Hello!

I am using W2k with SP4.

The problem occurs every TIME winnt/system32 directory is listed.
Using command line: dir system32 LISTS all the files alphabeticaly (up to z-sth file) and then hangs hopelessly, not responding even to ctrl-C. The same goes with explorer and antivirus scanner as I try to scan system32 directory.

Using linux I was able to list the entire directory content. I found many {*}.exe pattern files, which are not listed by dir under windows before it hangs. So I believe those are the problem. Unfortunately, I am unable to remove those files.

Same goes with safe mode windows.

Could anybody please help me? I don't like the idea of reinstalling the whole stuff.

Thank youThis is so FUBAR'ed you are probably looking at a reinstallation, which is not a bad thing.

Are you sure you are malware free? What HAPPENED prior to all of this?
Maybe. I have two antivir programs (which is likely not a good idea) running and a firewall (AVG Free, AntiVir Personal Edition,  Sygate Personal Firewall). I had a trojan being/infecting long-name file "system32/{*}.exe" where * is for some chars (numbers/dashes), but it got cleaned by AntiVir. So I've got some {*}.exe empty files inside my system32/ directory.

It could have something or nothing to do with the problem.

My W2K is standing for more than 2 years now, but still, I would rather POSTPONE time-consuming installation until I get some work done.. if it is an option.

Do you have any idea what could cause dir to hang?

I appreciate your help, thank you!Just perform a Windows repair install.Choose one of those AV programs you want to keep and get rid of the other...

Re-boot and from the Start menu select Run...type in sfc /scannow with a space between sfc and the forward slash. Hit Enter and let it do it's thing...have your official Win2K CD handy as it will ask for it.

patio.    8-)
I got rid of Antivir leaving only AVG
system file check shows me a window with a progress bar that just fills to the end and that's it, so I guess no system files are damaged.

Windows repair install gives me 2 options:

2) Repair process, which tells me my hdisc is invalid/broken and then leaves me with no choice but to quit by pressing F3. This doesn't help.
1) Recovery console. Something good happened here: I was able to list system32 contents with dir from recovery console! I've found that there are  93 {*}.exe files present within this directory and I am able to delete them (I did that with 2 of them). Unfortunately, every useful dos command avaible works only on a single file. Any idea how to delete all those files quickly? Any idea if it is going to help?

That gives me a choice: either spend some mindless time typing all the names, which are 47 characters each, or formatting system partition and reinstalling W2k, which I'll probably do.

I like to learn from any problem I encounter and still I have no idea what happened and how it is possible. PERHAPS someone is enlighted enough to explain?

Thank you for your advices. Now I know about sfc command and finally I am able to check the contents of system32. That sheds some new light, does it?