How to really restore ALL start menu shortcuts?

[sylvester35]

Hello,

Recently had nasty multiple virus infection which hid all my files, etc. I think I have the system completely cleaned, and have been able to recover my program files , task manager, desktop, and even my computer on one profile.

The problem seems to be that the rest of the shortcuts that are usually on the left side of the start menu (like control panel) are gone. All the instructions I've found including those to restore the shortcuts from scratch are not working. I think this is because those shortcuts don't really seem to show the ones that show in the left side grey area.

This is Windows 7 64, and I have another system that was not infected that has all the proper shortcuts. Thanks for any ideas on how I can fix this!

[Firefox]

Hello and

You can try the steps listed below and it should restore them.

Download unhide.exe saving it to your desktop: http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/grinler/unhide.exe

Right click on unhide.exe and select Run as administrator (In case you have Vista or Win7)

Reboot

This will unhide folders/files that were set to be hidden by the infection you had.

Let me know if that solved your problem.

[sylvester35]

Hello and

You can try the steps listed below and it should restore them.

Download unhide.exe saving it to your desktop: http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/grinler/unhide.exe

Right click on unhide.exe and select Run as administrator (In case you have Vista or Win7)

Reboot

This will unhide folders/files that were set to be hidden by the infection you had.

Let me know if that solved your problem.

I just tried that again. It doesn't seem to affect these shortcuts I'm trying to restore. I wonder if a lingering virus could be holding them back? I'm confused as to where they are located. Even the start menu restoration zips don't show those shortcuts in the grey area. They show mainly just the programs folder and subfolders within it.

[sylvester35]

I just tried that again. It doesn't seem to affect these shortcuts I'm trying to restore. I wonder if a lingering virus could be holding them back? I'm confused as to where they are located. Even the start menu restoration zips don't show those shortcuts in the grey area. They show mainly just the programs folder and subfolders within it.

To be specific, I'm talking about these shortcuts normally found off start menu:

Documents

Pictures

Music

Games

Computer

Control Panel

Devices and Printers

Default Programs

Help and Support

I got back the Computer on one profile after running malware bytes and removing some malware. Previously, I had run SAS. WHen I got back the Computer, I also got back the task manager menu option for the ctrl-alt-delete menu

[AdvancedSetup]

Many tools try cleaning the temporary files location unfortunately that is NOT a good thing to do with some infections. We have no idea what has really happened to your system but assuming the infection was what removed them then my guess is that they were in the %temp% folders and are now no longer there as one or more tools may have cleaned them from the temp folders.

You would now need to try either manually restoring them or possibly trying data recovery software.

You can also try this out.

Windows 7 - Start Menu All Programs in Windows 7 - Restore Default Shortcuts

If you're not 100% certain the system is now clean then you may want to have someone assist you in verifying it's clean now.

If you think you are infected, here are the steps needed to get your computer cleaned....

Please read the following so that you can begin the cleaning process:

Don't use any temporary file cleaners unless requested - this can cause data loss and make recovery difficult

You have 3 Options that you can choose from as listed below:

• Option 1 —— Free Expert advice in the Malware Removal Forum
  
• Option 2 —— Paying customer -- Contact Support via email
  
• Option 3 —— Premium, Fee-Based Support

OPTION 1

As we don't deal with malware removal in the

General Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Forum

, you need to start a topic in the

Malware Removal forum

so a qualified helper can help you fix any malware related problems/infections you may have.

• Please read and follow the
  directions here
  , skipping any steps you are unable to complete.
  
  
• After posting your new post, make sure under
  options
  , you select
  Track this topic
  and choose
  Immediate Email Notification
  ,
  
  
  so that you're alerted when someone has replied to your post.
  
  

NOTE:

Please do not post back to (bump) your topic within the first 48 hours.

Replying to your own posts changes the post count and helpers are looking for topics with zero replies.

If you reply to your own post helpers may think that you're already being helped and thus overlook your post.

• If there is no reply from any experts after 48 hours, you can reply to the topic, asking for help again.
  
  
  Or
  
  
• You may send a Private Message to a Moderator asking for assistance.

  
  

OPTION 2

Alternatively, as a paying customer, you can contact the help desk at

support@malwarebytes.org

or

here

.

OPTION 3

If you would like to use our

Malwarebytes Premium Services

, Comprehensive solutions to all your computer support needs—from installation and set-up to troubleshooting and tune-ups go to our

Malwarebytes Premium Services

support site.

Please be patient, someone will assist you as soon as possible.

PS: Please use the "Add Reply" button not the Reply button when you start replying.

[sylvester35]

No, no need for all that. I was just asking a simple question, and I figured it out myself. The virus had changed the default setting for the start menu properties. A few clicks and it's all back. I'm surprised you guys couldn't answer this.

[AdvancedSetup]

Well to be honest most of us have never personally had this and almost everyone this has happened to was due to the settings being changed and files moved to the %temp% folder which UNHIDE easily fixes.

If you were not seeing due to file and folder settings then that's great but is rarely the case.

Glad you have it working now though.

Take care

[sylvester35]

Well since a virus did it, I'm sure many people have had this problem. If you're going to instruct people to use the unhide, you should know and inform that it doesn't "unhide" stuff that's set via the start menu settings. That would be the grey area of the bar that I described.

[AdvancedSetup]

Thank you for your input unfortunately with well over 5 million different types of infections we have specific things we look for before recommending what to do in the HJT forum. Coming in after the fact is a guessing game as to what's wrong or was wrong. I'm sorry our suggestion was not helpful for you.

[West bost]

Hello My Friend,

On window 7 you have to click on the start menu and right click on the empty space on the start menu. Choose properties---> start menu tab---> customization---> and click restore default on the bottom left.

Have Fun.