problems with internet explorer and start menu etc.

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Guest

One night when I turned on my laptop, I got a message saying that Windows XP (home edition) had had to recover the registry but that the procedure had been successful. This completely baffled me, but things became worse when I noticed that various Windows programs were misbehaving

On the Start Menu, nothing happens when I click on "All Programs", "Search", "Help and Support", and "Run..." do not work - a message comes up about adding a shortcut onto the desktop

With Internet Explorer, I am unable to type within the browser window, for instance I can not search on google, or check web-based email. I cannot select text with my mouse in order to copy it. I get error messages when I try to do a text search within a page (ctrl-f), when I click on "About" in the help menu, and when I run Norton Antivirus

On "Add\Remove Programs" nothing is listed. I have tried "System Restore", however when I go to it there is no calendar visible from which to make a selection. However, I know that the restore points are saved on the computer. I can get to "Help and Support" without using the Start button, but all the options on the right side have vanished. I don't believe the automatic Windows updates are working either. My previous update history is blank

I managed to run an online virus check, and I am virus free

I have spent hours searching the internet trying to work out what is wrong. Because of the missing calendar in System Restore, there was a possibility that the .htc association in the registry was missing or corrupt. Unfortunately this was not the solution. I believe that System Restore is my best hope, however I cannot use it

Does anyone have any ideas?
 
Have you tried running System Restore before XP starts? Just keep pressing F8 after the POST and when the launch menu comes up try going to Restore from last known good configuration.
 
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