Can't download updates, and won't reinstall basic programs

[Guest]

A few days ago I tried to open Wordpad. It said it was missing a needed file.
I went to Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, Windows Components. I thought
that maybe if I uninstalled and then reinstalled Wordpad, it would reload
whatever was missing. However, unlike Windows '98, you can't add or remove
individual programs. I went as far down as I could, under Accessories, to a
sceond folder marked Accessories. I removed that, then tried to reinstall it.
However, when I did that, it said that a file from Windows service pack 2 was
missing. I then tried to download and install updates, including sp2, but
three of them (all labeled Service Pack 2) failed, along with some Office
updates. Now I don't have Paint, Wordpad, and a few other basic programs.

 

[Malke]

A few days ago I tried to open Wordpad. It said it was missing a
needed file. I went to Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, Windows
Components. I thought that maybe if I uninstalled and then reinstalled
Wordpad, it would reload whatever was missing. However, unlike Windows
'98, you can't add or remove individual programs. I went as far down
as I could, under Accessories, to a sceond folder marked Accessories.
I removed that, then tried to reinstall it. However, when I did that,
it said that a file from Windows service pack 2 was missing. I then
tried to download and install updates, including sp2, but three of
them (all labeled Service Pack 2) failed, along with some Office
updates. Now I don't have Paint, Wordpad, and a few other basic
programs.

What does a scan with a current (version no earlier than 2003) antivirus
using updated definitions show? Do your scan in Safe Mode.

Malke