I have lost my control panel. I also cannot get system information to work.
Michael Solomon advised to go to line 256 on a link he provided. This did
not work either. I have backed up all critical files to a larger HD. I was
going to reinstall XP Pro to the HD when it advised that the version on the
HD was newer than the one on the CD.
I lost my nerve and came here.
What should I do.
Thanks for any help you may offer.
Dick...

The whole world of computing lost a friend when we lost
Alex.................

Better you should ask first and it helps if you do so in the original thread
because replying there keeps interested parties in the loop and we can
continue to offer help as well as know what has already been done.

With regard to version on the HD being newer than the one on the CD, that's
likely due to having Service Pack 2 installed. You may get the same warning
with repair install instructions I outline below. Hence, you should first
remove Service Pack 2 through Add/Remove Programs under control panel before
moving to that step; it's listed as Windows XP Service Pack 2.

Nonetheless, there are some other less invasive things you can first try as
follows below:

First, be sure your antivirus software has the latest definitions and run a
virus scan.

Second, download, install and run Ad Aware:
www.lavasoftusa.com

If your system is clear of viruses and malware, if this is a relatively
recent issue, you might try using System Restore to take you back to a time
when this worked properly. Start\All Programs\Accessories\System
Tools\System Restore. If that doesn't resolve
it, try the information below.

The following assumes you have an actual XP CD as opposed to a restore CD or
restore partition supplied by your PC manufacturer.

Go to Start, type sfc /scannow in the run box and press enter. Note, there
is a space between sfc and the forward slash. You will be asked for your XP
CD. Be aware, upon inserting the CD the XP setup screen may appear, this is
not a part of sfc /scannow, rather it is being invoked by autorun. Simply
minimize the screen and allow sfc to continue.

If the above fails to resolve the issue, try a repair install as follows:

Be sure you are well backed up in case there is a problem from which you are
unable to recover. NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data
files intact, if something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be
forced to start over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your
data backed up, you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.

Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive, boot with the XP
CD in the drive. If it isn't or you are not sure, you need to enter the
system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter setup press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.

Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.

Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console.

The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.


--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.

Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/


"TheEngineer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have lost my control panel. I also cannot get system information to work.
> Michael Solomon advised to go to line 256 on a link he provided. This did
> not work either. I have backed up all critical files to a larger HD. I was
> going to reinstall XP Pro to the HD when it advised that the version on
> the HD was newer than the one on the CD.
> I lost my nerve and came here.
> What should I do.
> Thanks for any help you may offer.
> Dick...
>
> The whole world of computing lost a friend when we lost
> Alex.................
>

Michael;

Thank you for your very detailed steps to resolving my problem of no
"Control Panel".

However I was not able to "Uninstall Service Pack 2" ...No "Control Panel"!

Since I had already taken steps to prepare for a full format of the 40 GB
HD. I had backed up all important data to the 160 GB HD and to DVDs.

I decided to try the "sfc /scannow" that you detailed very nicely, and it
worked the first time.

Bravo!

Next issue! I still have not found a way to get the "System Information" to
work. With seven drives and a plethora of peripherals I sometimes look to
see which are active and connected. This has always been the easiest way for
me. I also use it to verify drivers are installed and correct for some. I
can live without this feature but it is an annoyance.

I also used to use a feature in ME that I would like to use in XP if it is
available. I could have a small panel on my monitor that would show system
usage, such as memory and disk access or write and could be configured to
show other information as well. A yes or no will save me the trouble of
reading a volume about XP. This is a new OS for me at this time.

Thanks again for your help.

Dick Hurley

President (Retired)

The Engineer, Inc.

Seattle, WA

Michael;
I also have several other computers and some share the same network. It is
important to have no glitches between them regardless of OS.
Thank you for your input and help;
Dick...
TheEngineer...
The Engineer, Inc.
Seattle, WA


