Re: Regaining the lost utilities in the Accessory area in program files

First, Roy, since you are using Google Groups to read these newsgroup
messages, make sure you click on any "Show quoted text" links in the web
page message so you don't overlook anything. Your previous reply to me did
not include any of the quoted text from my message. (I don't know why Google
is so sneaky. :)

"Roy" <roybasan@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:f59be17a-fac1-48d7-a6a1-66704e0cbe0f@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sorry but this sound hazy to me....I tried it when I recreated it, it
was possible there is no way to save this on a folder.
Or I did I miss something.......?- Hide quoted text -

On Jun 3, 7:16 am, "Tim Med***" <timmedd...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hazy? Did I read that right - hazy?
[snip]

Well as I can't get your system to work well what I did was a
result of sudden inspiration (out of exasperation. probably?)......,
that I had to copy the required things from system 32 folder and
the shortcuts did reappear in the start menu> accessories.....
surprise, surprise,,,at last,,,my nephew was happy with his PC
now....and I did learn something in return.....

Thanks for your time Jose and Tim for all your time....!
Roy

Hi Roy, It looks like you worked out a solution, and it has been a long time
since your first message in this thread back on the 17th of May, and I am
sure you would like to move on to other things, but the way you describe it,
I am not sure just what you did. It sounds like you put copies of whole
programs from the "system32" folder into the "Accessories" folder, rather
than Shortcut Link pointers to the programs. An easy way to put my mind at
rest and confirm what you did is: click on the Start menu, and (All)
Programs, and Accessories, and choose one of the new items, like Calculator,
and right-click Calculator, and at the bottom of the context menu that
appears, click Properties. The dialog that appears should have 3 tabs across
the top: General, Shortcut, and Compatibility. If the 2nd tab says
"Shortcut", you are OK. If it says "Version", things are still not as they
should be, and you need to report your results back here.

If it is a Shortcut, then the Target (for Calculator shortcut) should say:

%SystemRoot%\system32\calc.exe
(The target text in the original shortcut.)

or more likely, it will say:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\calc.exe

If it says something else, please report back what it says.
TIA. (Thanks in advance.)

We are still left with the mystery of why the shortcuts vanished in the
first place, because program installations should only add shortcuts for the
new program, (in the Programs folder, not Accessories,) and should not
remove shortcuts associated with other programs. (Did anyone think to check
your nephew's Recycle Bin for the missing shortcuts? :)

In messages trying to help you locate the missing Links, 3 different ways to
find the "Accessories" folder were mentioned, (1) Use Windows Explorer (hold
windows-logo key and press E key) to "navigate" to the folder, (2) Use
Start>Run to paste the full folder-path (including the beginning quote
symbol :) and (3) Use Search Find files, with "Accessories" as the search
term. For future reference there is a faster and more simple way:

Click Start, click (All) Programs, and RIGHT-click the "Accessories" folder
icon, and on the context menu that appears, choose "Open All Users". That
opens the "Accessories" folder in the "All Users" path.

If you had chosen "Open" instead of "Open All Users" on that context menu, a
different "Accessories" folder in the [Your User Name] path will open. That
second version of the folder is where additional shortcuts added by the
Current User are put. The actual Start Menu display combines shortcuts from
both sources.

Another thing to check, while you are in the All Users "Accessories"
folder - on the menu bar, click Tools, and click Folder Options, and on the
dialog that appears, click the View Tab, and in the Advanced Settings area,
see if the "Show hidden files and folders" item is checked. If not, click
it, and click OK. If there are any hidden files in the folder, they would
then be evident as "hazy" icons. If not, repeat steps at beginning of this
paragraph, but click "Do not show hidden files and folders", to switch it
back the way it was.

Some loose ends:

"Richard" <richard@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Did you or your nephew log-on under a different user name?


"Roy" <roybasan@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Actually nephew logged on his own users name and there is not conflict
with anybody as he is the administrator of his own PC.
That windows Xp PC software was installed by one of his friend which
is not around anymore but relocated therefore he has no one to ask for
help but me..which unfortunately not really good on this things
either.< grin>

OK, (grin,) I had asked that question because, as you since figured out,
there are different "Accessories" folders. I still have another concern
though. If the username your nephew is using to log onto the computer has
"administrator" privileges, it is not a good idea to access the internet
like that. Here is a quote from the Windows HELP topic about these things:

[begin quote:]
Why you should not run your computer as an administrator.
Running Windows 2000 or Windows XP as an administrator makes the system
vulnerable to Trojan horses and other security risks. The simple act of
visiting an Internet site can be extremely damaging to the system. An
unfamiliar Internet site may have Trojan horse code that can be downloaded
to the system and executed. If you are logged on with administrator
privileges, a Trojan horse could do things like reformat your hard drive,
delete all your files, create a new user account with administrative access,
and so on.

You should add yourself to the Users or Power Users group. When you log on
as a member of the Users group, you can perform routine tasks, including
running programs and visiting Internet sites, without exposing your computer
to unnecessary risk. As a member of the Power Users group, you can perform
routine tasks and you can also install programs, add printers, and use most
Control Panel items. If you need to perform administrative tasks, such as
upgrading the operating system or configuring system parameters, then log
off and log back on as an administrator.
[:end quote]

Another problem that he recognized is if he install a new software ,
it looks for slot in theaccessories or other installed programs
instead of creating its own place. That was likely the reason that
when he installed power DVD in theaccessoriesfolder the shortcuts
just vanished from that directory....

Now he is reluctant to install more of his software being afraid it
might delete more shortcuts in the program files.
Any more ideas how to sort this out also?

Actually, it is not likely that the installation program removed the
shortcuts. Probably, something else happened around the same time. It
"should" be safe to install more software, as long as all installation
instructions are followed. Of course, if the software was downloaded from
the internet, then it should be scanned with one or more up to date
anti-virus/anti-malware programs, before double clicking or otherwise
activating it.

Here's hoping you have fewer problems with future computer adventures.
--Richard



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