Previously installed programs don't appear after XP upgrade

[Guest]

I tried to apply Microsoft updates from www.microsoft.com
to my Compaq Presario Windows ME desktop computer. The
process ran partially and hung, and I was forced to power
off and reboot. As a result, Windows was corrupted,
specifically the ifshlp.sys file was missing and the
system could not boot. After numerous strategies to
repair this, I was forced to BUY at full price a complete
XP edition on CD at my local Staples store. I was able to
install XP and the computer is now working fine. However,
all the programs that I had installed (games, office apps,
etc) are still on the hard drive but somehow not
visible/executable by XP. I don't really want to have to
install all of these programs using the CDs if I can avoid
it. The same was true with all documents in the original
ME "My Documents" file but I copied them and pasted them
into the new "My Documents" folder. They seem to be
archived?

Can you help me?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Data or Program Settings Are Missing After You Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;313362&Product=winxp

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

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|I tried to apply Microsoft updates from www.microsoft.com
| to my Compaq Presario Windows ME desktop computer. The
| process ran partially and hung, and I was forced to power
| off and reboot. As a result, Windows was corrupted,
| specifically the ifshlp.sys file was missing and the
| system could not boot. After numerous strategies to
| repair this, I was forced to BUY at full price a complete
| XP edition on CD at my local Staples store. I was able to
| install XP and the computer is now working fine. However,
| all the programs that I had installed (games, office apps,
| etc) are still on the hard drive but somehow not
| visible/executable by XP. I don't really want to have to
| install all of these programs using the CDs if I can avoid
| it. The same was true with all documents in the original
| ME "My Documents" file but I copied them and pasted them
| into the new "My Documents" folder. They seem to be
| archived?
|
| Can you help me?

 

[Guest]

If this is what happened
You had an unbootable copy of Windows Me currently installed and performed an upgrade to Windows XP

Then this is the answer
Your programs and settings would not have migrated to Windows XP due to the fact that an upgrade can only be performed while booted up in Me
What you have done was considered a clean installation

Sounds like you may have left the current file system intact during this proccess

Resolution
Unfortunately , since a clean install was performed you will need to reinstall your programs and such
The reason being is now you have a clean install with a "New" Windows registry. The registry entries from your programs will not be in this new registry so most of them may no longer work. This is due to the fact most programs are dependant on the registry to function properly.