helping get rid of the malware on my computer following the steps:
1. Scan for Spyware/Adware
- run Ad-Aware SE
- Run CW Shredder
- Run Spybot S&D
2. Run Ewido Security Suite
3. Run Windows update

It fixed my problem but now I lost sound. Getting following error messages when I try to access Device Manager:
MMC cannot open the file C:\WINDOWS\system32\devmgmt.msc

I tried to access via Start>Run> and I get same message. I also cannot use the Search feature in Windows Explorer. I haven't discovered yet what else is missing.

I don't think I have the original driver CD (bought computer used) so if there is a solution that doesn't involve using my old disks, please let me know.
THank you,

[Advertisements]

Hello and welcome to Geeks to Go! I'm kool808.

Try re-installing your sound drivers. Download and install the 30-day trial version of Tune-up Utilities, fix the registry.

[kool808]

Hello and welcome to Geeks to Go! I'm kool808.

Try re-installing your sound drivers. Download and install the 30-day trial version of Tune-up Utilities, fix the registry.

[dsenette]

depending on how your system was installed, see if you can find an i386 folder. usually somewhere in c....there may be acopy of it in there

[cangst]

Ok, downloaded the program and I ran the program under "Optimize & Improve">"Tuneup Registry Defrag". What else should I run?

Sound is back but I still can't access my device manager or search.

Thanks for the help.

[cangst]

I looked in i386 but didn't find any *.msc files. There were several zip files with the extension *.cab, including one called driver.cab. I opened that zip but didn't see any *.msc files. Keep in mind that I can't search since that feature is gone too so this is a manual search.
Thanks,

[kool808]

Clean Up & Repair > Tune up Registry Cleaner

[cangst]

Kool,
I just re-looked at your first post. You said to reinstall sound drivers. I'm assuming that TuneUp Utilities won't help if I don't have the sound driver CD??? I did run Clean Up & Repair > Tune up Registry Cleaner and it didn't help with the Device Manager problem. Strange that the sound works now but Device Manager is still giving this msg:
MMC cannot open the file C:\WINDOWS\system32\devmgmt.msc

The laptop is a Sony Vaio and there are a bunch of Sony System tools on this thing but I can't seem to find anything that would restore the drivers. Btw, I did look in my recycle bin for the devmgmt.msc (or any *.msc file) and there weren't any.

[cangst]

I'm shocked, but I just found the Sony system disks. I didn't think I had them.

There are 3 System Recovery disks and 2 Application Recovery disks. Any thoughts on where to start? I really am leery of running a system recovery.

[gerryf]

I am somewhat curious as to whether there are any other msc files in system32?

for that matter, unzip and move the attached to that directory and run it

Attached Files

•  devmgmt.zip   3.56KB   568 downloads

[cangst]

This is strange... I didn't put that file you sent in C:\WINDOWS\system32\ yet, but now the following files are there:
certmgr.msc
ciadv.msc
compmgmt.msc
devmgmt.msc
dfrg.msc
diskmgmt.msc... and about 8 or 9 more. They all have the same date 8/18/2001. These were not here earlier before I ran the utilities...

I clicked on each of the *.msc and still get the MMC cannot open... error.

[cangst]

should i try to put your devmgmt.msc in my system32 file? I would first create a backup of mine? Just not sure if using your devmgnt will conflict w/ my system?

[gerryf]

no, throw mine out

let me attach a new file, hold on

[gerryf]

this is a visual basic script that will restore the default file association for msc files....unzip and run, then try running device manager

Attached Files

•  xp_mscfix.zip   788bytes   802 downloads

[cangst]

I'm looking at my recycle bin again. There are 2 files that were in WINDOWS\system32\ that were deleted the day I got hit that I'm wondering about and they are smsca.exe and dist001.exe. Should these be restored?

[cangst]

No dice. Didn't work.