I am experiencing a significant problem.
It all started when I updated ZoneAlarm today. Now this may not be related to ZA, but that is when it all happened.

First, I have a Win98 SE OS.

I seems as though all of my file associations have been corrupted. None of the shortcuts on my desktop work. They all now have the extension of .lnk displayed. Also when navigating from MyComputer, none of the .exe files run.

In every instance, I get the "open with" dialog box. The only way I can run any programs is to START > RUN > BROWSE > program.

What happened? I am clueless!

Below is a copy of my HJT log just incase it reveals anything.

Please help!!!!!

Logfile of HijackThis v1.99.1
Scan saved at 11:13:39 PM, on 9/9/05
Platform: Windows 98 SE (Win9x 4.10.2222A)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP1 (6.00.2800.1106)

Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\KERNEL32.DLL
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSGSRV32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MPREXE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\mmtask.tsk
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ZONELABS\VSMON.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DEVLDR16.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\HIDSERV.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SYSTRAY.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\MICROSOFT HARDWARE\KEYBOARD\SPEEDKEY.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\AHEAD\NERO\INCD\INCD.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\BILLP STUDIOS\WINPATROL\WINPATROL.EXE
C:\PROGRAM FILES\ZONE LABS\ZONEALARM\ZLCLIENT.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSTASK.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\WMIEXE.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\DDHELP.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ZONELABS\ISAFE.EXE
C:\TEMP\HIJACKTHIS.EXE

R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://google.com
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://google.com
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page_bak = http://google.com
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = c:\windows\system32\blank.htm
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Window Title = Microsoft Internet Explorer
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings,ProxyOverride = 127.0.0.1
R3 - Default URLSearchHook is missing
N1 - Netscape 4: user_pref("browser.startup.homepage", "http://google.com"); (C:\Program Files\Netscape\Users\blicht1\prefs.js)
O2 - BHO: HelperObject Class - {00C6482D-C502-44C8-8409-FCE54AD9C208} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\TECHSMITH\SNAGIT 7\SNAGITBHO.DLL
O2 - BHO: (no name) - -{00000EF1-0786-4633-87C6-1AA7A44296DA} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - -{C1E58A84-95B3-4630-B8C2-D06B77B7A0FC} - (no file)
O2 - BHO: (no name) - {53707962-6F74-2D53-2644-206D7942484F} - C:\PROGRA~1\SPYBOT~1\SDHELPER.DLL
O3 - Toolbar: SnagIt - {8FF5E183-ABDE-46EB-B09E-D2AAB95CABE3} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\TECHSMITH\SNAGIT 7\SNAGITIEADDIN.DLL
O3 - Toolbar: &Radio - {8E718888-423F-11D2-876E-00A0C9082467} - C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\MSDXM.OCX
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SystemTray] SysTray.Exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Microsoft IntelliType Pro] "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Hardware\Keyboard\speedkey.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [ScanRegistry] C:\WINDOWS\scanregw.exe /autorun
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [CriticalUpdate] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\wucrtupd.exe -startup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [LoadPowerProfile] Rundll32.exe powrprof.dll,LoadCurrentPwrScheme
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [InCD] C:\Program Files\Ahead\Nero\InCD\InCD.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Tweak UI] RUNDLL32.EXE TWEAKUI.CPL,TweakMeUp
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [WinPatrol] C:\PROGRAM FILES\BILLP STUDIOS\WINPATROL\winpatrol.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Zone Labs Client] "C:\Program Files\Zone Labs\ZoneAlarm\zlclient.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [devldr16.exe] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\devldr16.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RunDLL32.exe NvMCTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [Hidserv] Hidserv.exe run
O4 - HKLM\..\RunServices: [TrueVector] C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\ZONELABS\VSMON.EXE -service
O6 - HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions present
O6 - HKCU\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Control Panel present
O9 - Extra button: AIM - {AC9E2541-2814-11d5-BC6D-00B0D0A1DE45} - C:\PROGRAM FILES\NETSCAPE\COMMUNICATOR\PROGRAM\AIM\AIM.EXE
O9 - Extra button: ComcastHSI - {9E546720-1C19-11D6-8B58-00E02940CFE7} - http://google.com (file missing) (HKCU)
O9 - Extra button: Help - {9E546721-1C19-11D6-8B58-00E02940CFE7} - http://www.comcast.net/memberservices/ (file missing) (HKCU)
O9 - Extra button: Support - {9E546722-1C19-11D6-8B58-00E02940CFE7} - http://www.comcastsupport.com (file missing) (HKCU)
O12 - Plugin for .spop: C:\PROGRA~1\IE6\Plugins\NPDocBox.dll
O15 - Trusted Zone: http://www.comcast.net
O16 - DPF: {70BA88C8-DAE8-4CE9-92BB-979C4A75F53B} (GSDACtl Class) - https://www.gamespyid.com/alaunch.cab
O16 - DPF: {56336BCB-3D8A-11D6-A00B-0050DA18DE71} (RdxIE Class) - http://207.188.7.150/01909a090286937ab506/...ip/RdxIE601.cab
O16 - DPF: {BD8667B7-38D8-4C77-B580-18C3E146372C} (Creative Toolbox Plug-in) - http://www.imgag.com/cp/install/Crusher.cab

I am having identical problem. No Desktop or Startup shortcuts work.

The MS solution that relates to this does not address the problem. Look in
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q177/9/09.asp . I have also tried Registry Aid and Norton's System Works -- all to no avail. It is beginning to look like I have to reinstall the system altogether in order to fix this. Arrrrgh! Help me if you find a solution, please. I also loaded Zone Alarm and that is when this began -- it has to be the recent update that they sent. It is also taking forever for the ZA to load.

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