Something ate my registry

[Guest]

Around Christmas time, something unregistered my fonts, file types etc...
I have done several reinstalls with some success. I still can't use IE. It
doesn't let me activate, since that feature exclusively uses IE, and am
subsequently having problems with updates. I am using Netscape since IE won't
recognize Html files and won't automatically put them in the Temp internet
folder. I'm additionally having problems with MSN and hotmail, even in
Netscape.
The functionality of my home netwotrk is not affected, nor has the bug spread.

Any ideas on how to fix this without losing all of my data files to a scrub
& format would be greatly appreciated.

XP home (desktop)
win 2k (3 laptops, networked)

 

[Gordon]

Around Christmas time, something unregistered my fonts, file types etc...
I have done several reinstalls with some success. I still can't use IE. It
doesn't let me activate, since that feature exclusively uses IE, and am
subsequently having problems with updates. I am using Netscape since IE
won't
recognize Html files and won't automatically put them in the Temp internet
folder. I'm additionally having problems with MSN and hotmail, even in
Netscape.
The functionality of my home netwotrk is not affected, nor has the bug
spread.

Any ideas on how to fix this without losing all of my data files to a
scrub
& format would be greatly appreciated.

Have you tried repairing?
At a command promot type "sfc /scannow" (without the quotes). This will
check and repair all your critical system files. (You may be prompted for
your Windows XP CD...)

HTH