Help needed with missing control panel

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I am in need of help. My computer has Windows XP SP2. We have recently
developed a problem. The control panel is nowhere to be found. If you click
on it, you get the searching flashlight. I have been able to access
components of the control panel using shortcuts. I've looked everywhere I can
think of on how to fix this, but no luck. Another possibly related problem is
that explorer.exe is keeping CPU usage at 100% and the computer has been
freezing up frequently- although some of the things I've tried seemed to have
helped this somewhat.

I am not a computer expert by any stretch of the imagination so if you have
any advice that I could understand, I would really appreciate it! Thanks for
your help.
 
laura said:
I am in need of help. My computer has Windows XP SP2. We have recently
developed a problem. The control panel is nowhere to be found. If you click
on it, you get the searching flashlight. I have been able to access
components of the control panel using shortcuts. I've looked everywhere I can
think of on how to fix this, but no luck. Another possibly related problem is
that explorer.exe is keeping CPU usage at 100% and the computer has been
freezing up frequently- although some of the things I've tried seemed to have
helped this somewhat.

I am not a computer expert by any stretch of the imagination so if you have
any advice that I could understand, I would really appreciate it! Thanks for
your help.
Click to expand...

Hi Lura, try this first:
Right click the Start Button, select Properties, then on taskbar & start
Menu click on Start Menu Tab, click on Customize.. Button, then click on
Advanced Tab, scroll till this option:
[&] Control Panel:
(*) Display as a link <= select this radio button
( ) Display as a menu
( ) Don't display this item.
Click [OK] then [OK] again to close the window and Hit F5 to refresh, does
the Control Panel appear?.
If still, open a run command and try this command:
sfc /scannow click [OK], you will need your XP CD for this.
You need to be sure your system is clean from malware and Viruses by
scanning for them:
1... First, try to clean up your caches, Internet files and delete cookies
by doing this:
Click Start >> Control Panel >> Double click Network and Internet
Connections >> Double click Internet Options.
On the IE properties windows you will see these Taps:
General | Security | Privacy | Content | Connections | Programs |
Advanced
Under General Tab clear your History, Internet Files and Cookies.
Then click on Advanced tab and scroll down to under the Browsing Option:
[&] Browsing
[ ] Enable Third-Party browser extensions (Req Rest) uncheck this box.
Then click on Programs Tab and click Manage Add-Ons and Disable all non
Verified Add-Ons (You should Renable them later one-by-one and see the
culprit and update it or remove it.
How to manage Add-Ons:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883256
Scan for malware from here:
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-gb/default.htm?s_cid=sah
http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-gb/default.htm
Run a scan from here on-line:
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
Download Avast Cleaner from here:
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-virus-cleaner.html
Lots of tools to download and disinfect your machine:
http://www.bitdefender.co.uk/site/Downloads/browseFreeRemovalTool/
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5

Download the Hijackthis and send the report to one of many
forums for analysis and troubleshooting:
http://www.merijn.org/index.php
When all else fails, HijackThis v1.99.1
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.zip) is the preferred tool to use.
It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware. Post
your log to http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html,
http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7, or other appropriate
forums for expert analysis, not here.
Any error message, have a look in the event viewer and post them here.
HTH.
nass
 
Nass,

Thank you very much for such a speedy and quick reply. I truely appreciate
the help. I tried the first part of your suggestion. Control Panel is
displayed in the menu already, but when you click to open it , I get the
searching flashlight like the file is not there. This did not resolve that
issue.

I will try your next suggestion as soon as I can locate my XP CD. Hopefully,
my husband knows where it is.

I started trying to work on the third suggestion of cleaning up the caches,
ineternet files and cookies (although I have done some of this already
through online scans), however, I cannot access Network and Internet
connections because I cannot access the control panel. Is there a shortcut to
get there? If it's like some of the other items in the control panel, I
should be able to get to it with a shortcut.

