Lost "All Programs" in startup list

[Ray]

After a fatal crash and loss of many unrecoverable downloads the startup list
no longer shows the ALL PROGRAMS in the list.
In order to show all the folders I right click on the C icon and OPEN on the
desktop.
Do I have to go to the install CD to recover the ALL PROGRAMS?
I tried to do that but the CD tells me it will not accept the number I type in
from the CD jacket.
The System folder in Control Panel gives me an OEM number but that doesn't
work either.

 

[Malke]

After a fatal crash and loss of many unrecoverable downloads the
startup list no longer shows the ALL PROGRAMS in the list.
In order to show all the folders I right click on the C icon and OPEN
on the desktop.
Do I have to go to the install CD to recover the ALL PROGRAMS?
I tried to do that but the CD tells me it will not accept the number I
type in from the CD jacket.
The System folder in Control Panel gives me an OEM number but that
doesn't work either.

Without more information (system specs, what caused the "fatal crash",
what "programs" are you talking about), it's impossible to give you
exact details. If you are simply talking about the shortcuts to
programs that exist in your Programs menu, you can recreate them.
Right-click on the Start button and choose Explore All Users and create
new shortcuts to the programs you want to appear there. If you're
saying that the actual executable programs have somehow disappeared,
then you'll need to reinstall them. However, if you're seeing that much
file system damage after whatever happened, you'd be better off
formatting the drive and reinstalling Windows. As for "unrecoverable
downloads", if you don't have a CD-RW drive in your computer, it would
be wise for you to buy one and do regular backups onto CD-R disks.

Perhaps you may want to call in a good local computer repair person to
straighten out the confusion.

Malke