When I install software on my XP SP3 Toshiba laptop, it only places the app name in the Start/Program Files menu. All the submenu links do not populate and only an "empty" placeholder is displayed.
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The next step is more painful. You have to boot off your XP CD and run a repair. Make sure you have a backup of your computer and your CD key before you start the repair. During the process if you hit the wrong key then it could reinstall windows instead of repair it. After you run the repair then you'll have to reinstall all your windows updates.
Here's a link to walk you through the repair process. Print it out and follow along.
http://www.michaelstevenst
If doing a repair isn't an option the next thing to try is to reset the default directory that is used to create the Program file tree. It's located under c:\documents and settings\default user. Try renaming that directory to default user.old. Then create a new user again to see if that recreates the folder structure. If not you'll have to try copping that directory (c:\documents and settings\default user) from another computer.
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by: tenaj-207Posted on 2008-10-15 at 15:15:44ID: 22726559
It sounds like your profile may be corrupt. Create a new user though the control panel and log in as that new user to see if the same problem occurs. If there is no issues with the new user then you'll need to transfer all your settings and files to a new clean profile.