desktop shortcuts/Outlook links, don't work, XP says can't find..

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My system runs XP Prof (with SP1, but NOT, SP2 updates) and I have IE
6.0.2800.1106.xpsp1.020828 installed.

Problem: when I click on any desktop shortcut, or even Outlook email
underlined links, instead of opening an internet web page, XP gives me an
error message saying "It can't find such-and-such url. Then a blank IE page
opens up with no address in the address box.

I have tried to repair XP by running the command: sfc/scannow, which in turn
asks for the XP Prof install CD to locate any missing files, etc. Then I
also tried re-installing IESP1 in hopes of fixing the problem that way.
Neither of these efforts has remedied the problem.

Then I tried running the command: rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection
DefaultInstall 132 %windir%\Inf\ie.inf, which I was told at
www.dougknox.com(http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_ie_reinstall.htm) would
fix any problems in IE, but that didn't help either. My desktop shortcuts and
Outlook email links still do not work.

Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

p.s. (I don't know if this is related or not, but when I go to the Start
Menu and click on Help and Support, nothing happens, no window opens.
I wanted to go to the Restore function and return my computer to a few days
back when my links were working fine. Since Help and Support in Start Menu
didn't work, I went through the Start Menu's Programs Accessories/System
tools to find Restore. Then I tried restoring 3 days back, then 1 week, 2
weeks and 3 weeks back and each time the computer, after taking 20-30 minutes
to restore, would return saying it had made NO CHANGES to the system. Are
these two problems, links not working and Help & Support not functioning,
related? And why does the Restore function say it's made no changes?)

Ms. Max
.

Relevant Pages

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    ... FAQ for Windows Antispy http://www.geocities.com/marfer_mvp/FAQ_MSantispy.htm ... when I click on any desktop shortcut, ... > asks for the XP Prof install CD to locate any missing files, ... > Outlook email links still do not work. ...
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