[andy9283]

Hi.
I just reinstalled Wndows XP on my PC cos it became unstable. My PC got raped by viruses, trojans, worms and spyware. I think one DNS changer worm stopped me from using services like auto updates in most prgrames and Peer to Peer programes were alos blocked.
I managed to clean it up with Kasperkey anti-virus, Malwarbytes, Spyware doctor and MYUninstaller, and Regcure.
BUT when i cleaned it all up i think 1 or more of these programes didn't like each other and my system always frooze up shortly after logging into my user when these programes started up.
Tried a repair install, but that made it worse and PC got stuck in a boot-up-loop.
So i completely reinstalled XP, but lost all my stuff on my primary partition, C drive. Also have a D drive (back up), and E Drive (Recovery).

Old user = C:\Documents and Settings\Andy
New user = C:\Documents and Settings\Andy.HOME-WG...

Folder Andy is completely empty and access is denied.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users is populated with the same things from before.

C:\Program Files Also has ALL of my programmes i had installed from before. BUT my start menu for my new user is completely empty. So my software is still all installed, but its just not on my new start menu. Also the windows add/remove and MYUninstaller does not se any of my old programe files.
How can i get all these programe files to populate my start menu?
Seems pointless reinstalling it all if it's already there and installed to the same folder i wud reinstall them to anyway. Stuff like my Xfire, Regcure, Kasperkey all still works, they just act like a fresh install not remembering my username/passes and licence keys. Winzip is only 1 i noticed so far that runs the install when clicking the executable.

[Tufenuf]

andy9283, Check out the link below.

Start Menu 'All Programs' is empty or nothing happens when you click the menu.
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/AllPrograms.htm

Tufenuf

[andy9283]

Yeah i think this is it.
BUT i don't really understand what im being told to do by this page you linked to.
I have never used the regEditor before. I dont get what im suppoused to be editting either in this user shell folder.

[Tufenuf]

andy, Click Start>Run and copy & paste or type in:


regsvr32 /i shell32.dll


Click OK

Note that the spacing is important.

Tufenuf

[andy9283]

Thx m8, i done that first time. But after a restart noting had changed.
I also ran regedit.exe, but i dont understand what im doin with keys, and what to edit.

My Start menu looks like:


My Program files looks like:

[aka Brett]

if this is the result after installing a new copy of windows.........
Start over - can you install using your recovery partition?
if you did and recieved all these errors
then install with a cd and choose install a fresh copy of windows
reformat useing ntfs long method.
save everything you want before doing so as it will be gone forever

[andy9283]

Yes i had big problems, so reinstalled windows using the CD.

So i have to format my C drive and reinstall everything?
There is no easier way of getting all my stuff in programe files to 'appear' in start menu?
If not, can i just delete everything in programe files manually and then run smt like RegCure to clean up the Reg Keys?

My recover drive aint much use- it looks like this:

[stantley]

Originally Posted by andy9283

Old user = C:\Documents and Settings\Andy
New user = C:\Documents and Settings\Andy.HOME-WG...

Folder Andy is completely empty and access is denied.

See if you can take ownership of the C:\Documents and Settings\Andy folder.

The shortcuts for many of your programs might still be in C:\Documents and Settings\Andy\Start Menu, so you could just copy them to the corresponding place under the new user.

But don't run RegCure or any other registry cleaner, it will most likely cause more problems.

[andy9283]

Thx, but that folder is completely empty now

[stantley]

When you're getting the access denied message it can look like there are no files there, even when files actually exist. Did you try taking ownership?

[Jack Hackett]

What I suspect you have done is when you re-installed Windows you
a. didnt format the C partition to wipe it clean of previous contents
b. installed windows to a new directory other than Windows ie Windows.001

this would explain why you still have the program files folder full of your previously installed apps and no reference to them on the Start Menu from the windows installation you are now using.

I suggest you start over again with a fresh re-install of Windows but this time do a Clean Install, formatting the C partition as you go

[stantley]

Originally Posted by Jack Hackett

I suggest you start over again with a fresh re-install of Windows but this time do a Clean Install, formatting the C partition as you go

I agree that would be the best solution because there could be other problems besides missing start menu shortcuts.

Just make sure to backup all important files before you start.

[andy9283]

Thx for the help fellahs.
I didn't try taking ownership of the folder because as i assumed it was empty i didn't see the point.
As you guessed / see, no i didn't format it first.
There is only a C:\WINDOWS folder, no windows.001 or anything.

Other problem is i have a few games installed on my D drive partition (ran out of space).

I just tried creating a shortcut for 1 programe and dragging and dropping it into my start menu. Is that a bad idea?

[aka Brett]

Start over you can have xp up and going in 45 minutes
It will be fresh clean and without garbage.
you are off to a bad start with too many problems,Other problems may show while you are doing other tasks.

[andy9283]

Ok thx man, i didn't bother taking ownership of the old folder. I just ran the File Scavenger programme, got back everything i lost, moved it over to my partitioned D Drive, formatted my C drive, now moved my old stuff back to the C Drive. THANK GOD for partitions!!
Tomorrow i will move over everything i need in D Drive and formatt that too. Had stuff installed there too as they are only like 35Gb a piece.
I will then run Reg Cleaner and hopefully i will have a 'like new' Pc. Yeah i wish, this thing's 6 years old, but STILL GOIN STRONG