Several configuration changes after Windows Update

[Guest]

I have WinXP Home, SP2.

Immediately after installing the latest Windows Updates, my Windows Explorer
hung several times. This required reboot. Windows Explorer still hung.

(I install Windows updates as soon as I am prompted. That might help you to
know which updates were involved. I think there was an SP. Maybe that was for
Office? )

I used System Restore to restore to four days ago.

After the restore, my laptop works OK, but here are some annoying features:

1) The theme changed itself from "Windows Classic Style" to "Windows XP
Style". I cannot change back to the classic style, because I get the message
"The visual styles could not be loaded because the file failed to load"

2) Some of my programs that were bought *several months* ago reverted to the
trial versions, so I had to re-insert the license keys.

3) Control Panel will not change to classic view. Nothing happens. There is
no error message. (The Start menu can change to Classic View.)

4) The keyboard layout has changed. I don't know what it has changed to,
because I can't find the settings in control panel. The @ key and the " key
have changed places.

5) I wanted to re-install any Windows Updates that might have been lost due
to the System Restore. I am asked to install ActiveX. I always click "Run
ActiveX Control", but later on it asks again. So obviously ActiveX is not
installing.

Can anyone advise on items 1, 3, and 5. (I can sort 4 after I get to the
classic Control Panel.)
..

 

[Guest]

I forgot another problem.

I have to use Firefox to make this post. Internet Explorer does not allow me
to unblock the popups. For example, if I clear the checkbox in Tools >
Options > Privacy tab.

If I click "Apply" and "OK" to close the dialog, then re-open the dialog,
the check is back in the box.

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi Alan,

Windows update should have created a restore point just before the updates
were installed. Try restoring to that restore point.

Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org

 

[Guest]

Can I do your suggested restore immediately, or do I need to apply the
restores after the restore that I actually used?

In other words, do restores need to be applied "incrementally"?

 

[Bert Kinney]

No, just choose the restore point created by Windows Update. It should be
labeled "Software Distribution Service 2.0".

Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org

 

[Guest]

After the restore and reboot, I got the message "Your system cannot be
restored to ...".

My intention is to cut my losses and abandon this bad Administrator's
account. You might see from another of my posts that I'm trying to copy all
old "Documents and Settings" to a new Administrator's account. (Which I can't
do yet because I can't see the hidden files.)

Thanks for the help anyway.