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disappearing programs

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Original Message
Name: tricky1
Date: August 7, 2008 at 16:55:08 Pacific
Subject: disappearing programs
OS: xp media center edition
CPU/Ram: p4 3.6
Model/Manufacturer: hp pavillian m1050y
Comment:

Over the past few weeks programs have been mysteriously disappearing from my pc. I don't mean just the shortcut I am talking about the actual program files. I some cases the shortcut is gone also. But the folders are still in "program files" but they are empty. So far I have lost msn & yahoo messenger my newsreader and a video chat program. There could be more but this is what I have noticed.

So how could this happen? My first thought was a virus but my AVG says no and I always keep it up to date.

any other ideas?


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Response Number 1
Name: OtheHill
Date: August 7, 2008 at 19:08:39 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Do others also use this computer?


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Response Number 2
Name: Rayburn
Date: August 7, 2008 at 22:54:36 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Yeah someone else may have uninstalled those programs.

WinSimple Software


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Response Number 3
Name: tricky1
Date: August 8, 2008 at 02:04:07 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

no I live here alone. maybe a ghost? ;o)



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Response Number 4
Name: Chuck 2
Date: August 8, 2008 at 04:19:54 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Besides Virus',
Do you check for, and remove, Spyware ??
Spyware includes ----
Adware, Dialers, Browser Hijackers, Trojans, Cookies,
Key Loggers, Trackware, and other Malware while browsing the internet.

Most Virus and Spyware scans are likely to work better in Windows Safe-Mode.


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Response Number 5
Name: Rayburn
Date: August 8, 2008 at 10:53:33 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Yeah probably a ghost. Well I don't know, but try a chkdsk on the drive. Just go to Start>Run, type (without quotes) "cmd" and press enter. In the black console box that comes up, type in (again without quotes) "chkdsk /f" and press enter. This a very long shot in the dark, but I suppose it's possible that your hard drive may have bad sectors.

Are the programs that disappeared also gone from Add/Remove Programs?

WinSimple Software


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Response Number 6
Name: aegis
Date: August 8, 2008 at 11:04:54 Pacific
Reply: (edit)

Yes, I agree that running chkdsk is a good idea, even though it's a long shot. I would suggest 'chkdsk /r'. It takes a LOOOONG time, but will scan every sector on the drive for reliability.

But I'm more inclined to think it's a user error of some kind.


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