Missing Windows Apps

Hi, first post and may get the terminology wrong, but have used the search function and can't seem to address this problem:

running WXP Pro SP3. Hitting the START button, where I would normally expect to find "Run" and "Search ", neither show up. Control Panel, Printers and Faxes, etc show up. The two missing links were there some time ago but I did not deliberately remove them nor did I notice when they skipped town. