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Quite a mess-up

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13 replies

by bob

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I have used the third party app, System Mechanic a thousand times to clean up the registry and misc. unnecessary files on many computers.
I have never had a problem with it.
I know that it removes all system restore points so that you cannot restore after a cleanup.
This time, it removed the recycle bin icon from the desktop, emptied the start/programs (XP Home)and system restore will not even come up.
any applications with icons on the desktop work just fine. Go into the windows folder and try to open word or other apps and it tells me it has to be installed to use.
Anybody see any way out of this predicament?

13 replies

by bob

It seems that this is an HP machine, even though purchased new, has no software media for either the OS or the preloaded office software. This machine has a "D" drive which is the recovery drive. I don't see much in the way of recovery with no media.
Thanks for trying. Please don't give up.

by bob

This is a HP machine where the D drive is recovery. The machine didn't come with an OS CD.

by blackcurrant

Hi

Does System Mechanic have an 'undo' feature? I have just been to the web page of system mechanic and see there are many features. Which feature were you using? Also, have you contacted their technical support dept?

Good luck

by bob

Yes, I contacted technical support for System Mechanic.
The young man there was as helpful as he could be. HE showed me where the undo was for the registery editor.
Unfortunately, this didn't work. Every time, after undoing, you go back and the original occurance is still listed. Needless to say, it had no affect on the computer.
It looks like it's time to save what I can and blow this thing away and start over.

by cg it

system mechanic might have changed the recycle bin registry entry to hide it. heres a site http://windowsxp.mvps.org/ [look for the hide recycle bid from desktop tip] that has how to hide the recycle bin registry edit so you might want to do a regedit and find the key and see what it is. Then change it back.

As far as the Office programs, try to create a second short cut to the desktop from the windows folder Office program then check the shortcut. if it works let us know. I believe its the HKEY current user or current HKEY config entries need changing. [have to check].

by cg it

I call what happened to you an "Ooops Damnit" done it enough myself. lol

by bob

I really thought that you had the recycle bin answer. I also thought that with the recycle bin back, I could restore those things removed and be back to normal. (or abnormal in this case) However, with these problems obviously being caused by the registry edit, the recycle bin doesn't hold any answers.
I went into the registry and checked the forementioned key. It was unaltered. The digits were as you stated they were to be.
These HP machines have a drive partition set aside for rescue.
Only thing is that there is no, and never has been, a rescue disc with this machine. A lot of good the rescue drive is.

by cg it

humm, there is a registry edit that will hide the trashcan from the desktop. Chances are thats what system mechanic did. here's the registry key to look for
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}\ShellFolder
key in the registry "40 01 00 20"

In the right pane you should see default. If your key is anything but 40 01 00 20 change it back.

by cg it

as far as losing the .exe in the application folder, again, the registry keys were deleted. about the only other way to get them back is to reinstall. can copy the shortcut on the desk top to the application root folder and hide the bad .exe excutable or change how it looks so people wont click it to run.

by bob

The .exe for any/all apps located, when opened, notify me that the application has been corrupted and suggests reinstalling it.
This machine is so full of search bars and other spyware that it just doesn't seem worth all this effort to put it back as it was exactly.
Again, thanks to all, but it looks like it is time to save and burn whatever I can and blow this thing away. Fresh start

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