I discovered that I had this same problem...every single file I had downloaded for the past two years had turned to compressed files that wouldn't open at all. I found a way to get past it, but I'm not sure if it's a temporary fix or what...

Being as I am completely computer-illiterate, this may not be the right way to fix it, or it may be the long, complicated way. Here's what I did...

I uninstalled REALPLAYER from my computer (the program I had been using to play all my mp3's), and then went through and reinstalled it. It really wasn't any big deal, considering I needed an update anyway. Then, what I did was when it asked me if I wanted to use REALPLAYER as my default program for all my mp3's, I clicked "Yes". Then, after I was finished with the re-install, I went back to my windows/shared folder where all my songs were, and they had be changed back to REALPLAYER files. But, they still wouldn't play. So, I went into my limewire progam and redirected my all new incoming downloaded files to a different folder...I just used something random that I never use. Then, I tried to download a song, and when it finished, I went to the new folder and tried to play it, and it worked!

So then I though, why don't I try to put all my songs into that new folder? Maybe it's just the folder that isn't working. So, I put ALL my songs (800+) into this new folder, and they ALL work!!

So, that's what I did to get my files to work again. Whether or not there's a better way or whether or not this will continue to work, I have no idea. LIke I said, I'm completely computer illierate. Anyway, let me know if anyone has any other clue!

Hope this helps you!

I've had the same thing happen to my files as well. Until I came to this Forum, I thought that I did something myself to the files which was driving me crazy because I couldn't for the life of me figure it out. Neither can I comprehend how mp3 files could be compressed to a zip file. I've tried everything I know as well as everything I've read from others to remedy the situation with absolutely no luck. So I guess I'll just completely delete the entire folder and start the whole download process over again. I suspect it'll take me a few months to re-download the thousands of files I had but what else can I do? My only concern is that the same thing will happen again. So maybe I'll wait a while to see if Limewire or somebody else can come up with a solution.

Windows XP/ vista

Un-install Lime wire and delete the shared folder. Re-boot the machine in DOS command line mode. Using the command line go to the startup folder and delete "dllhost.exe" file. Re-boot the machine and re-install limewire.

Things should be ok.
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[quote=gorgeousji;255851]i'm just new here and i never had a problem with limewire until today...all my downloaded files especially the audio files was converted into .exe or zip files...i tried to unzip a few files and gave me an icon which is labelled setup,but are not working...with the rest, a pop up message was shown say that the file is corrupted.
i have been trying to figure this out the whole day and am really getting frustrated!
why would the files be changed int an .exe file? and it all shows the same file size.
i've already tried scanning my my whole system for virus and adware or spyware but the does not detect anything.
is there still a way to fix the files which i collected for more than a year now?
there must be a way to solve this problem and salvage all my downloads.
please help me!

Gorgeous... I am new here too, and all the files of movies or videos that I would like all seem to be in zip files, and when I download I get a message from my virus software that the file is 'corrupted' or 'malware' or 'virus' and even if I take the chance and try to open the file I get a message that there are no files to extract from the zip file... I don't seem to be able to find any movie files (or very few) that are in avi, or mpg most are zip and they apparently are useless.. what do I do with the zip files? or how can I get them to work. D Pearce

See if any of the info here helps (click on the link below).
Music files changing to zip or exe: some info

Download AVG Free from the link within that thread. Update it & scan your computer. AFAIK people have lost their files after being infected with this worm. Make sure to keep your AV updated & scan every file that you download, before you open it.

I just encountered the same problem. I uninstalled the Limewire program (after running Norton Antivirus, Spybot and other adware programs to no avail). I reinstalled a new downloaded Limewire (which happens to be a newer version) and renamed and placed the "shared" file on a different drive. Now, the first time I used Limewire, I have a pop-up with the virus infected program looking at me in a "rar" box. It's just waiting for me to execute it again. It also renamed itself....
I am including a screen shot of the program. I have scanned it for viruses, worms and/or adware by itself and it does not show any problems.

I am now at a loss in finding the remnants and know that absolutely it will show it's ugly head again!! If anyone has further help, it would be greatly appreciated.

I have XP on one drive and Vista on the other... Pentium IN9-32X-Max, Abit m/b w/2 GB OCZ Ram, Nvidia 8600 GT G/C, Creative XF-1 S/C, 7.1 Speaker System and Thermaltake 470W P/S... If you need more info, it will be provided...

Thank you very much for any forthcoming help or advise...

Sign me... Nailed again in Ky...

Clint

I've found myself in similar circumstances a few times....the first couple of instances I spent the time to fix the problem...sure, it was a learning experience and I felt 'satisfied' that I had defeated the infection....but I also spent a hell of a lot of effort to get there...I then adopted a different approach when it was apparent a good deal of my time would be required...and that approach is to simply back up data and reformat and do a clean install of the OS etc....from the specs you give it appears as if you have a custom machine, which indicates you have the required OS disc in your possession and most likely have the knowledge to reload the OS and all the applicable drivers for your hardware...

I long ago adopted the use of dual boot machines where each OS resides on its own physical HDD and said HDDs are partitioned so that the OS resides on the first 30GB of the drive and the rest of the drive is used for data storage...this allows for transfer of data to another partition (which saves one from having to burn data to a cd/dvd for backup) and also limits the amount of space which needs to be defragmented so that one's OS runs to its fullest abilities....simple stored data rarely needs defragmentation but the OS and software does on a regular basis (about once a month)...

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So Long and Thanks for All the Files
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Try one of these sites - they're specialists in malware removal & can help you!! I would suggest The 4Th one. But all can do the trick

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Thanks for the advice. I cleaned up the final issue with IEDefender (at least, I have my fingers crossed). It sure saved me a ton of time reformatting, updating and reinstalling everything!

Thanks again,

Clint

This is for Peerless,

Thanks for your help. I normally feel the same way about chasing malware, worms and viruses, but this one seemed to be confined to only a few issues. It appears I have cleaned everything on both drives with Bitdefender and FixIEdef. They either deleted or at least identified the locations of the problems where the program could not clean or delete them. I am pretty sure I have the problem cleaned with about 2 hours of work vs tons of time reformatting, updating and reinstalling everything....

Thanks again,

Clint