Run, Search, etc., try to install an icon on the desktop rather than their intended function.

Hi...

Can you elaborate further on the question...
You mean you try to Run OR Search OR Help & Support, but a screen comes up with that message?

Then when you try to click "All Programs" it does not respond.

Is this problem you encounter by clicking the "START" button?!?

Is this on Windows XP?

I never heard of 'set program access and defaults'. What version of Windoze is that ? .. anyway, if you have a registry back-up in place, first try restoring it. If it doesn't work, reinstall windoze ! :)

Do a virus sweep, there are some viruses out there that emulate the mouse to do things it should not be i.e right click when left or create shortcuts etc. http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ free online virus scan.

tidda in anwser to your question Set program access and defaults is in 2000 and XP in add remove programs from control panel. Its in 2000 if you keep it upto date and have installed enhacements, XP by default and also server 2003

Jim

or try a sfc scan !!

Goto START>RUN and type, cmd  (hit enter)
now type, sfc /scannow  (hit enter)
SFC scan will start scanning ur system
u will need ur WinXP CD in order to fix the corrupted windows system files, if found by scan.

I do mean that clicking on Start and then on either Run, Search, Help and Support OR Set Program Access and Defaults gives the error message "Windows cannot create shortcut here....", OR clicking on Start and then All Programs just gives no reponse.

The Set Program Access and Defaults, which installs via a Windows Update, can also be shown in the Start menu and is so in this case.

If I remember correctly, the customer did run a virus scan, and I TRIED to run a SFC /SCANNOW. Unfortunately, its a friggin' HP (laptop) and thus DOESN'T COME WITH ITS OWN WINXP CD (I'm yelling at the HP people). The SFC found various files it wanted to fix, and I tried to use various versions of WinXP Home CDs (pre-SP1, post-SP1 and multilicense, I think) and XP PROs (pre-SP1), but that doesn't seem to work. When it asks for the CD to get a file, it either says the CD is the wrong version or it seems to get stuck on that file for 30 seconds or so and then continues with the SFC. In the ladder case, each subsequent request for file requires hitting Enter and then it gets stuck for another 30 seconds and then continues. It appears that it didn't actually perform the SFC in this case, but it's difficult to determine with certainty. The problem didn't go away, however, and the process did not behave normally.

Thus, it seems at this point the thing would be to determine how to run SFC on an HP, since HP doesn't send any Windoze CD with the computer and I can't find any other CD to take its place. Anyone ever figure out how to get around this on an HP? Thanks.

Thanks, SheharyarrShaahil. Excellent advice, as always. The customer has their lapton in their possesion and I'll forward your SFC trick to them and we'll see if that fixes anything. We'll check on crissand's post as well. I'll assign points later, after further testing. BTW, I have other HPs at customers that need this SFC trick as well. That's a nice tool to add to my bag of tricks.

:)

(long delay here) The SFC trick didn't work. The customer tried it themselves and are PC savvy. The crissand comment didn't seem to apply, unless we're not getting it.

Any other ideas?

hmmmm can u try what is suggested here by Ramesh :)

Start Menu 'All Programs' is empty or nothing happens when you click the menu
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/AllPrograms.htm

Is the user administrator?
Folder \Document and Settings\All users\Start Menu exists?

Also if this doesn't solve the problem,,, i want u to try another thing,,,, try creating a new user with Administrative rights, and check there for the problem,,,, may be the problem is only profile related :-?

The customer will try these things over the weekend. Thanks for the clarification, crissand. Stay tuned.

Thanks, Rob. I'll forward your idea to the customer.

Let me first find out if the customer has yet tried all of these things and whether he is interested in pursuing this further.

Thanks.

The customer has lost interest in pursuing this issue because the fix would likely be to reinstall the OS and they need the computer for their business. They're just going to live with the problem until they get a new PC.

In the end, Sheharyaar's tip about the SFC trick when I don't have the Windows CD was the most usefull new trick to me, so he gets the most points.

Thanks, all, for trying so hard and being so quick.

hmmmm no problem.... and thank you :)