Re: control panel = folder

Shenan Stanley said this on 8/11/2009 2:00 PM:
Big_Al wrote:
I've got a winXP laptop from a friend and a "folder" icon is
showing up a lot of places.
I got to control panel and there is one there. If I click on it,
it just opens another explorer window with nothing there. On the
left side there is a ADD PRINTER and SETUP FAXING under a printer
tasks. So looking at my pc I guess that its the "printers and
faxing" item on the menu, and sure enough that item is not on the
control panel. I can't rename it so that's one problem. And
this seems to be a common problem.
When I'm viewing the control panel, the blue bar at the top of the
window is not labeled "Control Panel" like my pc, its just simply
labeled "folder". So this "Folder" problem is a bit bigger than I
thought.

Any ideas what might have done this and how to reset it. The owner
says they just turned it on.

Oh Another thing, When I click on device manager from my computer,
it says the devmgmt.msc is not there (it is) or not a proper MSC
file or I don't have permission. Well, I thought I did (I mean
the user on the pc).

Thanks for any replies. I'm not looking so much for a fix, (but
that would be nice) I'm looking more for what is it that is
screwing up the PC, I mean more of a concept info. But of course
the end is to fix it.
PS its as 4 year old compaq and a bit slow and of course well used.
I tried running a few scans and they won't run. The user did run
one but they did not get errors.

The original problem was they got an error opening a .htm file. I
can reproduce that easily.
Also there is no network any longer. So I'm trying to resolve the
wireless right now. I've also got it cabled too.

Please provide Operating system (flavor and service pack level, more detail
better.):
Start button --> RUN (no "RUN"? Press the "Windows Key" + R
on your keyboard) --> type in:
winver
--> Click OK.

The picture at the top of the window that opens will give you the general
(Operating System name) while the line starting with the word "version" will
give you the rest of the story. Post both in response to this message
verbatim. ;-)

Assuming a 32-bit Windows XP with at least SP2... Clean it up:

Download, install, run, update and perform a full scan (separately) with the
following two applications (freeware versions are the ones to use for this):

SuperAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/

MalwareBytes
http://www.malwarebytes.com/

After performing a full scan with one and then the other and removing
whatever they both find completely, you may uninstall these products,
if you wish.

Download and run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

Reboot.

Fix your file/registry permissions...

Ignore the title and follow the sub-section under "Advanced Troubleshooting"
titled, "Method 1: Reset the registry and the file permissions"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377
(If you have SP3 - ignore step 6...)

Reboot and ...

Search your registry for %fystem and replace the "f" with an "s". May be
three or four matches, may be none. You may even have to take ownership
(even after doing the above) of the keys in order to make the change.

Download/Install the latest Windows Installer (for your OS):
( Windows XP 32-bit : WindowsXP-KB942288-v3-x86.exe )
http://www.microsoft.com/downloadS/details.aspx?familyid=5A58B56F-60B6-4412-95B9-54D056D6F9F4&displaylang=en

Reboot.

and...

Download the latest version of the Windows Update agent from here (x86):
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=91237
... and save it to the root of your C:\ drive. After saving it to the root
of the C:\ drive, do the following:

Close all Internet Explorer windows and other applications.

Start button --> RUN and type in:
%SystemDrive%\windowsupdateagent30-x86.exe /WUFORCE
--> Click OK.

(If asked, select "Run.) --> Click on NEXT --> Select "I agree" and click on
NEXT --> When it finishes installing, click on "Finish"...

Reboot.

Then follow the instructions here:

How do I reset Windows Update components?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/971058

Reboot.

and..

Log on as an user with administrative rights (assuming you are in this case
- given your problem) and open Internet Explorer and visit
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and select to do a CUSTOM scan...
(Every time you are about to click on something while at these web pages -
first press and hold down the CTRL key while you click on it. You can
release the CTRL key after clicking each time.)

Once the scan is done, select just _ONE_ of the high priority updates
(deselect any others) and install it.

Reboot again.

If it did work - try the web page again - selecting no more than 3-5 at a
time.

The Optional Software updates are generally safe - although I recommend
against the "Windows Search" one and any of the "Office Live" ones for
now. I would completely avoid the Optional Hardware updates. Also - I do
not see any urgent need to install Internet Explorer 8 at this time.

CHKDSK
How to scan your disks for errors
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315265
* will take time

Defragment
How to Defragment your hard drives
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314848
* will take time

Ensure your hardware drivers are up to date (from the hardware
manufacturer's respective web pages.)

After doing all the cleanup listed above, you will be more likely to be able to pinpoint/fix any remaining issues.

I've been able to fix 99% of the issues.
I did the typical chkdsk, scans etc.
I install IE7 cause IE6 was so trashed. No address bar, no associations etc. This fixed 90% of that program and got me on the web. I tinkered a lot, did a good part of your suggestions above, and since I had issues installing programs, I did reinstalled the windows installed and autoupdater as suggested. So far not much help.
I finally attacked the inability to get to program files. I found this link http://windowsxp.mvps.org/AllPrograms.htm and the command supplied did the trick. As a matter of fact it did a lot of fix.
The start menu looked different, the all programs looks good, the icons in the systray are good. etc.
I've got what seems like 2 last issues:
1) Avira Anti-virus is loaded and running but the security console does not see it so it keeps reporting an error.
2) on www.google.com the "google search" button or enter does not work. I can't search. Its really a bigger issue that most "Do something" buttons on web sites don't work. Like a javascript issue or something. I also can't run the windows update cause it seems to get an error and does not allow me to install the active-x control it needs. I don't get the yellow bar at the top allowing me to install active-x control or not. I've enabled all IE7 add-ons now and to no avail. I do not see Java as an add-on either yet its loaded.

I think if I could get past these two items all seems well.

.

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