IE 8 Problems

[cweinhofer]

I just had something very strange and unnerving happen with IE 8.

This morning I downloaded and installed beta 2 for IE 8. It went through the install process pretty typically. Upon restart, I opened IE 8 and went through the setup options. I closed the browser and went to look for a file on my desktop. It was then that I suddenly realized (being both horrified and perplexed) that somehow the install or setup seems to have deleted all the files on my desktop. The even weirder thing is that I had some files in folders and those files and their folders appear to be untouched. However everything else is gone.

I had some pretty important files on my desktop and so if anyone can help me to figure out why or how they got deleted, I would really appreciate it. I am running Win XP Pro SP3

One thing that I will note is that I have my desktop folder remapped to a different location. This has never caused a problem before and I have my documents folder remapped as well and nothing happened to it. I made sure to check the default location to see if the files had been moved back, but they hadn't. From everything I can tell, the mapping is still in place and working fine, but the files are just gone!

Please help...

[jcgriff2]

Hi. . .

Have you performed a system wide search for any of the missing desktop files/folders? What is in the mapped location - and where is it?

I would do this 1st before performing a system restore or looking into un-installing IE8.

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

.

[cweinhofer]

Thanks for the suggestion. I did try that first, but the files are completely gone. The new desktop folder was located at C:\Users\<username>\Desktop. This was simply a change to consolidate my files similar to how Vista is set-up for easy backup.

The files on the desktop which are no gone included internet shortcuts, Word & Excel files, and a PDF or two.

[jcgriff2]

Hi. . .

So you mapped your desktop from \Documents and Settings\<username>\desktop to the Vista path \users\<username>\desktop?

Why was IE8 installed to begin with - was there any problem w/IE7? IE8 is a beta version.

I'm sure you have done this - but did you look in recycle bin?

And your system search was done so w/XP search? Were all hidden/system files included?

Are you interested in trying a 3rd party utility product to perfrom another search?

JC

.

[cweinhofer]

The mapping as you have outlined it is correct. The Recycle Bin is a logical suggestion and was the first place I looked. The search was done including system folders & hidden files (it is my default setting). I'd be happy to try another program to look for the files if you think it's worth a shot. Are you thinking of an "undelete" utility or something else.

As for why I installed IE8... There was no problem with IE7. Honestly, I user Firefox for almost all my browsing. I run a small computer business providing on location training and tech support for home users. Becuase of that I try to get a jump on new software that I might encounter in the field. I am tech savy enough that betas (especially a beta 2) have never really been a problem.

As much as I would like to get the files back, I am also just baffled as to how and why they were erased. Obviously the only other thing I have seen do something like that is a virus. Given how odd it was, it would be nice to know why it happened to try and prevent it in the future. At this point that only thing I can guess was that I might have had something to do with the malicious software removal process that the installer went through before it installed (yeah... the irony of that isn't lost on me). However, even that wouldn't make sense as it never gave indication of finding problems and deleted what are otherwise rather benign files.

[jcgriff2]

Hi. . .

I can now understand about IE8 and why you would want it - simply being prudent. I also agree that a beta 2 should not be an issue, but am seeing more users installing it and bringing some to the point of an OS re-install; hence one reason that I mentioned it. Another was because of the XP SP3/ IE7/IE8 beta 1 issue -

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950719


Just thinking out loud here - I can't help but to wonder about the mapping - using the exact directory name that Vista uses and all. I keep thinking that somehow the malicious tool remover or IE8 "mistakenly" got rid of it because of its name. I know that sounds ridiculous maybe especially to one that is system savvy, but I have seen many strange things happen in Vista and a few in XP SP3. Is the mapped folder the only one missing? If virus-related... the same question comes to mind. I assume that you have scanned for virus/malware?

How long ago did you install XP SP3 on this XP Pro system? I see IE8 was installed on Sept 3. Have you installed IE8 on any other systems... including Vista?

Is the entire mapped directory gone or just the files in it? Are there any other folders/files in c:\users or c:\users\<username> or c:\users\<username>\desktop?

It would simply seem strange to me for a virus to just go after those folder/files.

