My .exe files have changed its icon!!

[iversonis]

I have searched everywhere and could not find the solution to this! Please help me. As you see in the screenshot. All the .exe files in my Download folder has changed its icon. Why did this happen!?
Is this some kind of a registry problem?
Please help me.
Thanks.

[bigjackusa]

It looks like you have downloaded a foreign charactor set, probably on the internet while visiting a site with Asian content. Go to "Control Panel", "Regional and language options", and change everything back to English. Your date format is wrong too. Hopefully that is all it will take to fix it and it is not some virus.

[0R1()N]

Well, if it is a virus, then you should learn chineese. That way the virus won't annoy you, good motivational teaching tool to learn chinnese or mandrin.:rofl: :rofl: :shrug:

[iversonis]

I don't think that is the problem. Actually I am running Korean windows XP. Please help!!

[iversonis]

I have checked virus too. It is not virus. It is very weird. The .exe files that I put in download folder change icon for some reason.
Please help!! Never had this problem before. Could it be some kind of registry problem?

[allie]

Are you Korean?,if not why are you using a Korean version of XP??
Is it a legal copy?

[iversonis]

Yeah I'm Korean. Why do you ask?

[iversonis]

Its not only the icons that have changed!!
Its actually the file sizes!!
About 20bytes are added to the files for some reason.
I know this because I compared them to my backup files on cdr.
Their sizes are all different!!! So the change of icons!!
Please help me!!
What is changing my .exe file sizes??

[bigjackusa]

I'd guess that if it is a uniform increase in file size, it is either a virus or character set description that is longer than the origional. What AV software are you using? Is it up to date?

[iversonis]

I'm not using any antivirus software at startup. I just use it to check time to time. I use one called Turbo Vaccine and have only just used it after all this happened. The engine is up to date 6th March 2003.
Could it really be a virus even when it says its clean?

After hearing you. It could really be!!! Because only the .exe files have changed!!!
Oh my god!!!

[asklepios]

firstly forget that "Oh my god"!
panicking is the last think you can do! if you think that you don't have a virus, good enough. i would just say take a second opinion!
here is Norton Online Virus Check.
Do a scan online and confirm that you don't have a virus. I agree with bigjackusa and seems to me to be a virus too, but I would again say...relax and don't panic. :cheers:

[iversonis]

Thank you so much for all your help!!
It was virus!!!!!!
I couldn't believe it!
Now I have auto check start with windows.
A great lesson learnt.
Thanks. I still can't believe I got a virus!
Thank you!!

The virus was called something "handy"

[asklepios]

its nice to know that you found the virus and got rid of it!
always feels good to win a battle against viruses :thumb:

[XBoy]

Yes that is good news, but do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Norton Antivirus 2003, the best AV software I have ever used. It is most likely better than the current one you are using, and I would seriously consider paying the $50 for it. :thumb:

[bigjackusa]

XBoy

Disregarding your avitar, you will generally find people around here much more friendly if you refrain from references to things like"aquiring it other ways". I'm not passing judgement or scolding you. You have every right to persue your own course. This is just a friendly note to the new guy in town.