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win xp users don't have access to all users programs

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by karenmccabe

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Win xp home edition xp sp 3. Users do not have access to the start menu programs in the all users directory. This happened suddenly and I cannot figure it out. The programs still reside in the all users directory but when I am logged in and select start, programs -- I cannot see them - I need to browse to the all users directory and start them from there in explorer.

Any ideas?

9 replies

by thumbsup2

... or, maybe somebody/something deleted the shortcuts, since you said it happened suddenly. ;)

Try logging in as the Administrator and creating a new user. Then log in as that new user and see if they show up. If they do, you know for sure that your own user profile is corrupt/damaged/messed up.

by karenmccabe

I tried this already and it makes not difference, but thanks for your help.

by rob miners

Click Start, Run and type regsvr32 /i shell32.dll and press Enter. It will take awhile and then click OK.

Restart the PC and see if they show up.

Check to see if these settings have been modified, they should be the same as the instructions below.

Open the Registry Editor by clicking Start, Run and type regedt32 and press Enter.

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ explorer\ Shell Folders and make sure all the entries here point where they should:
In Windows XP/2000/2003, the Common Startup value should be set to C:\Documents & Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.

Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ explorer\ User Shell Folders and correct the values here as well. The only difference here is that each entry should start with %USERPROFILE% instead of C:\Users\{your_user_name}.
When you're done, close the Registry Editor and restart Windows to test the new settings.

If those settings are OK then create a new User Account and see if it will work. If it does it will mean that the Profile has became corrupt.

How to copy data from a corrupted user profile to a new profile in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811151

The other alternative is to copy the links to your profile.

Right click start, select Explore All Users this opens the "Documents & Settings" folder where all this information is stored.

Keep us informed as to your progress if you require further assistance.

If you think that any of the posts that have been made by all TR Members, have solved or contributed to solving the problem, please Mark them as Helpful so that others may benefit from the outcome. ;) :D

by karenmccabe

I ran the command and rebooted. Here is the result in my registry editor:

Key Name: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion \Explorer\Shell Folders Class Name: Last Write Time: 9/10/2008 - 8:49 AM Value 0 Name: Common Documents Type: REG_SZ Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents
Value 1 Name: Common Desktop Type: REG_SZ Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
Value 2 Name: Common AppData Type: REG_SZ Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data
Value 3 Name: Common Administrative Tools Type: REG_SZ Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs \Administrative Tools
Value 4 Name: CommonPictures Type: REG_SZ Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Pictures
Value 5 Name: CommonMusic Type: REG_SZ Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Music
Value 6 Name: CommonVideo Type: REG_SZ Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\My Videos
Value 7 Name: Common Favorites Type: REG_SZ Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Favorites
Value 8 Name: Common Templates Type: REG_SZ Data: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Templates
Value 9 Name: Personal Type: REG_SZ Data: C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile\My Documents\

I am not sure if this is what I'm supposed to be seeing.

Please advise if you can. Thanks.

by rob miners

Download Malwarebytes Anti-Malware, install it and update it and scan the PC in Safe Mode. If that doesn't help try the step below.

http://download.bleepingcomputer.com/malwarebytes/mbam-setup.exe

This is what it should look like and in yours it looks like this has been added: Class Name

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders]
"Common AppData"="C:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Application Data"
"Common Programs"="C:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Start Menu\\Programs"
"Common Documents"="C:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Documents"
"Common Desktop"="C:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Desktop"
"Common Start Menu"="C:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Start Menu"
"CommonPictures"="C:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Documents\\My Pictures"
"CommonMusic"="C:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Documents\\My Music"
"CommonVideo"="C:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Documents\\My Videos"
"Common Favorites"="C:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Favorites"
"Common Startup"="C:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Startup"
"Common Templates"="C:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Templates"
"Common Administrative Tools"="C:\\Documents and Settings\\All Users\\Start Menu\\Programs\\Administrative Tools"
"Personal"="C:\\Documents and Settings\\Rob\\My Documents\\"

Open Regedt32 and navigate to: [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion \Explorer\Shell Folders Class Name]

Right click on this Key Shell Folders Class Name and select Export. Give it a name of Shell Folders. Right click on it again and select Rename and remove this reference Class Name it should look like this when you are finished Shell Folders

Keep us informed as to your progress if you require further assistance.

If you think that any of the posts that have been made by all TR Members, have solved or contributed to solving the problem, please Mark them as Helpful so that others may benefit from the outcome. ;) :D

by 1bn0

Check the permissions on the All Users folder.

Resetting them may clear the issue.

You might have to disable Simple File sharing to access the security tab first.

by karenmccabe

I am in my computer, tools, folder options, view and simple file sharing does not show up on the list of options.

by rob miners

you can't disable Simple File Sharing. Restart your computer in Safe Mode. To do this, follow these steps:
Restart your computer. Before you see the Windows XP logo, hold down the F8 key. Select Safe Mode.
Login in as Administrator. You'll get a warning about running in Safe Mode. Click Yes.
Find the folder whose permissions you wish to change. Right click on that folder, and select Properties.
Change the properties of the desired folder(s). You can now change all the properties of the folder.

Keep us informed as to your progress if you require further assistance.

If you think that any of the posts that have been made by all TR Members, have solved or contributed to solving the problem, please Mark them as Helpful so that others may benefit from the outcome. ;) :D

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