How to fix Cannot open local disk drive C in My
Computer on Windows XP
A friend of mine who is running a
Microsoft Windows XP
contacted me in Skype and asked me how can he fix a problem with
his
My Computer and
Windows Explorer not able to open
his C and D drives
Below is the screenshot illustrating the problem of Windows File
Explorer unable to open the C:\ drive:
After some quick search in Google I've found out that the problem
is caused by some kind of silly usb stick (flash drive) autorun.inf
virus.
This virus alters the way the
Windows Internet Explorer
works by adding some
autorun.inf into the hard drive
partitions, e.g.
C:\, D:\, E:\ etc.
Solution to the problem actually appears to be quite easy and can
be done in two general directions;
1. Using a specific cleanup autorun.inf program for instance
Flash_Disinfector.exe
This method is quite easier especially for people who don't know
how Win XP command prompt and basic Windows terminal commands
works:
To fix the Cannot open local drive C XP issue this way all you have
to do is
Download
Flash Disinfector.exe and run it on your PC
If you don't want to bother with binary .exe software which you had
no clue what contains (e.g. the preferred method in my view to
solve the
cannot open drive C is done via cmd.exe
2. Through using Win XP's command prompt atrib and autorun
- Here run the cmd.exe through:
Windows -> Run
type in cmd.exe inside the Run box, the Windows Terminal will
popup:
Inside the terminal type in:
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator> cd C:\
C:\> attrib -h -a -r -s autorun.inf
C:\> del autorun.inf
C:\> cd D:\
D:\> attrib -h -a -r -s autorun.inf
D:\> del autorun.inf
Your problem should be solved.
Now make sure to secure your XP PC with some good antivirus
software like
NOD32 in order to prevent it from getting
infected again with some kind of autorun.inf worm or some other
terrible type of malicious soft.
Hope that helps.