jpeg file association problem?

One of my technicians went to install a new HP Scanjet on an NT desktop and the pc performed a memory dump upon restart. The software was uninstalled and reinstalled again and it did the same thing. The software was uninstalled again and now upon logging in, there is a something in C:\Programs that fails to start resulting in all of the jpegs on the pc to be in a state where they can’t be opened by doubleclicking on them. You have to go through a 3rd party software to view them, and the normal jpeg icon is now the windows non-associated file icon is there with it. Any ideas on what could be failing to start and if this is recoverable without doing a complete rebuild? Thanks in advance.