"Michael Solomon (MS-MVP)" <user@#notme.com> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Better you should ask first and it helps if you do so in the original
thread
> because replying there keeps interested parties in the loop and we can
> continue to offer help as well as know what has already been done.
>
> With regard to version on the HD being newer than the one on the CD,
that's
> likely due to having Service Pack 2 installed. You may get the same
warning
> with repair install instructions I outline below. Hence, you should first
> remove Service Pack 2 through Add/Remove Programs under control panel
before
> moving to that step; it's listed as Windows XP Service Pack 2.
>
> Nonetheless, there are some other less invasive things you can first try
as
> follows below:
>
> First, be sure your antivirus software has the latest definitions and run
a
> virus scan.
>
> Second, download, install and run Ad Aware:
> www.lavasoftusa.com
>
> If your system is clear of viruses and malware, if this is a relatively
> recent issue, you might try using System Restore to take you back to a
time
> when this worked properly. Start\All Programs\Accessories\System
> Tools\System Restore. If that doesn't resolve
> it, try the information below.
>
> The following assumes you have an actual XP CD as opposed to a restore CD
or
> restore partition supplied by your PC manufacturer.
>
> Go to Start, type sfc /scannow in the run box and press enter. Note,
there
> is a space between sfc and the forward slash. You will be asked for your
XP
> CD. Be aware, upon inserting the CD the XP setup screen may appear, this
is
> not a part of sfc /scannow, rather it is being invoked by autorun. Simply
> minimize the screen and allow sfc to continue.
>
> If the above fails to resolve the issue, try a repair install as follows:
>
> Be sure you are well backed up in case there is a problem from which you
are
> unable to recover. NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data
> files intact, if something goes wrong during the repair install, you may
be
> forced to start over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your
> data backed up, you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.
>
> Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive, boot with the
XP
> CD in the drive. If it isn't or you are not sure, you need to enter the
> system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
> instructions that if you wish to enter setup press a specific key, when
you
> see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
> the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence.
Save
> your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will
reboot.
>
> Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD,
it
> should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if
you
> wish to boot from the CD press any key.
>
> Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
> asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
> wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
> setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.
>
> Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
> with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
> using the Recovery console.
>
> The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
> press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement.
Setup
> will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
> version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
> install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
> on, follow the screens.
>
>
> --
> In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.
>
> Michael Solomon MS-MVP
> Windows Shell/User
> https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
> Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
> DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>
>
> "TheEngineer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> >I have lost my control panel. I also cannot get system information to
work.
> > Michael Solomon advised to go to line 256 on a link he provided. This
did
> > not work either. I have backed up all critical files to a larger HD. I
was
> > going to reinstall XP Pro to the HD when it advised that the version on
> > the HD was newer than the one on the CD.
> > I lost my nerve and came here.
> > What should I do.
> > Thanks for any help you may offer.
> > Dick...
> >
> > The whole world of computing lost a friend when we lost
> > Alex.................
> >
>
>

You're welcome.

I assume you are referring to the System Information shortcut on the Start
menu, under System Tools. If yes, what happens when you click that
shortcut, any error messages?

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.

Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/


"TheEngineer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Michael;
>
> Thank you for your very detailed steps to resolving my problem of no
> "Control Panel".
>
> However I was not able to "Uninstall Service Pack 2" ...No "Control
> Panel"!
>
> Since I had already taken steps to prepare for a full format of the 40 GB
> HD. I had backed up all important data to the 160 GB HD and to DVDs.
>
> I decided to try the "sfc /scannow" that you detailed very nicely, and it
> worked the first time.
>
> Bravo!
>
> Next issue! I still have not found a way to get the "System Information"
> to work. With seven drives and a plethora of peripherals I sometimes look
> to see which are active and connected. This has always been the easiest
> way for me. I also use it to verify drivers are installed and correct for
> some. I can live without this feature but it is an annoyance.
>
> I also used to use a feature in ME that I would like to use in XP if it is
> available. I could have a small panel on my monitor that would show system
> usage, such as memory and disk access or write and could be configured to
> show other information as well. A yes or no will save me the trouble of
> reading a volume about XP. This is a new OS for me at this time.
>
> Thanks again for your help.
>
> Dick Hurley
>
> President (Retired)
>
> The Engineer, Inc.
>
> Seattle, WA
>
>

Dick, if you are having networking issues, or questions in that regard,
those should be addressed to the windowsxp.network_web newsgroup.

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.

Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/


"Monk" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:OCSE$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Michael;
> I also have several other computers and some share the same network. It is
> important to have no glitches between them regardless of OS.
> Thank you for your input and help;
> Dick...
> TheEngineer...
> The Engineer, Inc.
> Seattle, WA
>
>
> "Michael Solomon (MS-MVP)" <user@#notme.com> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> Better you should ask first and it helps if you do so in the original
> thread
>> because replying there keeps interested parties in the loop and we can
>> continue to offer help as well as know what has already been done.
>>
>> With regard to version on the HD being newer than the one on the CD,
> that's
>> likely due to having Service Pack 2 installed. You may get the same
> warning
>> with repair install instructions I outline below. Hence, you should
>> first
>> remove Service Pack 2 through Add/Remove Programs under control panel
> before
>> moving to that step; it's listed as Windows XP Service Pack 2.
>>
>> Nonetheless, there are some other less invasive things you can first try
> as
>> follows below:
>>
>> First, be sure your antivirus software has the latest definitions and run
> a
>> virus scan.
>>
>> Second, download, install and run Ad Aware:
>> www.lavasoftusa.com
>>
>> If your system is clear of viruses and malware, if this is a relatively
>> recent issue, you might try using System Restore to take you back to a
> time
>> when this worked properly. Start\All Programs\Accessories\System
>> Tools\System Restore. If that doesn't resolve
>> it, try the information below.
>>
>> The following assumes you have an actual XP CD as opposed to a restore CD
> or
>> restore partition supplied by your PC manufacturer.
>>
>> Go to Start, type sfc /scannow in the run box and press enter. Note,
> there
>> is a space between sfc and the forward slash. You will be asked for your
> XP
>> CD. Be aware, upon inserting the CD the XP setup screen may appear, this
> is
>> not a part of sfc /scannow, rather it is being invoked by autorun.
>> Simply
>> minimize the screen and allow sfc to continue.
>>
>> If the above fails to resolve the issue, try a repair install as follows:
>>
>> Be sure you are well backed up in case there is a problem from which you
> are
>> unable to recover. NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data
>> files intact, if something goes wrong during the repair install, you may
> be
>> forced to start over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have
>> your
>> data backed up, you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.
>>
>> Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive, boot with the
> XP
>> CD in the drive. If it isn't or you are not sure, you need to enter the
>> system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
>> instructions that if you wish to enter setup press a specific key, when
> you
>> see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
>> the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence.
> Save
>> your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will
> reboot.
>>
>> Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD,
> it
>> should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if
> you
>> wish to boot from the CD press any key.
>>
>> Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a
>> reference
>> asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
>> wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
>> setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.
>>
>> Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a
>> screen
>> with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
>> using the Recovery console.
>>
>> The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you
>> to
>> press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement.
> Setup
>> will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
>> version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
>> install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
>> on, follow the screens.
>>
>>
>> --
>> In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.
>>
>> Michael Solomon MS-MVP
>> Windows Shell/User
>> https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
>> Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
>> DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/
>>
>>
>> "TheEngineer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
>> news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
>> >I have lost my control panel. I also cannot get system information to
> work.
>> > Michael Solomon advised to go to line 256 on a link he provided. This
> did
>> > not work either. I have backed up all critical files to a larger HD. I
> was
>> > going to reinstall XP Pro to the HD when it advised that the version on
>> > the HD was newer than the one on the CD.
>> > I lost my nerve and came here.
>> > What should I do.
>> > Thanks for any help you may offer.
>> > Dick...
>> >
>> > The whole world of computing lost a friend when we lost
>> > Alex.................
>> >
>>
>>
>
>

Yes. It says, "Can't Collect Information" with additional, "Cannot access
the Windows Management Instrumentation software. Windows Management files
may be moved or missing."
Thanks;
Dick...

Thank you, I will read some of the posts there to see if my problem is
already discussed.
Dick...

After all that you've done, the next step would be a repair install. Can
you see Control Panel in Windows Explorer? It should be located in the
folder list, that's the left column, under any listed drives. If you select
it there, you should then see the various applets. Then try opening
Add/Remove Programs because as I've stated previously, you must remove SP2
before you can do a repair install.

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol.

Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvp.aspx
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/


"TheEngineer" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:ut6%23$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Yes. It says, "Can't Collect Information" with additional, "Cannot access
> the Windows Management Instrumentation software. Windows Management files
> may be moved or missing."
> Thanks;
> Dick...
>

I can now access and use the control panel.
If I understand you correctly then you want me to :
#1. Remove SP2.
#2. Do a repair install as outlined previously to get "System Information"
to work properly.
#3. Re-install SP2.
I am sorry for being a bit dense, but age is taking it's toll on me in with
an ever increasing fervor.
Thanks;
Dick...