Lost all file pointers while using Add or Remove Programs

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i was cleaning up XP by removing some programs not used in several years
when some sort of blip occured and i lost all file links off the desktop..

and elsewhere..i can boot fine but cannot do anything as no program will open

i get a FileService type of message saying you don’t have the software to
open xxx.lnk

i tried to open the IE7 executable but same problem..

any clues as to what is corrupted?

don

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Seems like your file associations in the registry are corrupted. Were you using something other than Add/remove programs to remove the programs? Do you have a backup? Were you creating restore points along the way?

Joe

--Joe

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if you haven’t emptied your trash, i’d go back and restore everything that’s in the trash & then reboot.
i’d also run (SFC /scannow) & (chkdsk /f)

add and remove programs should be your second choice to delete, the first choice should be the uninstall if there’s one in the program’s file folder on the program display menu.

after uninstalling large amounts of data/programs it’s a good idea to defrag the system

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thanks all..more info..

i was using uninstall off the Control Panel Add and Remove pgms..i thgt that is wgat that was for
anyway i know now when i removed one app it did go into the registry to delete items..i think
the registry is corrupted..

i found the keys to edit or check..but i’m in a catch 22 situation as i cannot open anything..files or
executables

i can open Windows Explorer and see the tree and file structure and where the files are..

oddly i do have a recent backup of the Registry if only i culd replace the existing one..
i’d rather execute regedt32.exe if i could..

anybody know how to create new file associations..i see on the web go into View and Options off
Win Explorer but my XP does not look like what they say to do..

thanks..
don

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so… could you restore your trash?

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hi Wiley..i added a reply yesterday but for some reason it did not post here..

it took all day but i had a 2 month old Registry save using ERDNT and i knew the registry was corrupted so
i found a fix for .exe file associations and usind a laptop and a DVD i did restore the Registry and the system
is working fine now..

i did not try thr Trash reclaim..

one thing puzzles me though..se if you have any ideas on this..

i Removed 7 programs..mostly old media players and utilities i did not use.. before the restore..also in the last few days i have added about 4
new utility programs..mainly to create a XP SP3 slipstreamed bootable DVD..now they are all there the removed ones and the new ones

they are in Control Panel Add/Remove and they are in Program FilesXXXX

why is that?
don

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i guess because you did a system restore not just a registry restore.
you should set another restore point and a backup before you start deleting again.
glad you got your system back – fun wasn’t it?

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Uninstallers don’t always do the best job removing files and registry settings and a lot of app developers hope that you’ll reinstall their software at some point in the future so they’ll purposely leave user settings, configuration files, and registry settings behind even without permission. As a general rule of thumb, it’s not a good idea to continually install and uninstall software a lot. However, apps like Revo Uninstaller scan though app directories and the registry for leftovers.

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