Need pointers from experts

[Allen]

I am using WinXP Home, AMD 2000+, 40/20 GB HD. XP is located on D:\ and
ancillary files on C:\.

For the past several weeks strange things have been happening:
First I can't use any of the menu functions in IE 6. When I click print,
find, etceteras, the program closes. When I try to download updates from the
MS web site and click download, the IE closes.

Next: When I use Windows Explorer my drop down menus are lacking a couple
of functions. For instance listed under tools:
Map Network Drive
Disconnect Network Drive
Synchronize

I believe I am missing a couple of important labels there.

Font installation is gone.

My security is deep: Zone Alarm Pro, Norton Antivirus Corporate Edition,
PopMail. DCOM is closed off completely. PNP is closed off completely. I
use SpyBot Search & Destroy every two days, Spyware Blaster weekly, and Pest
Patrol, back up every week and save a restore point on every boot. My e-mail
does not open anything automatically, I must double-click and first it has
to get past the PopMail filters.

I do not think I have a virus. Apparently I have installed or set something
that is interfering with these programs and functions.

Any pointers posted here would be of benefit.

Al

[Adrian]

Well, since nobody else has jumped on this one, I suppose you have
considered the possiblity of starting from scratch and reloading everything?
As in reformat? The problems you are experiencing are so severe, that,
rather than spend all that time on diagnosing the problem, you may just want
to go back to the original software and start afresh.

[Allen]

As a matter of fact, just before I sat down at this computer to check this
message, I spoke to my DW about this very subject. My best remedy may be to
give XP the boot and reload from scratch.

? Is it that important for all these things to work perfectly? Not sure, and
rebuilding is a toss up. I may just do it on a lark though.

Al

[mrtee]

Have you tried opening Run | typing in =BB sfc /scannow =AB that will =
replace any corrupted files and make sure that the files XP needs to =
operate are installed. Your XP CD needs to be in the drive for this =
procedure. There is no information box when it finishes.

If that doesn't work, you may want to try a repair install, see =BB Do a =
Repair Install of XP - by Michael Stevens - IMPORTANT =
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm#warning1 HTH.

--=20
Just my =A2 worth
Jeff
__________in response to__________
"Allen" > wrote in message =
...
| I am using WinXP Home, AMD 2000+, 40/20 GB HD. XP is located on D:\ =
and
| ancillary files on C:\.
|=20
| For the past several weeks strange things have been happening:
| First I can't use any of the menu functions in IE 6. When I click =
print,
| find, etceteras, the program closes. When I try to download updates =
from the
| MS web site and click download, the IE closes.
|=20
| Next: When I use Windows Explorer my drop down menus are lacking a =
couple
| of functions. For instance listed under tools:
| Map Network Drive
| Disconnect Network Drive
| Synchronize
|=20
| I believe I am missing a couple of important labels there.
|=20
| Font installation is gone.
|=20
| My security is deep: Zone Alarm Pro, Norton Antivirus Corporate =
Edition,
| PopMail. DCOM is closed off completely. PNP is closed off completely. =
I
| use SpyBot Search & Destroy every two days, Spyware Blaster weekly, =
and Pest
| Patrol, back up every week and save a restore point on every boot. My =
e-mail
| does not open anything automatically, I must double-click and first it =
has
| to get past the PopMail filters.
|=20
| I do not think I have a virus. Apparently I have installed or set =
something
| that is interfering with these programs and functions.
|=20
| Any pointers posted here would be of benefit.
|=20
| Al
|=20
|

[Candace]

As you rebuild, check your malfunctioning applications' performance after
each new addition. It may reveal the source of the problems.

[Allen]

Good advice, Mr.Tee. I think I may try the simpler things first. Also,
Candace above offers good insight. I do need to wait a bit after installing
some of the programs and see what effect/affect they have on my system.
Tremendous amount of snarling can take place quite easily.



mrtee wrote:
> Have you tried opening Run | typing in » sfc /scannow « that will
> replace any corrupted files and make sure that the files XP needs to
> operate are installed. Your XP CD needs to be in the drive for this
> procedure. There is no information box when it finishes.
>
> If that doesn't work, you may want to try a repair install, see » Do
> a Repair Install of XP - by Michael Stevens - IMPORTANT
> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm#warning1 HTH.
>
>> I am using WinXP Home, AMD 2000+, 40/20 GB HD. XP is located on D:\
>> and ancillary files on C:\.
>>
>> For the past several weeks strange things have been happening:
>> First I can't use any of the menu functions in IE 6. When I click
>> print, find, etceteras, the program closes. When I try to download
>> updates from the MS web site and click download, the IE closes.
>>
>> Next: When I use Windows Explorer my drop down menus are lacking a
>> couple of functions. For instance listed under tools:
>> Map Network Drive
>> Disconnect Network Drive
>> Synchronize
>>
>> I believe I am missing a couple of important labels there.
>>
>> Font installation is gone.
>>
>> My security is deep: Zone Alarm Pro, Norton Antivirus Corporate
>> Edition, PopMail. DCOM is closed off completely. PNP is closed off
>> completely. I use SpyBot Search & Destroy every two days, Spyware
>> Blaster weekly, and Pest Patrol, back up every week and save a
>> restore point on every boot. My e-mail does not open anything
>> automatically, I must double-click and first it has to get past the
>> PopMail filters.
>>
>> I do not think I have a virus. Apparently I have installed or set
>> something that is interfering with these programs and functions.
>>
>> Any pointers posted here would be of benefit.
>>
>> Al

[Allen]

Yes, I had tried the repair about three weeks ago when IE 6 started acting
up. Ended up having to redownload all the current updates AGAIN. My XP is a
current issue with SP1 included. But, man, there is a load of new stuff to
have to get after repair or reinstalling. In fact, for that very reason a
fresh install is probably the best choice. All I am doing here is putting my
wet finger in the wind.

Al

mrtee wrote:
{{{Truncated}}}