The utility program that I had in mind is called Altap Salamander v2.51 (FULL). I use it every day as it knows no boundaries - whether it be XP or Vista (running at an elevated admin level). It shows you everything regardless of file attributes. So I thought that maybe it would be worth a try to perform a system-wide search using Altap. You can use file names or wrap wildcards around them. If you wish to try it, please not it is a 30-day trial and can be completely removed via program-un-install. There are no start-up programs placed in your system by it whatsoever. The only issue w/it is compatibility with virtualization found in x64 systems - it does not re-direct the re-direction from the x64 \system32 directory to the x86 \syswow64 directory properly as it must be "re-re-directed" to the virtual \sysnative directory. Outside of this and a similar one with the HKLM_\software\wow6432node virtual registry key, it is flawless. It's an x86 app basically.

Using a file recovery utility is a good idea, too. I could locate one if you wish. I don't use them as I have redundant backups. But I would very much like to continue with this as I agree that it is baffling. And if not viral-related... then what, why, how.. etc...? And is it IE8 related? This is troublesome.

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

[cweinhofer]

It’s funny, a few years ago when I had less experience I remember an MCSE I was working with tell me to be careful with MS updates – that they could cause trouble and only to install MS stuff as needed to replace known buggy or insecure components. At the time, it didn’t make any sense as to why that would be the case. Today, I have learned it the hard way all too well.

Your thought about the same path as Vista makes sense and although it is ludicrous to think that something that simple could have confused the IE8 installer like this, it is not beyond the realm of possibility. I know there are a good number of people who have set-up these paths because they wanted to mimic Vista and so I am surprised to have not heard any other reports of this. I didn’t really choose it to mimic Vista, just because it sounded like a sensible path. I had been using Vista since it’s beta 2 and only went back to XP a few months ago because I was sick of having my laptop crash rather then come through in the clutch.

As far as virus/malware, I have Avast and Spybot both running, but have not yet bothered to do full deep system scans (I’m having trouble sleeping as you can tell by this 4 AM post and so I’ll do it tonight overnight, just for kicks). The problem happened concurrent with the IE 8 install as I was working on one of the files just before. I do regular backups and so can restore most of the files from one of those, but will lose 36 hrs worth of changes – thus why I was hoping for some solution.

I think what is gone is as perplexing as the deletion itself. The folder C:\Users\<username>\Desktop is not gone and the mapping is still intact. Only the files are gone, but even weirder is the fact that any files I had in folders (e.g. - C:\Users\<username>\Desktop\Project A) didn’t get touched. Also, the other Vista resembling shell folder mappings we untouched. It makes you wonder if the objective of the command that deleted the files was simply to delete the install file itself after install (although, I have never seen a MS installer do that before) and it just went overboard.

I have a file recovery program that I will try to run and see what I can dredge up. Although it still doesn’t figure out what caused this or how to make sure it doesn’t happen in the future.

I appreciate your continued help in exploring this issue.

[jcgriff2]

Hi. . .

Now I must ask what the problem with Vista was, please. And were the crashes BSODs - if so do you recall any of the bugchecks?

Also... to see this perplexing issue first hand, I installed IE8 beta2 onto an XP Pro system, but 1st set up folders/files and mapped just like you did. No problems here. This doesn't not say a whole lot as you know b/c no 2 systems are a like and my XP Pro system had been wiped clean not to long ago.

JC

.

[jcgriff2]

Hi. . .

I don't know if you have tried the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility, but it may be worth a try -

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;290301

Also some kbs on IE8 problems -

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/956197/en-us

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948564/en-us

Unfortunately, I am leaning toward a re-install of the OS as being the only viable solution.

Regards. . .

JC

.

[THEATHLETICPC]

First of all, I'm not one of the pros, but just based on what i have read spyware can do to one's PC, I always run a good anti-spyware detector/remover every hour on the hour. There is powerful spyware out there that can not only take over one's PC, but disable the system restore functions, and disable the updates of one's virus/spyware remover. When one loses control over the keyboard stokes, and one isn't able to remove stuff from the add/remove section...It's time to get your recovery disks out...Immediately!!! I did the change over with IE8, when it was in Beta status. Now, it is in RC 1 status mode. Once again, I'm not one of the pros, but if you allow me make an suggestion: There are certain sites, that one should use caution when going to...If one should go to them at all, use a firewall, and have it set to high...Even if you are at home.

[jcgriff2]

Beta apps like IE8 are test versions and should not be used unless you are fully prepared to re-install your OS and lose all on your system.