Thanks. I'm sure it will take me awhile to get through all the suggestions.
I will try them all a little at a time and let you know what works.

nass said:
laura said:
I am in need of help. My computer has Windows XP SP2. We have recently
developed a problem. The control panel is nowhere to be found. If you click
on it, you get the searching flashlight. I have been able to access
components of the control panel using shortcuts. I've looked everywhere I can
think of on how to fix this, but no luck. Another possibly related problem is
that explorer.exe is keeping CPU usage at 100% and the computer has been
freezing up frequently- although some of the things I've tried seemed to have
helped this somewhat.

I am not a computer expert by any stretch of the imagination so if you have
any advice that I could understand, I would really appreciate it! Thanks for
your help.
Click to expand...

Hi Lura, try this first:
Right click the Start Button, select Properties, then on taskbar & start
Menu click on Start Menu Tab, click on Customize.. Button, then click on
Advanced Tab, scroll till this option:
[&] Control Panel:
(*) Display as a link <= select this radio button
( ) Display as a menu
( ) Don't display this item.
Click [OK] then [OK] again to close the window and Hit F5 to refresh, does
the Control Panel appear?.
If still, open a run command and try this command:
sfc /scannow click [OK], you will need your XP CD for this.
You need to be sure your system is clean from malware and Viruses by
scanning for them:
1... First, try to clean up your caches, Internet files and delete cookies
by doing this:
Click Start >> Control Panel >> Double click Network and Internet
Connections >> Double click Internet Options.
On the IE properties windows you will see these Taps:
General | Security | Privacy | Content | Connections | Programs |
Advanced
Under General Tab clear your History, Internet Files and Cookies.
Then click on Advanced tab and scroll down to under the Browsing Option:
[&] Browsing
[ ] Enable Third-Party browser extensions (Req Rest) uncheck this box.
Then click on Programs Tab and click Manage Add-Ons and Disable all non
Verified Add-Ons (You should Renable them later one-by-one and see the
culprit and update it or remove it.
How to manage Add-Ons:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883256
Scan for malware from here:
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-gb/default.htm?s_cid=sah
http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-gb/default.htm
Run a scan from here on-line:
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
Download Avast Cleaner from here:
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-virus-cleaner.html
Lots of tools to download and disinfect your machine:
http://www.bitdefender.co.uk/site/Downloads/browseFreeRemovalTool/
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5

Download the Hijackthis and send the report to one of many
forums for analysis and troubleshooting:
http://www.merijn.org/index.php
When all else fails, HijackThis v1.99.1
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.zip) is the preferred tool to use.
It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware. Post
your log to http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html,
http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7, or other appropriate
forums for expert analysis, not here.
Any error message, have a look in the event viewer and post them here.
HTH.
nass
Click to expand...
 
Hi Laura,
Try to open the Internet Explorer then click Tools >> Internet Option.
Did you tried Safe Mode and see if you can access the Control panel, also in
run command type in:
control panel click [OK], does it come up?.
How to run Control Panel tools by typing a command
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/192806/EN-US/
Using Rundll32.exe in Windows XP
http://vlaurie.com/computers2/Articles/rundll32.htm

Line 256- Restore the Control Panel - Disable : Current , Local, Both:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx
Have a look in the event viewer by opening the run command and type in:
eventvwr click [OK], there click on each :
Application
System
Security
Look in the right Pane/Window for error messages(X) Double click it to get
more info about the error and you can copy and paste in your next post:
HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427/en-us
HTH.
nass

laura said:
Nass,

Thank you very much for such a speedy and quick reply. I truely appreciate
the help. I tried the first part of your suggestion. Control Panel is
displayed in the menu already, but when you click to open it , I get the
searching flashlight like the file is not there. This did not resolve that
issue.

I will try your next suggestion as soon as I can locate my XP CD. Hopefully,
my husband knows where it is.

I started trying to work on the third suggestion of cleaning up the caches,
ineternet files and cookies (although I have done some of this already
through online scans), however, I cannot access Network and Internet
connections because I cannot access the control panel. Is there a shortcut to
get there? If it's like some of the other items in the control panel, I
should be able to get to it with a shortcut.

