Reinstalling Windows Components

[PT]

WinXP Home

For some reason, a group of programs in the Windows Accessories and Games
folders are missing. These include the FreeCell through Spider Solitaire,
as well as Calculator, WordPad, Paint, HyperTerminal clipboard viewer and a
few others.

Following an earlier suggestion, here's what I've tried:

I click Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs | Add/Remove Windows Components

Then I uncheck all but "Accessories and Utilities", and click "Details."

Here's where it gets a little strange. If I check only "Accessories", and
then "Details", I get a list of missing games, and vice versa. But in
either case, when I proceed, Setup gives me an error message as follows:

Setup cannot copy this file (FreeCell.ex_, for example) in the
Windows|I386 folder. Put in the Windows CD. I do so, and locate the
desired file.

But the message stays there. If I ask Setup to continue, it moves to the
next file (for example FreeCell.ch_ , but with the same error message.

I tried this test on another computer, and it updated normally.

Any suggestions?

 

[Guest]

Try adding or subtracting windows components directly thru windows xp cd.

 

[Ron Martell]

WinXP Home

For some reason, a group of programs in the Windows Accessories and Games
folders are missing. These include the FreeCell through Spider Solitaire,
as well as Calculator, WordPad, Paint, HyperTerminal clipboard viewer and a
few others.

Following an earlier suggestion, here's what I've tried:

I click Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs | Add/Remove Windows Components

Then I uncheck all but "Accessories and Utilities", and click "Details."

Here's where it gets a little strange. If I check only "Accessories", and
then "Details", I get a list of missing games, and vice versa. But in
either case, when I proceed, Setup gives me an error message as follows:

Setup cannot copy this file (FreeCell.ex_, for example) in the
Windows|I386 folder. Put in the Windows CD. I do so, and locate the
desired file.

But the message stays there. If I ask Setup to continue, it moves to the
next file (for example FreeCell.ch_ , but with the same error message.

I tried this test on another computer, and it updated normally.

Any suggestions?

Open a Command Prompt window and enter the following command:

SFC /SCANNOW

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Ron Martell]

Try adding or subtracting windows components directly thru windows xp cd.

Andrew, please go away and take your nonsensical drivel with you.

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[PT]

I tried using the Windows Home SP2 disk and selected "Install Windows
Components". I got the same error message.

I'm suspecting that this was the result of a Windows Update problem, as I
had installed the most recent updates a week earlier. Has anyone else seen
this problem?

 

[Ron Martell]

I tried using the Windows Home SP2 disk and selected "Install Windows
Components". I got the same error message.

I'm suspecting that this was the result of a Windows Update problem, as I
had installed the most recent updates a week earlier. Has anyone else seen
this problem?

SFC (System File Checker) will check for damaged or missing Windows
System Files and replace them with fresh copies. Have you tried it
yet?

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[PT]

No - I subsequently discovered that all that had happened was that the links
in the shortcuts in my Start | Programs had been disrupted. The actual exe
files for the games and utilities were unharmed. Perhaps that is why setup
failed, since it was trying to install already installed programs. Using an
undamaged computer as a guide, I located the various exe files folders and
names, recreated the shortcuts and put them in the appropriate Startup |
Programs folders. I still believe that the Windows Update did the initial
damage.

 

[Don Smith]

SFC (System File Checker) will check for damaged or missing Windows
System Files and replace them with fresh copies. Have you tried it
yet?

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada

I just tried it and all I got was a flash of a black window! What would
have caused that?

Don

 

[Wesley Vogel]

I just tried it and all I got was a flash of a black window! What would

have caused that?

If you type just: sfc into Start | Run, it will just flash the command
prompt and close it.

Try this.

System File Checker (sfc.exe) replaces screwed up system files.

Load your XP CD in your CD drive.

Start | Run | Type or paste: sfc /scannow | Click OK

sfc /scannow scans all protected system files immediately and replaces
incorrect versions with correct Microsoft versions.

System File Checker takes a while to run.

If you have XP Home and it asks for your XP Pro CD, see this KB article...

You may be prompted to insert a Windows XP Professional CD when you run the
System File Checker tool in Windows XP Home Edition
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/897128

If SFC.EXE did anything it will be listed in the Event Viewer.

Open the Event Viewer...
Start | Run | Type: eventvwr | Click OK | Click System |

Windows File Protection will be listed under the Source column. Look at any
Windows File Protection entries.

Explains a whole bunch about sfc.exe.
scannow sfc (sfc.exe)
http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

Description of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 System File Checker
(Sfc.exe)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310747

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Don Smith]

Thanks Wesley, that ran, but SFC still won't run from the hard disk. How
do I re-install SFC on my hard disk? I've searched and can't find
*components*.

Thanks for your help.
Don

 

[Wesley Vogel]

I do not understand. Try this, Don.

Open a command prompt...
Start | Run | Type: cmd | Click OK |
In the command prompt type: sfc /? hit Enter.

What happens? Do you get an error? Or a line starting with:
Microsoft(R) Windows XP Windows File Checker Version 5.1???

System File Checker (sfc) help...
Paste the following line into Start | Run and click OK...

hh ntcmds.chm::/system_file_checker.htm

Description of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 System File Checker
(Sfc.exe)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310747

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Don Smith]

What I see is as you note below, and several lines of argument options.

But when I use the command SFC /scannow it works, so I guess I won't worry
about running it without the argument.

Thanks Wesley
Don

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Hi Don,

The argument options are referred to as switches. I do not why they are
called switches. And sfc.exe will only run from the Run command with one of
the switches. Other wise it just flashes the command prompt. This is the
same behavior that many of the command line programs exhibit.

Basically with most command line programs you have to run them from a
command prompt, but there are exceptions, like sfc with a switch.

cmd /k sfc typed into the Run command would open a command prompt and list
sfc help.

If you type: ping into the Run command it just flashes a command prompt.
If you type: cmd /k ping microsoft.com into the Run command, it will
open a command prompt and start the ping command pinging microsoft. If you
type: ping microsoft.com into the Run command, it will open a command
prompt and start the ping command pinging microsoft. cmd /k ping in the
Run command will open a command prompt with ping help.

You can learn a lot just by fiddling around. ;-)

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Don Smith]

Thanks Wesley, good info to know; message saved for futher reference.

From here on out just refer to me as "the fiddler." ;-) Now I'll really
get in trouble! `*8-o

Don