Is it fair to say my HD is broken?

[DaveJ]

Recently installed applications keep disappearing, especially the executables. I've got missing shortcuts for AVG, CCleaner, Tivo Desktop, Real VNC, etc. No big deal, it's my 3rd PC I'm using as a Tivo server.

This has happened a few times, I reinstall, and they disappear again. I've check for viruses and it's also weird that I've done a scandisk and found nothing -- or at least it didn't stop on any report. Oh well, I guess I'll have to dig up another HD.

[hobbit709]

1. Doesn't sound like bad drive

Sounds more like a malware/trojan combo. What OS? If the drive was crapping you would get the BSOD at least once. Check your settings to see if it removes unused icons.

[DaveJ]

3. More info....

I actually did get the BSOD but only once, a couple months ago. I suspected the HD might be going out then. Also I'm downloading a huge file at the moment (totally legitimate -- it will take another 12 hrs or so though, after a week and a half) so I wonder if that could have anything to do with it.

I've scanned using AVG and Adaware and found no malware. I've got no other symptoms of intrusion, but who knows... I figure whether it's malware or not, I might as well rebuild.

[canetoad]

2. I'd be checking the RAM with mem-test too.

[DaveJ]

4. I'll try that

It may require a floppy disk and a reboot but I'll try it. Later, though, I'll get back with the results.

[CK_John]

5. I've seen a problem that changed the path and pathexe that removed the .exe from the

list not allowing any file with exe extension to perform.Control panel->System->advanced tab (environment variables).

Example of pathexe:
.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH
Example of path:
%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;c:\Python22;C:\Program Files\Sonic\MyDVD

Look for order ,inserted oddball extensions, removal of extensions.

[DaveJ]

6. The PATHEXT environment variable...

It contains the exact extensions you mentioned. The only weird entry in the path variable is to something called absolu~ in program files that doesn't exist anymore. I'm still thinking it's a hardware problem. No big deal, I'm comfortable with throwing this PC out. It's lived a long and useful life.

[CK_John]

7. I would remove that absolu~ extensions to prevent those files from execution, You could do a search

of the HD for (*.absolu*) files and check them out.

You can always add it back in the pathexe, if needed. IMO, it looks like a leftover from a trojan or rootkit.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

8. Could be the harddrive...

Could be the HD controller. Is this a Via chipset? I have seen them do things like this before.

[Babel_17]

9. External HD? (nt)