Thanks. I'm sure it will take me awhile to get through all the suggestions.
I will try them all a little at a time and let you know what works.

nass said:
laura said:
I am in need of help. My computer has Windows XP SP2. We have recently
developed a problem. The control panel is nowhere to be found. If you click
on it, you get the searching flashlight. I have been able to access
components of the control panel using shortcuts. I've looked everywhere I can
think of on how to fix this, but no luck. Another possibly related problem is
that explorer.exe is keeping CPU usage at 100% and the computer has been
freezing up frequently- although some of the things I've tried seemed to have
helped this somewhat.

I am not a computer expert by any stretch of the imagination so if you have
any advice that I could understand, I would really appreciate it! Thanks for
your help.
Click to expand...

Hi Lura, try this first:
Right click the Start Button, select Properties, then on taskbar & start
Menu click on Start Menu Tab, click on Customize.. Button, then click on
Advanced Tab, scroll till this option:
[&] Control Panel:
(*) Display as a link <= select this radio button
( ) Display as a menu
( ) Don't display this item.
Click [OK] then [OK] again to close the window and Hit F5 to refresh, does
the Control Panel appear?.
If still, open a run command and try this command:
sfc /scannow click [OK], you will need your XP CD for this.
You need to be sure your system is clean from malware and Viruses by
scanning for them:
1... First, try to clean up your caches, Internet files and delete cookies
by doing this:
Click Start >> Control Panel >> Double click Network and Internet
Connections >> Double click Internet Options.
On the IE properties windows you will see these Taps:
General | Security | Privacy | Content | Connections | Programs |
Advanced
Under General Tab clear your History, Internet Files and Cookies.
Then click on Advanced tab and scroll down to under the Browsing Option:
[&] Browsing
[ ] Enable Third-Party browser extensions (Req Rest) uncheck this box.
Then click on Programs Tab and click Manage Add-Ons and Disable all non
Verified Add-Ons (You should Renable them later one-by-one and see the
culprit and update it or remove it.
How to manage Add-Ons:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883256
Scan for malware from here:
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-gb/default.htm?s_cid=sah
http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-gb/default.htm
Run a scan from here on-line:
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
Download Avast Cleaner from here:
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-virus-cleaner.html
Lots of tools to download and disinfect your machine:
http://www.bitdefender.co.uk/site/Downloads/browseFreeRemovalTool/
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5

Download the Hijackthis and send the report to one of many
forums for analysis and troubleshooting:
http://www.merijn.org/index.php
When all else fails, HijackThis v1.99.1
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.zip) is the preferred tool to use.
It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware. Post
your log to http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html,
http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7, or other appropriate
forums for expert analysis, not here.
Any error message, have a look in the event viewer and post them here.
HTH.
nass
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I am in need of help. My computer has Windows XP SP2. We have recently
developed a problem. The control panel is nowhere to be found. If you click
on it, you get the searching flashlight. I have been able to access
components of the control panel using shortcuts. I've looked everywhere I can
think of on how to fix this, but no luck. Another possibly related problem is
that explorer.exe is keeping CPU usage at 100% and the computer has been
freezing up frequently- although some of the things I've tried seemed to have
helped this somewhat.

I am not a computer expert by any stretch of the imagination so if you have
any advice that I could understand, I would really appreciate it! Thanks for
your help.
Click to expand...
First thing I always do is system restore to the day before it
happened .
Jim
 
Did a system restore first thing- it did not help, but thanks for the
suggestion.

I am slowly working through Nass' suggestions and I seem to be making
progress. I suspect I may have a worm although nothing is detecting that.
 
I too experienced similar problem after formatting Windows XP in a brand new
Desktop. The Control panel is missing (on right clicking from Desktop some
error report is propping up). Can you help me?

