Programs not working on XP SP2!

[buli]

Yes ,all the program shortcuts on my desktop/start menu are not
working.For some strange reason Firefox is working!
It seems the main reason why i am having this problem is that for some
unknown reason the Program Files folder has disepeared from dics C!!
It was either deleted ,or somehow it disepeared.I tried "sfc /
scannow" ,during which process it asked for the XP disk and i inserted
the cd ,the process was finished but "program files" still does not
appear.I Defraged the disk,i tried System Restore but no luck at all.I
tried to create a new folder on disc C named Program Files ,but i am
not able to name it like that.Windows is not allowing me.
I also tried to install new programs but i am getting the error the
"c:/programfiles" can not be recreated.
What should i do next?
I believe a system repair will fix the problem,but i want to know if
there is any easier way to fix this problem.

Thanks to anyone who can help.

 

[Graham Anderson]

I
tried to create a new folder on disc C named Program Files ,but i am
not able to name it like that.Windows is not allowing me.

Why not? What message do you get when you try this?

 

[HeyBub]

Yes ,all the program shortcuts on my desktop/start menu are not
working.For some strange reason Firefox is working!
It seems the main reason why i am having this problem is that for some
unknown reason the Program Files folder has disepeared from dics C!!
It was either deleted ,or somehow it disepeared.I tried "sfc /
scannow" ,during which process it asked for the XP disk and i inserted
the cd ,the process was finished but "program files" still does not
appear.I Defraged the disk,i tried System Restore but no luck at all.I
tried to create a new folder on disc C named Program Files ,but i am
not able to name it like that.Windows is not allowing me.
I also tried to install new programs but i am getting the error the
"c:/programfiles" can not be recreated.
What should i do next?
I believe a system repair will fix the problem,but i want to know if
there is any easier way to fix this problem.

Thanks to anyone who can help.

What is the problem?

You can't create a folder named C:\Program Files because a folder by that
name already exists.

Your inability to see such a folder is another issue entirely.

Open a command prompt and type "DIR C:\Program Files" See? It's there.

 

[buli]

the problem is that i can not create a folder on disc C named Program
Files.When i name the new folder to Program Files ,a window opens
which says: " the c:/ folder does not exist do you want to create
it?" ,i click yes and absolutely nothing happens.When i click No that
windows closes

 

[buli]

What is the problem?

You can't create a folder named C:\Program Files because a folder by that
name already exists.

Your inability to see such a folder is another issue entirely.

Open a command prompt and type "DIR C:\Program Files" See? It's there.

I tried that command but i am getting the "windows cannot find..."

 

[PD43]

I tried that command but i am getting the "windows cannot find..."

That's because you were given bad instructions.

When you open up the command prompt, do:

cd c:\

and hit your ENTER key.

Then do:

dir /p

That causes the displayed listing to pause when it fills a screen. To
see the next screen full, tap any key.

Look for "Program Files" after each pause.

 

[buli]

That's because you were given bad instructions.

When you open up the command prompt, do:

cd c:\

and hit your ENTER key.

Then do:

dir /p

That causes the displayed listing to pause when it fills a screen. To
see the next screen full, tap any key.

Look for "Program Files" after each pause.

I did this ,but Program Files does not apear on that DOS page.

 

[Bob I]

I did this ,but Program Files does not apear on that DOS page.

Then perhaps, try this instead at the "C:" command prompt

ATTRIB *.* | MORE

 

[PD43]

Then perhaps, try this instead at the "C:" command prompt

ATTRIB *.* | MORE

I think this guy's in BEEG trouble.

If "Program Files" was hidden, the links to programs in the directory
should still work, right?

 

[Bob I]

I think this guy's in BEEG trouble.

If "Program Files" was hidden, the links to programs in the directory
should still work, right?

Should, unless whatever "bit" him changed more than the attributes!

 

[Elmo]

I did this ,but Program Files does not appear on that DOS page.

Right-click the Firefox icon, click Properties, and see where Firefox is
stored. Click "Find Target" and see if the "C:\Program Files\Mozilla
Firefox\firefox.exe" folder is opened that way. That's where it's
located on my machine anyway.. If the folder opens, click the "Up" icon
and see what folder is displayed; it should be the C:\Program Files
folder, and that may be a way of getting to it.

 

[buli]

Ok ,here is what i am getting when i right-click on firefox ikon on
the desktop:
browse the interent
mozilla firefox option
mozilla firefos safe mode
send to
cut
copy
delete
rename
Strange i know! This is not what i am supposed to get ,but belive it
or not ,this is what's showing.

