I cannot access my C drive by double clicking

[TANGFIRMER]

I recently tried to network my windows XP Home laptop with another laptop running XP Professional using Ethernet cables and a 8 port hub. I was not successful but later on i found out that i could not access my C drive by double clicking. I used avg to scan my drive but it showed no virus was present. I still cant access my C drive. The only way i can do it is by using the address bar in explorer. i also noticed that I cannot enable the show all hidden files option in folder options.

I ran the system file checker and it showed no problems. I also tried to run it in safe mode but it wouldn't run.

I tried running AVG in safe mode but i reports an error scanning C but it scans all other folders/directories on the C drive.

Can anyone help me with this. I think i may have a boot sector virus, am i right?

[nickc1976]

What settings did you change when setting up your network? Did you install or remove any software?

Try running chkdsk,

Open a command prompt, type

chkdsk /f /x

press enter and follow the instructions.

[TANGFIRMER]

I did what you said nick and i still cant access C.

The thing is i want to be sure what i the problem is before i try system recovery because it may not make any sense to recover if it is a boot virus.

[TANGFIRMER]

I did what you said nick and i still cant access C.

The thing is I want to be sure what  the problem is before I try system recovery because it may not make any sense to recover if it is a boot virus.

[Broni]

i could not access my C drive by double clicking

Through My Computer?
What happens, when you double click?

[TANGFIRMER]

When i double click a window pops up with a list of programs asking me to select the program i want to use to open.

I think i have found the problem. I had a version of comodo firewall that was more recent than the one i was running so i decided to install it. During the installation it asked me if i wanted it to scan my system, so i let it scan my system. during the scan it found autorun files that were located on my drives and a trojan located in the system 32 folder. The name of the trojan has online game in it. dont remember the full name.

I think i must have got the trojan while playing online game at yahoo.

[TANGFIRMER]

Can any of you say why my antivirus (AVG antivirus) didnt find it?

[Broni]

There is no perfect antimalware tool.
Most likely, your problem was that copy of "autorun.inf" file.

[patio]

You should also install AVG Anti-Spyware.
Virus programs are not that great at spotting Trojans.
This is why you need multi-layered protection.
AVG A/S probably would have picked it up....