XP service pack 3 - fatal installation

[Mark]

I've just installed SP£ and now my machine is U/S. I can start it and log on,
but it appears no services are running at all. All previously installed
printers are gone. All network connections are gone. Cannot copy and paste in
windows explorer. Previously installed applications are present, but
inoperable. It seems I cannot start any of the windows services under
"services and applications" under computer management. As a result, system
restore does not work, uninstall does not work. My situation is
quite.....critical!

Any suggestions?

 

[Mick Murphy]

http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid

Above it the free MS support link for XP SP3
Email, chat and phone at certain hours.

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

"Safe Mode With Command Prompt", from pressing F8 during a restart, should
let you run the command line version of system restore.

HOW TO Start System Restore Tool from Command Prompt (Q304449):
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q304/4/49.asp

--
Use the "Ratings" feature. It helps the new users.
Please use the Communities guidelines when posting.
http://www.microsoft.com/wn3/locales/help/help_en-us.htm
Mark L. Ferguson MS-MVP
https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/Mark.Ferguson