most of the programs on my computer won't boot. Help please.

[Jude]

I rebooted my computer this afternoon, and it reboots enough to show my
online connection, but nothing else on my boot screen. When I click on any
program or shortcut I get
"Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You many not
have the appropriate permissions to access the item."
The only way I can access my browser is by going to the control panel and
clicking on windows update.

I noticed in one of my attempts to get everything to boot, that the date
was saying 4/4/2010, but I went in boot with c prompt (or whatever it's
called) and did manage to change the date to the 1/1/2010, but that didn't
fix the problem at all.

I cannot access system restore, I get the message above. I look at the
control panel, but cannot click on anything without the above error message.

I can access my files and documents, and look at the thumbnails, but I
cannot actually open any of the files.

Is there any way this can be corrected without having to call in a pro? Is
there something I can type into the DOS commands on the recovery panel or
something.

The computer is about 5 years old, and it's running windows XP with sevice
pack 2.

 

[Rich Barry]

Jude, you can try a system restore from safe mode. On next startup tap F8
and it should give you a menu. Select Safe Mode. If windows boots Ok then do
a system restore. If that
doesnt work you can do a Repair Install. Check below for more info.
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Why hasn't SP3 been installed by now?

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed and is your
subscription current? What anti-spyware applications (other than Defender)?
What third-party firewall (if any)?

Has a(another) Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this
machine (e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought
it)?