Multiple problems - one source (?)

[Guest]

Hi,

I've encountered a chain of problems which all began on the same day. The
problems are as follows:
- Help and Support does not work - when clicking on the icon nothing happens.
- System Information does not work - when clicking on the icon nothing
happens.
- Remote assistance does not work - when sending an invitation through MSN
Messenger the computer on the other end gets a "<user> has denied the
request" (while I have not received any notification).
- Opening Word or Excel files doesn't work - Word/Excel opens, but without
opening the document. Using File->Open does work however.
- When looking in "System properties" General Tab - only the amount of RAM
is shown, not the CPU as before.
- A canon Scanner reports of TWAIN errors and refuses to scan.

I've tried all of the Help & Support fixes that are floating around on the
internet including re-installing - but to no avail. A repair install of XP
didn't help either.

I've formatted my computer 3 times (!) already but somewhere along the way
these problems reoccur simultaneously.

Is there any way to avoid a fourth format? Is there a common denominator for
all of these issues that may provide a clue to a solution?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks in advance!

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

As you've already reinstalled, it is quite impossible to troubleshoot the
source of the problem. The fact that it is reoccuring is an indication that
something that you are installing every time is the root of the trouble.
Think about and make note of not only the software and updates you install
this time around, but also things like web site plugins and activeX
controls.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

Hi,

A shot in the dark here, see if this helps:

Download the file OLEfix.zip available here (it is a registry file
that origin from MS Support, and it has fixed an ActiveX problem
for several people, getting this problem after installing KB896688):

http://patch-info.de/IE/Downloads/OLEfix.zip

Extract it and double click the contained OLEfix.reg file. Click Yes
on the dialog box that asks you if you are sure to add the information
in OLEfix.reg to the registry.

You may have to reboot your machine afterwards.