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No application/utility will launch

By F3rg13 ·
PC running Windows XP Home
System will boot to the user profile (only one user) but when they click on an icon/glyph the application associated with that icon/glyph will not launch and the system is nonresponsive for several seconds.

I have booted into safe mode and run Adaware, Spybot, and Norton AV and then ran the disk defrag utility. However, the anomoly still persists.

NOTE: Prior to all that I attempted to restore the OS from a previous checkpoint but the restore would either not execute or made no difference.

The PC came from a shop that is no longer in business and does not have OS media. Don't want to do a destructive rebuild ...

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by willcomp In reply to No application/utility wi ...

Probably the best bet is to do a repair install of XP home. You will need version of XP used to install (probably OEM). If SP2 has been installed, will require a XPH CD with SP2 incorporated.

Repair install instructions:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

SP2 can be slipstreamed onto an existing XP CD. Post back if you need instructions.

Dalton

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by willcomp In reply to

Response to a private message.

You will need a XP home CD. Dell and some other PCs come with an OEM copy of XP. Perhaps you can borrow one from a friend.

Note: As best I can tell, the Dell CDs are plain XP without any specialized drivers or hardware recognition software.

Slipstreaming SP2 onto a bootable CD is fairly straightforward, but you must understand and follow directions exactly. Here's a link:

http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/winxp-sp2-bootcd.html

The simplest way is to borrow an XP Home CD that includes SP2.

A repair install is fairly simple if you have the proper tools.

Let me know if you need more info.

Dalton

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by willcomp In reply to

Try Blackcurrent's suggestion first. Simple is always better, if it works.

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by Blackcurrant In reply to No application/utility wi ...

Hi

Have you tried running a registry checker? Sounds like you've lost the associations to particular programs. A registry checker will alert you to this and should fix it.

Also, right click the shortcut on the desktop and select Properties and make sure the path is correct.

Good luck

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by Blackcurrant In reply to

Hi again

As you have now run a registry checker and still cannot launch any applications, I would uninstall (if you can), and then reinstall the applications. If you are unable to uninstall, just reinstall over the existing application.

This may be rather time consuming, but you should have fully working applications when you have finished.

Also, I would make sure you have a backup of all your data before you start this.

Good luck

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by honu95 In reply to No application/utility wi ...

Is this the default administrator account you're in? What happens if you create a new admin group user and try to run programs?

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