If you cannot run .exe files just after A Clean Install I would assume some remnants of the virus are still about. I recommend formatting the hard drive with DBAN prior to reinstallation of Windows Vista. See my wiki A Clean Install of Windows Vista (Step 7a).
I have a Dell Inspiron 537s from a friend who had a Virus. I reformatted the HD and got the install disks from Dell. I install Vista from the disk then try to run the ResourceCD and it says. Failed to run. "a device attached to the system is not functioning". NO EXECUTABLES will run. Always this same error. In the Device manager the only thing showing an error is the NIC card. I got the drivers for the NIC from the website and installed them. It works but NO EXECUTABLES will run. I tested all the hardware with the built in diags AND with some stuff from "The Ultimate Boot CD". Hardware all passes. So, the Vista install CD that Dell sends does not work and will not allow me to even run the Resource cd. What am I to do? Really?? Dell....This is NUTS. I should be able to get a cd from you and install Vista clean on a formatted HD and have it WORK!
Used Vista install disk from Dell but it doesn't work right!