help, system restore... gone.

[shaunyboy]

hi. for some unknown reason, help, system restore, and some other windows files have gone missing from my pc. when i click helpmand support, nothign happens.

i was also missing msconfig, but i managed to download the file off the internet, and it now works.

because i don't have system restore, windows updates wont install

please help.

[Lightning]

Have you run a virus-scanner? Otherwise, format and reinstall:mike:

[Ideas Man]

At the command prompt, type in sfc /scannow. This should then scan your computer for corrupt or missing system files and restore them for you. You'll need your XP CD handy.

[shaunyboy]

nope, didnt work. and now windows media player won't play anything, saying it "encounters an unknown error". and i can't reinstall it as it needs to create a system restore point in the installation

[dglienna]

google ONLINE*VIRUS*SCAN and check your system. M$ Windows Update gives the locations of S&D and a few others.
It sounds like a virus.

[shaunyboy]

Originally posted by dglienna
google ONLINE*VIRUS*SCAN and check your system. M$ Windows Update gives the locations of S&D and a few others.
It sounds like a virus.

nope, tried adaware, s & d and norton antivirus... nothing.

also windows update kinda doesnt work - everytime i reboot, it ssays the same update is ready to be instaled, even thoiugh i've installed it many times, and the PC won't shut down either, it just freezes on the shutting down screen forever, and i have to turn it off at the plug.

[Ideas Man]

That does sound unfortunate. There is a folder that you delete on your HDD that fixes the Windows Update issue, have a look on the Microsoft KB for an article telling you how to do that, though by the sounds of it, you've stuffed something up somethere, maybe a format is the best way to go.

[dglienna]

sounds like its hosed. you could try creating another user account to see if that is what the issue is. i've seen it work before. just delete the original after moving files. save them to the desktop.

[shaunyboy]

ah, resolved, after scouring through Usenet. all i had to do was diable system resotre, then enable it again. apparantly it had got corrupted somewhere...

[Ideas Man]

I forgot about that. When you disable system restore it deletes all the restore points and and other associated stuff. I'd say one of the restore points was corrupted, not the actual program itself. Glad to hear you got it fixed.