WordPad and Photo Issues

[Femalien]

1: My WordPad documents do not show English text. It is showing symbols and shapes.

2: My pictures will open in File Explorer, but they will not open in the Photos app on the Start screen.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.  :cathappy:

[IT_WinSec · Accepted solution]

Hello,

Welcome to the HP Support forum.

With regards to the first questions > WordPad can only open RTF (rich text format) files. If you attempt to open other types of files, it may not display them correctly. With regards to the "special/strange" characters, make sure the file text is encoded correctly and that you have the necessary font for it. More info > http://superuser.com/questions/336197/unicode-characters-suddenly-start-displaying-as-boxes-in-some-...

WIth regards to the second question > have you tried to "restart" the computer and try again ?

Does it work after restart ? Does the app open at all ? Or it if opens it displays an error ? If the app does not open:

- Try WSReset tool >> http://www.thewindowsclub.com/reset-windows-store-cache

- Try Windows Store app troubleshooter >> http://aka.ms/diag_apps10

[Femalien]

If I attempted to open those types of files, it was not on purpose. I simply opened what I wrote in WordPad and saved in WordPad and it just so happened that some weird symbols appeared. How do I properly encode the text?

Yes, I have restarted my computer and even shut it down. I have different categories for my pictures and some categories have an error signal that pops up when I try to open them. For example, I can open "Cute Pictures", but I can't open "Camera Roll".

I'm suspicious as to whether or not I have downloaded something that messed my computer up. I remember clicking something and I did not know what it was... like, a black box that popped up and I clicked "OK". I don't know what the name of it was. If I could figure it out, I would go into my programs and uninstall it.

[IT_WinSec]

May I suggest you perform "System Restore"in an attempt to fix the issue and to rule our something you may have done unintentionally. Please, restore back to previous days (restore point) where the issue was not present. Here is more info:

>> http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03327545

[Femalien]

It looks like I will have to do that.

[Femalien]

UPDATE: I have tried everything and still, nothing has worked. Now, my photos have disappeared in File Explorer, too. The only thing that didn't work is when I attempted to restore my laptop. I bought a USB with not enough GB's. My Norton Internet Security has expired and I'm thinking that all of this happened around that time. Do you think that my files will be restored if I update my payment?

[IT_WinSec]

I don't think it has something to do with Norton IS unless you have somehow enabled some sort of back up functions and by disabling Norton due to expiration, it also disabled/hid your files...

I will send you a private message. Please, check your messages in the upper right corner of the forum (mail icon next to your username / login / log out link). Reply there.  Thank you for your cooperation !

[IT_WinSec]

Just an update for this thread.

The issue has been solved and at least the root cause has been identified.

The PC has been infected by malware/ransomware/cryptolocker type which has partially encrypted files.

It and all other malware has been successfully removed, Norton subcription removed and replaced by Windows Defender.

>> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ransomware

>> https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/17228/windows-protect-my-pc-from-viruses

Dear @Femalien

Please, ensure fast and reliable Internet connection, practise safe computing, don't visit dodgy sites and keep Windows Defender updated, to avoid malware/virus issues 🙂

Take care and don't hesitate to post again.

Cheers !