Rajakumar. Cochin, Kerala, India

laura said:
Nass,

Thank you very much for such a speedy and quick reply. I truely appreciate
the help. I tried the first part of your suggestion. Control Panel is
displayed in the menu already, but when you click to open it , I get the
searching flashlight like the file is not there. This did not resolve that
issue.

I will try your next suggestion as soon as I can locate my XP CD. Hopefully,
my husband knows where it is.

I started trying to work on the third suggestion of cleaning up the caches,
ineternet files and cookies (although I have done some of this already
through online scans), however, I cannot access Network and Internet
connections because I cannot access the control panel. Is there a shortcut to
get there? If it's like some of the other items in the control panel, I
should be able to get to it with a shortcut.

Thanks. I'm sure it will take me awhile to get through all the suggestions.
I will try them all a little at a time and let you know what works.

nass said:
laura said:
I am in need of help. My computer has Windows XP SP2. We have recently
developed a problem. The control panel is nowhere to be found. If you click
on it, you get the searching flashlight. I have been able to access
components of the control panel using shortcuts. I've looked everywhere I can
think of on how to fix this, but no luck. Another possibly related problem is
that explorer.exe is keeping CPU usage at 100% and the computer has been
freezing up frequently- although some of the things I've tried seemed to have
helped this somewhat.

I am not a computer expert by any stretch of the imagination so if you have
any advice that I could understand, I would really appreciate it! Thanks for
your help.
Click to expand...

Hi Lura, try this first:
Right click the Start Button, select Properties, then on taskbar & start
Menu click on Start Menu Tab, click on Customize.. Button, then click on
Advanced Tab, scroll till this option:
[&] Control Panel:
(*) Display as a link <= select this radio button
( ) Display as a menu
( ) Don't display this item.
Click [OK] then [OK] again to close the window and Hit F5 to refresh, does
the Control Panel appear?.
If still, open a run command and try this command:
sfc /scannow click [OK], you will need your XP CD for this.
You need to be sure your system is clean from malware and Viruses by
scanning for them:
1... First, try to clean up your caches, Internet files and delete cookies
by doing this:
Click Start >> Control Panel >> Double click Network and Internet
Connections >> Double click Internet Options.
On the IE properties windows you will see these Taps:
General | Security | Privacy | Content | Connections | Programs |
Advanced
Under General Tab clear your History, Internet Files and Cookies.
Then click on Advanced tab and scroll down to under the Browsing Option:
[&] Browsing
[ ] Enable Third-Party browser extensions (Req Rest) uncheck this box.
Then click on Programs Tab and click Manage Add-Ons and Disable all non
Verified Add-Ons (You should Renable them later one-by-one and see the
culprit and update it or remove it.
How to manage Add-Ons:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/883256
Scan for malware from here:
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-gb/default.htm?s_cid=sah
http://onecare.live.com/standard/en-gb/default.htm
Run a scan from here on-line:
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
Download Avast Cleaner from here:
http://www.avast.com/eng/avast-virus-cleaner.html
Lots of tools to download and disinfect your machine:
http://www.bitdefender.co.uk/site/Downloads/browseFreeRemovalTool/
http://free.grisoft.com/doc/5390/lng/us/tpl/v5

Download the Hijackthis and send the report to one of many
forums for analysis and troubleshooting:
http://www.merijn.org/index.php
When all else fails, HijackThis v1.99.1
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.zip) is the preferred tool to use.
It will help you to both identify and remove any hijackware/spyware. Post
your log to http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html,
http://forums.subratam.org/index.php?showforum=7, or other appropriate
forums for expert analysis, not here.
Any error message, have a look in the event viewer and post them here.
HTH.
nass
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I too experienced similar problem after formatting Windows XP in a brand new
Desktop.  The Control panel is missing (on right clicking from Desktop some
error report is propping up).  Can you help me?

Rajakumar. Cochin, Kerala, India
Click to expand...

When you right click the desktop and see the error, does the error
say:

Invalid help file. Please reload.
 
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