This is what i am getting when i search My Computer for Mozilla:
Name: Location:
mozilla firefox(Folder) C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start
Menu\Programs(i opened this folder and its completely empty)
mozilla.browser(ikon) C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework
\v2.0.50727\CONFIG\Browsers(not opening)


This is what i am getting when i search My Computer for Firefox:
Name: Location:
FIREFOX.EXE-0B573C88.pf C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch(not opening)
FIREFOX.EXE-06188867.pf C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch(not opening)

 

[PD43]

Ok ,here is what i am getting when i right-click on firefox ikon on
the desktop:
browse the interent
mozilla firefox option
mozilla firefos safe mode
send to
cut
copy
delete
rename
Strange i know! This is not what i am supposed to get ,but belive it
or not ,this is what's showing.

This is what i am getting when i search My Computer for Mozilla:
Name: Location:
mozilla firefox(Folder) C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start
Menu\Programs(i opened this folder and its completely empty)
mozilla.browser(ikon) C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework
\v2.0.50727\CONFIG\Browsers(not opening)

You've somehow managed to delete your "Program Files" folder.

If you don't have a backup, you are SCREWED.

 

[buli]

I know my program files folder has disepeared somehow,and i don't
really care for that.What i want to know is ,how to be able to install
program again? I can not create a folder named Program Files(as i said
above) ,and most of the programs do not allow you to choose another
folder to install them.Because i created a new folder on C named
Programe,and i was able to install CCleaner ,because this program has
the option which allows you to choose the folder where you want to
install it.

So to keep it short: How do i create a folder named Program Files on
disc C (because the original is gone)?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

<snipped>
Entire Conversation:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...c007600355d/dd293a6c42e8f779#dd293a6c42e8f779

I know my program files folder has disepeared somehow,and i don't
really care for that.What i want to know is ,how to be able to
install program again? I can not create a folder named Program
Files(as i said above) ,and most of the programs do not allow you
to choose another folder to install them.Because i created a new
folder on C named Programe,and i was able to install CCleaner
,because this program has the option which allows you to choose the
folder where you want to install it.

So to keep it short: How do i create a folder named Program Files on
disc C (because the original is gone)?

Format. Install XP fresh. Install your applications fresh.

Something has gone wrong with your system beyond the disappearance of the
"Program Files" folder - if it is actually gone. Since you cannot
troubleshoot it yourself - the best course of action is a complete wipe and
install anew - where you know you have a clean and functional system. I
would highly suggest following that up with a strict backup regime that
would include imaging the machine with the imaging application of your
choice to external media - so if something insane like this happens again,
you can restore the last image for the quickest recovery. That (on top of
an individual/personal file backup) will be your best bet against this in
the future.

If *you* were going to fix this, you would have by now. So, as I see it,
you either bite the bullet and (with your files backed up) format/install or
you take it to someone you will pay money to who will likely format and
install for you.

Sure - you could try a Repair Installation. You can continue trying to
create a Program Files directory (or to unhide the one that is there) - but
there is a point where you just have to make a drastic decision versus
continuing with a battle you are unlikely to win - even if you somehow get
what you think is missing "back". Something more serious has occurred than
just a folder going missing - that folder does *not* just contain the
applications you have installed - it is important to your system as well.

Backup your stuff (your documents, your favorites, your email, your
contacts, your pictures, etc) and rebuild that machine from scratch. If you
don't have the stuff you need to do that - too bad. You'll need to get it
and make sure that this time you keep copies of those things safe. It's a
hard lesson - and deep down you may believe there is a better way - and
perhaps with enough time and money - you might find that way - but given the
entirety of this thread so far - I don't believe you will get what you
really want *and* be confident that you haven't just masked the actual
problem (which would rear its ugly head again in the near future.)

If you want to try the repair install (Which would keep things releatively
intact - which they aren't now...):

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

For the clean install:
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Good luck.

 

[Panic]

Have you tried doing it from the DOS prompt?

C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe

It should open at the root level C:\. type MD Program Files

 

[Bill in Co.]

I know my program files folder has disepeared somehow,and i don't
really care for that.

"You don't really care for that"??????? Come again?
If you deleted that folder, you are basically screwed, unless you have a
backup image or partition copy on another partition or disk.

 

[buli]

Ok ,i reinstalled windows and the problem is gone now!
I couldent bother anymore,maybe there could have been an easier way
but i couldent wait .
I moved all my files/folders at disc D ant after the reinstallation, i
moved them back to C.

Thanks to anyone that helped