Is reinstall the only option?

I have a freind who has some major problems with XP Home after uninstalling
a games program.

The biggest is that vurtually no programs will run! Even a .exe file will
not run, with the error that it doesn't know what application the .exe
asscociated with! I am assuming one or a number of Windows files have been
deleted by mstake and one of these maybe be at least key to every .exe file
running If I can find what this is and replace it then I maybe be able to
get the thing running without reinstalling.
If I can find the XPHome CD will that automatically check for basic system
files without needing to reinstall?

The only things that seem to run are My Computer and (in a DOS window)
chkdsk. The desktop appears but most of the icons have become IExplorer
icons! The Start menu works but there is no fly out menu of Programs.

Thanks

Nigel

Try reinstalling the games program and then remove using the Add/Remove
function in the Control Panel.
"Nigel Andrews" wrote in message
...
I have a freind who has some major problems with XP Home after uninstalling
a games program.

The biggest is that vurtually no programs will run! Even a .exe file will
not run, with the error that it doesn't know what application the .exe
asscociated with! I am assuming one or a number of Windows files have been
deleted by mstake and one of these maybe be at least key to every .exe
file
running If I can find what this is and replace it then I maybe be able to
get the thing running without reinstalling.
If I can find the XPHome CD will that automatically check for basic system
files without needing to reinstall?

The only things that seem to run are My Computer and (in a DOS window)
chkdsk. The desktop appears but most of the icons have become IExplorer
icons! The Start menu works but there is no fly out menu of Programs.

Thanks

Nigel

Windows® XP File Association Fixes
Copyright 2003 - Doug Knox
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

EXE File Association Fix (Restore default association for EXE files)


--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In ,
Nigel Andrews hunted and pecked:
I have a freind who has some major problems with XP Home after
uninstalling a games program.

The biggest is that vurtually no programs will run! Even a .exe file
will not run, with the error that it doesn't know what application
the .exe asscociated with! I am assuming one or a number of Windows
files have been deleted by mstake and one of these maybe be at least
key to every .exe file running If I can find what this is and
replace it then I maybe be able to get the thing running without
reinstalling.
If I can find the XPHome CD will that automatically check for basic
system files without needing to reinstall?

The only things that seem to run are My Computer and (in a DOS window)
chkdsk. The desktop appears but most of the icons have become
IExplorer icons! The Start menu works but there is no fly out menu of
Programs.

Thanks

Nigel

Nigel,
I think Wesley has given you the correct solution; however, I would
suggest that your friend also run the System File Checker to ensure that
all necessary Operating System Files are present in a usable condition.
To do that: Start/Run/type "sfc /scannow" [less quote marks], and click "OK"
Gene K

Wesley Vogel wrote:
Windows® XP File Association Fixes
Copyright 2003 - Doug Knox
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

EXE File Association Fix (Restore default association for EXE files)

Have you tried running System Restore? Here's a site with some
info on the procedu

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306084

Since you're able to open a command prompt window, here's the
instructions on how to launch System Restore from the command
line:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449

It sounds as if you're planning on running System File Checker.
Sometimes you can run sfc without needing the CD. Windows uses
files that are already backed up on the PC. I think it's
C:\Windows\ServicePackFiles\I386. To start the procedure, open a
command prompt window, type sfc /scannow and hit enter. You might
want to take a look here for more info:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310747

If none of the above helps, then it may be time to try a repair
install. Here's a site that outlines that process:

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

From what you've described this may not be possible but I'd
suggest trying to back up whatever files your friend can't afford
to lose.

Good luck.
--
Nepatsfan
"Nigel Andrews" wrote in message
...
I have a freind who has some major problems with XP Home after
uninstalling
a games program.

The biggest is that vurtually no programs will run! Even a .exe
file will
not run, with the error that it doesn't know what application
the .exe
asscociated with! I am assuming one or a number of Windows
files have been
deleted by mstake and one of these maybe be at least key to
every .exe file
running If I can find what this is and replace it then I maybe
be able to
get the thing running without reinstalling.
If I can find the XPHome CD will that automatically check for
basic system
files without needing to reinstall?

The only things that seem to run are My Computer and (in a DOS
window)
chkdsk. The desktop appears but most of the icons have become
IExplorer
icons! The Start menu works but there is no fly out menu of
Programs.

Thanks

Nigel

Many thanks to all who responded, very quick.

Unforunately my friend has already used System restore and maybe missused
it, so agravating the situation!
I will follow all you suggestions

Nigel

"Nigel Andrews" wrote in message
...
I have a freind who has some major problems with XP Home after
uninstalling
a games program.

The biggest is that vurtually no programs will run! Even a .exe file will
not run, with the error that it doesn't know what application the .exe
asscociated with! I am assuming one or a number of Windows files have been
deleted by mstake and one of these maybe be at least key to every .exe
file
running If I can find what this is and replace it then I maybe be able to
get the thing running without reinstalling.
If I can find the XPHome CD will that automatically check for basic system
files without needing to reinstall?

The only things that seem to run are My Computer and (in a DOS window)
chkdsk. The desktop appears but most of the icons have become IExplorer
icons! The Start menu works but there is no fly out menu of Programs.

Thanks

Nigel

The solution offered here, which involved running sfc /scannow, failed with
the error "Windows file protection could not initialise a scan of protected
system files. Specified error code 0x000006BA (The RPC server is
unavailable)" this was running in Safe mode with DOS, the only way I could
get a DOS window.
However I had an XP Home CD and ran the XP Repair install which has
substantially restored the system as it was and some programs and basic
utilities now run. With a little more tidying I should have it back to
normal.

Thanks for the help.

Nigel

"Nigel Andrews" wrote in message
...
Many thanks to all who responded, very quick.

Unforunately my friend has already used System restore and maybe missused
it, so agravating the situation!
I will follow all you suggestions

Nigel

"Nigel Andrews" wrote in message
...
I have a freind who has some major problems with XP Home after
uninstalling
a games program.

The biggest is that vurtually no programs will run! Even a .exe file
will
not run, with the error that it doesn't know what application the .exe
asscociated with! I am assuming one or a number of Windows files have
been
deleted by mstake and one of these maybe be at least key to every .exe
file
running If I can find what this is and replace it then I maybe be able
to
get the thing running without reinstalling.
If I can find the XPHome CD will that automatically check for basic
system
files without needing to reinstall?

The only things that seem to run are My Computer and (in a DOS window)
chkdsk. The desktop appears but most of the icons have become IExplorer
icons! The Start menu works but there is no fly out menu of Programs.

Thanks

Nigel