C:\WINDOWS\system32\system32.exe... ?

**#1-norm-fan** · 04-22-2004, 07:14 PM

So I just did a virus check on my comp. All of a sudden whenever I try to get on windows it takes a good 30 seconds after clicking my name to actually start up. When windows finally does start, I get a message saying...

"Windows cannot find 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\System32.exe'.
Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try
again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and
then click Search."

I've looked all over the net to try to figure out how to fix this but I've gotten way too many different solutions and I don't trust them. Anyone have any clue what I need to do to fix this?

DS · 04-22-2004, 07:19 PM

My friend had the same problem and it's something along the lines of the program running at start up and spreading. We did all we could to delete the problem but he had ended up having to reformat. Try running a virus scan/delete otherwise I don't believe there's another way to get rid of it.

**#1-norm-fan** · 04-22-2004, 07:25 PM

Ugh. I was thinking I was just missing something and could DL it back or something along those lines. Thanks. Anyone else know any other way?

DS · 04-22-2004, 08:07 PM

Try doing a repair install with windows. If you have the CD put it in the drive and go to your BIOs (usually F2 or DEL at startup, press repeatedly) and change your main boot to CD. When it starts hit Enter when it first asks for Repair (that's the bad repair) and it will then ask you again if you want to repair so click "R" and let it run. It will do a repair install of windows and might help it. If not then I'll try and find some links.

**#1-norm-fan** · 04-23-2004, 03:22 AM

Hmm. A friend of mine just helped me out. I just had to delete something from my comp. and the problem was solved. Apparently C:\WINDOWS\system32\system32.exe sounds like something important but it's actually a virus that starts up whenever you start windows. I deleted the virus. So now whenever I started my comp. up, it was looking for the virus to start.

Thanks for the help though DS. *Rep*

DS · 04-23-2004, 05:17 PM

Glad to see you got it fixed. That stuff can be a real bitch when you don't have a virus program.

**Sidle Jinks** · 05-24-2004, 07:29 AM

Well, it sounds like you have (or you had) a Trojan Horse. There are several possible solutions:
- first, you might just reformat your hard drive. This works, but you will have to reinstall everything. It's not the best solution.
- use antivirus scanner - however, it's not guaranteed that it will find anything. Almosy every CS student can write a Trojan]
- the BEST solution, to my mind, is to use system configuration utility, MSCONFIG. Just run it and go to "Startup" tab (well, I'm not sure it's named like that, 'cause I have Russian edition of Windows); then look through the programs that are loaded during Windows startup and remove everything suspicious (or everything you have no idea what it's for).
- if you have no MSCONFIG, it's a little harder - you have to use Registry Editor, like REGEDIT. The startup group is located at following locations:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\RunServices
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\RunServices.
Just remove everything that looks suspicious.
If you still have problems, please e-mail me to SidleJinks@techemail.com

Good luck!

04-22-2004, 07:14 PM	#1
#1-norm-fan Resident drug enabler Posts: 45,473	C:\WINDOWS\system32\system32.exe... ? So I just did a virus check on my comp. All of a sudden whenever I try to get on windows it takes a good 30 seconds after clicking my name to actually start up. When windows finally does start, I get a message saying... "Windows cannot find 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\System32.exe'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search." I've looked all over the net to try to figure out how to fix this but I've gotten way too many different solutions and I don't trust them. Anyone have any clue what I need to do to fix this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vkh2_FHNVRs

04-22-2004, 07:19 PM	#2
DS look at that hat Posts: 4,520	My friend had the same problem and it's something along the lines of the program running at start up and spreading. We did all we could to delete the problem but he had ended up having to reformat. Try running a virus scan/delete otherwise I don't believe there's another way to get rid of it.

04-22-2004, 07:25 PM	#3
#1-norm-fan Resident drug enabler Posts: 45,473	Ugh. I was thinking I was just missing something and could DL it back or something along those lines. Thanks. Anyone else know any other way?

04-22-2004, 08:07 PM	#4
DS look at that hat Posts: 4,520	Try doing a repair install with windows. If you have the CD put it in the drive and go to your BIOs (usually F2 or DEL at startup, press repeatedly) and change your main boot to CD. When it starts hit Enter when it first asks for Repair (that's the bad repair) and it will then ask you again if you want to repair so click "R" and let it run. It will do a repair install of windows and might help it. If not then I'll try and find some links.

04-23-2004, 03:22 AM	#5
#1-norm-fan Resident drug enabler Posts: 45,473	Hmm. A friend of mine just helped me out. I just had to delete something from my comp. and the problem was solved. Apparently C:\WINDOWS\system32\system32.exe sounds like something important but it's actually a virus that starts up whenever you start windows. I deleted the virus. So now whenever I started my comp. up, it was looking for the virus to start. Thanks for the help though DS. Rep

04-23-2004, 05:17 PM	#6
DS look at that hat Posts: 4,520	Glad to see you got it fixed. That stuff can be a real bitch when you don't have a virus program.

05-24-2004, 07:29 AM	#7
Sidle Jinks Posts: 11	Well, it sounds like you have (or you had) a Trojan Horse. There are several possible solutions: - first, you might just reformat your hard drive. This works, but you will have to reinstall everything. It's not the best solution. - use antivirus scanner - however, it's not guaranteed that it will find anything. Almosy every CS student can write a Trojan] - the BEST solution, to my mind, is to use system configuration utility, MSCONFIG. Just run it and go to "Startup" tab (well, I'm not sure it's named like that, 'cause I have Russian edition of Windows); then look through the programs that are loaded during Windows startup and remove everything suspicious (or everything you have no idea what it's for). - if you have no MSCONFIG, it's a little harder - you have to use Registry Editor, like REGEDIT. The startup group is located at following locations: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Run HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\RunServices HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Run HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\RunServices. Just remove everything that looks suspicious. If you still have problems, please e-mail me to SidleJinks@techemail.com Good luck!