Start Menu Shortcuts Missing Fix

Start Menu Shortcuts Missing Fix

1. Move the virus related window as much off the screen as you can. Launch Task Manager to find the process name that appears to be random (yMjvSkpKyOa.exe). Right click and select "Open file location" then once you have that open select �End Process Tree.� Click yes to any warnings Task Manager gives you about doing this. (if Task manager is unavailable try Ity Bity Process Manager) if you can't get any of the above working these files are normally located in the app data folder in your user account under Roaming it can also hide in the others as well I.E. local low and local folder as well (all of those are under app data). then you can go ahead and remove that file from that location.

Now onto repairing the mess it left behind, Not all of these apply to every one of these type of infections some of these may not apply to you.

REPAIRING THE WALLPAPER & DESKTOP:

1. Launch �regedit� and browse to �HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop.� Copy the following values with the suffix �Old� to the corresponding value without the suffix. Then delete the �Old� values.
a. WallpaperOld -> Wallpaper
b. WallpaperStyleOld -> WallpaperStyle
c. TileWallpaper -> TileWallpaper

2. Still in �regedit� browse to �HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\CurrentVersi on\Policies\ActiveDesktop� and delete the value �NoChangingWallPaper.�

3. Browse to �HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Policies\Explorer� and delete the value �NoDesktop.�

4. Log off the current user and log back in.

Wallpaper and desktop should be back to normal.

REPAIRING TASK MANAGER:

1. Launch �regedit� and browse to �HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Cur rentVersion\Policies\system� and delete the value �DisableTaskMgr.� No reboot or logging out should be necessary, �taskmgr.exe� should execute without issue.

REPAIRING SHORTCUTS FOR WINDOWS XP:

When instructed to copy you may be tempted to move or delete after. I recommend leaving the shortcut temporary folders in case you mess up. Then you can start over.

1. First locate the temporary folder that the virus used to move shortcuts. It can be in the following locations:
a. C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Temp\smtmp
b. C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Temp\Low\smtmp
c. C:\Windows\Temp

2. Copy all shortcuts and folders from the folder �1� to �C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu.�

3. Copy all shortcuts and folders from the folder �2� to �C:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch.�

4. Copy all shortcuts and folders from the folder �4� to �C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop.�

5. Unhide the following folders and all of their contents:
a. C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu
b. C:\Documents and Settings\\Start Menu
c. C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
d. C:\Documents and Settings\\Desktop
e. C:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

6. Right-click on the �Start� menu and select �Properties.� If �Start menu� is selected click on �Customize�� and enable �Internet� and �E-mail.� Select OK.

7. Delete the following shortcut and folder:
a. C:\Documents and Settings\Desktop\Windows XP Recovery.lnk
b. C:\Documents and Settings\Start Menu\Programs\Windows XP Recovery

REPAIRING SHORTCUTS FOR WINDOWS VISTA
When instructed to copy you may be tempted to move or delete after. I recommend leaving the shortcut temporary folders in case you mess up. Then you can start over.

1. First locate the temporary folder that the virus used to move shortcuts. It can be in the following locations:
a. C:\Users\\AppData\Local\temp\smtmp
b. C:\Users\\AppData\Local\temp\Low\smtmp

2. Copy all shortcuts and folders from the folder �1� to �C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu.�

3. Copy all shortcuts and folders from the folder �2� to �C:\Users\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch.�

4. Copy all shortcuts and folders from the folder �4� to �C:\Users\Public\Desktop.�

5. Unhide the following folders and all of their contents:
a. C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
b. C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
c. C:\Users\Public\Desktop
d. C:\Users\\Desktop
e. C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

6. Right-click on the �Start� menu and select �Properties.� If �Start menu� is selected click on �Customize�� and enable �Internet link� and �E-mail link.� Select OK.

7. Check (enable) the following �Privacy� options on the �Taskbar and Start Menu Properties� windows.
a. Store and display a list of recently opened files
b. Store and display a list of recently opened programs

8. Delete the following shortcut and folder:
a. C:\Users\USER\Desktop\Windows Vista Recovery.lnk
b. C:\Users\USER\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\St art Menu\Programs\Windows Vista Recovery

REPAIRING SHORTCUTS FOR WINDOWS 7

When instructed to copy you may be tempted to move or delete after. I recommend leaving the shortcut temporary folders in case you mess up. Then you can start over.

9. First locate the temporary folder that the virus used to move shortcuts. It can be in the following locations:
a. C:\Users\User name\AppData\Local\temp\smtmp
b. C:\Users\User name\AppData\Local\temp\Low\smtmp

10. Copy all shortcuts and folders from the folder �1� to �C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu.�

11. Copy all shortcuts and folders from the folder �3� to �C:\Users\User Name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar.�

12. Copy all shortcuts and folders from the folder �4� to �C:\Users\Public\Desktop.�

13. Unhide the following folders and all of their contents:
a. C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
b. C:\Users\ User name \AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu
c. C:\Users\Public\Desktop
d. C:\Users\ User name \Desktop
e. C:\Users\ User name \AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

14. Right-click on the �Start� menu and select �Properties.� Check (enable) the following �Privacy� options on the �Taskbar and Start Menu Properties� windows.
a. Store and display a list of recently opened programs in the Start menu
b. Store and display a list of recently opened items in the Start menu and the taskbar

15. Delete the following shortcut and folder:
a. C:\Users\ User name \Desktop\Windows 7 Recovery.lnk
b. C:\Users\ User name \AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Windows 7 Recovery

Code:

=====START BATCH FILE======

xcopy �%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Temp\smtmp\1\*.*� �%AllUsersProfile%\Start Menu\*.*� /s/e

xcopy �%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Temp\smtmp\2\*.*� �%UserProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\*.*� /s/e

xcopy �%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Temp\smtmp\4\*.*� �%UserProfile%\Start Menu\*.*� /s/e
pause

=====END BATCH FILE=========

Unfortunately, you may of deted or cleaned Temp Folder and You have only empty folders?

Then you'll have to restore all items manually.

You can restore the defaults for the Start Menu and Administrative Tools as follows:

Windows 7: Restore Default Shortcuts in Start Menu All Programs

Vista: Restore Default Shortcuts in Start Menu Programs

Restore the Administrative Tools folder with vista_ultimate_admintools.zip

=============================================================================================
To manually recreate "All Programs" entries, follow these steps...

   Download App Paths
   Double click on AppPaths.exe to run the program.
   Keep the program open.

In this example I'll recreate an entry for Avast antivirus program.

   Go Start>All Programs.
   Right click on Avast entry, click "Properties".

NOTE. Make sure, you right click on Avast program, NOT on Avast folder.

You'll see this window:

Due to the damage caused by the infection, you'll find "Target" box empty.

   Go back to AppPaths window and find Avast entry.
   Right click on Avast line, click "Edit".
   A pop-up window will open:

   Highlight everything in "Path" box, right click on it, click "Copy"
   Go back to Avast "Properties" window, right click inside "Target" box, click "Paste".
   IMPORTANT! Add quotation marks at the beginning of the path and at the end
   Click OK and you're done.

In case, program's link shows as (empty):

Open Windows Explorer, navigate to Avast folder in Program Files
Right click on Avast ".exe" file, click "Create shortcut":

   Copy that shortcut, go back to Start menu.
   Right click on avast!Free Antivirus, click "Paste".
   You'll see Avast shortcut recreated replacing (empty) entry.

Alternatively....
...you paste that shortcut in:
(XP) - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Avast
(Vista/7) - C:\ProgramData\Start Menu\Programs\Avast