My Norton anti-virus has been disabled and I believe also all of my Windows files. The C:\Windows\Program folder is showing 0 objects - (no folders in it at all). Several desktop shortcut icons have disappeared or shortcut is not working. Can see folders and files in ms word, but cannot open them. When I try, receive the message: "Device file is missing ... cannot find to run Windows or a Windows Application" and then it attempts to load Office 2000 (which is obviously also has been affected) before it will open the file. Also at startup I am getting the following: "Device file is missing ...Windows registry refers to this device which no longer exists (SYSTEM.INI file)" C:\PROGRAM 1\SYMANTEC\SYMEVNT.386 C:\PROGRAM 1\NORTON 1\NAVAP Internet desktop icons also disappeared from desktop. I have tried re-installing Windows 98 but I receive the message that it is already installed and won't load it. I do not want to uninstall and re-install windows if it can be avoided. I am not programme/op systems literate, so please advise in novice terms the procedure I should follow to clean this virus out. I run Windows 98, int explorer version 6, Intel Pentium, 233 mhz ESS modem 56k,

If it's your registry that's been affected, you could try to restore it. On bootup, hold down the ctrl key or press f8 repeatedly. When you get a menu on a black screen, choose command prompt. Once there, type "cd windows" and enter. Then type scanreg/restore. You should have a backup or backups to choose from, although they might be old. If this solves the problem, then you'll have to redo any changes you've made since then, e.g., install/uninstall and apps. Of course, you may have more serious problems, it's sometimes hard to tell until you try something.

Symptom is that of Klez virus. Go to McAfee_AV and Nortons_AV web sites and read up on removing and get their removal tools. First get a Windows boot diskette and then search for any files named WINK???.exe (where ??? are any three random characters). From a boot diskette A:\ prompt enter: ATTRIB /s C:\WINK*.* If it finds any files, then you have the Klez virus and need to run the removal tool. From the sound of it, your system is so damaged you may have to clean it off (copy your data files to diskette) and start over with a clean install.

Your symptoms also resemble other viruses and problems. I would try to restore the registry, then try to fix your anti-virus in safemode. The search for wink*.* can't hurt, and klez may very well be the problem. If it is not, what you do in the first few attempts can make the difference between OS and no OS. Not all problems of this nature are fatal. Feel free to email me.

To be honest with you sounds more like a virus and a back door. some back doors can get past virus scanners. the person then running the client can disable the virus scanner. from there they can then distroy your registry and other files. doesn't really sound like a registry problem just because you have 0 showing under programs.what was the specific erro message that you received when you tried installing windows? email me about this, pinkyandthebrian@earthlink.net ps another reason why your Virus scaning files have been deleted is because someone had deleted those files. knowing what type of trojans are out there they can edit the registry as well as your system ini files check out MOOSoft.com for a trojan sanner it's called the Cleaner