Help & Support, Run and Search Tool Problem

[Guest]

Can someone assist me urgently. My Run, Search and Help and support tools are
not responding. If u click on any of these 3 items, nothing happens. What
could be the problem and a likely solution. Am using XP Professional.

 

[Talahasee]

x-no-archive: yes

Can someone assist me urgently. My Run, Search and Help and support tools are
not responding. If u click on any of these 3 items, nothing happens. What
could be the problem and a likely solution. Am using XP Professional.

#1 If you find basic functions not working, this is what we old-timers
call "an Invisible Crash."

If rebooting doesn't fix it, you will find, little-by-little, or
worse, more and more stuff not working as time goes by.

#2 The most immediate "fix" would be to Restore the system.

You'll find Restore in Start/Accessories/System Tools/Restore.

-- I also HIGHLY recommend the "GoBack" function found on Norton
SystemWorks 2003 (EXCELLENT utility) <--

If Restore doesn't fix it, and if you don't have GoBack on your
computer...

You'll receive all kinds of advice on "Do this, do that, do the
other."

I personally am VERY intolerant of computers that don't run at !00%.

When I've found myself working on a "fix" for like 3 or 4 hours, I
stop and calculate:

a. am I backed up?
If I am not backed up, I back up, if the computer will allow me to.
(frequently, we have already backed up, because at times like this,
when we REALLY REALLY REALLY want to stop and back up-- it's often too
late!

b. If I am backed up (I just finished a backup this very evening).

c. I then calculate... how long have I been working on this CRAP?

If an honest answer is roughly 3 times longer

than it would take to do a fresh install...


I leave it to your imagination to GUESS what my next step is.


Bottom line, is it truly smarter to work for 10 hours to solve a
problem, or is it truly smarter to scratch your head for an hour or
two, kiss your backups and say "I love you guys!"

And

F O R M A T !!!

( Good luck with that format, my friend!

And--- Happy New Year!

(from one who is utterly intolerant of the little purple Computer
Gremlins that make our lives hell. )

--> The Nuclear Option for Computer Gremlins is the FDisk / Format C:
Procedure. <-

Tallahassee

 

[Malke]

x-no-archive: yes



#1 If you find basic functions not working, this is what we old-timers
call "an Invisible Crash."

If rebooting doesn't fix it, you will find, little-by-little, or
worse, more and more stuff not working as time goes by.

(snip long post)

We don't have enough information from the OP to suggest that he restores
his system. Of course it depends on the cause of the problems, but it
is rarely necessary to format/reinstall XP.

To the OP: please post back with this information:

1. What changed between the time things worked and the time they didn't?
2. What Service Pack level is on your XP Pro?
3. What is the virus/malware status of the computer? If you think it is
clean, please give the names and versions of programs used, as well as
if your antivirus subscription is active and virus definitions current.

After you've supplied that information, you can get focused
troubleshooting.

Malke

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your response.

My response below.

Service pack level = Service Pack 1 & 2

Virus / Spyware Status = The computer appears to be clean as I have scanned
for viruses and spyware several times. I have even used the microsoft
malicious software removal tool online.

Installed are - Zone Lab Security Suite - This takes care of firewall,
antivirus and anti-spyware. I also use Microsoft anti-spyware and lavasoft
ad-ware software as back ups.

I also have Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, World Time loaded at at all times.

I hope I have given u some info that might assist the resolution of this
problem.

 

[Malke]

Service pack level = Service Pack 1 & 2

Virus / Spyware Status = The computer appears to be clean as I have
scanned for viruses and spyware several times. I have even used the
microsoft malicious software removal tool online.

Installed are - Zone Lab Security Suite - This takes care of firewall,
antivirus and anti-spyware. I also use Microsoft anti-spyware and
lavasoft ad-ware software as back ups.

I also have Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, World Time loaded at at
all times.

What changed between the time things worked and the time they didn't?
This is an important question to ask yourself when troubleshooting.

For the Search issue, look at "Why doesn't Search work?" on MVP Kelly
Theriot's site here:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/top10faqs.htm

Note that one of the possible causes is conflicts between security
programs. If you've got MSAS running in real time along with ZA, try
disabling MSAS's real-time function and see if that makes a difference.

For the Help issue, look at "Why doesn't Help and Support Work" at the
same site (next item down from Search).

For the Run issue, scroll down on Kelly's site here:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_qr.htm

and see if anything helps. If not, what exactly does "...Run...not
responding" mean? What happens? If you get error messages, quote the
text of them.

Also look in the Event Viewer for clues. Since you apparently can't use
Run, access the Event Viewer from the Administrative Tools applet in
Control Panel.

Malke

 

[Badger]

Can someone assist me urgently. My Run, Search and Help and support tools are
not responding. If u click on any of these 3 items, nothing happens. What
could be the problem and a likely solution. Am using XP Professional.

Hi Ernie
just because you have a problem and you don't know the fix it
beware of people who just say FORMAT and reinstall
all problems will have a solution, you just need to look for the answer.

This newsgroup is a good place the look, The web is a powerful
tool if you know how to use it. I did a simple google search using
your header and came up with this link.
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/top10faqs2.htm
Good luck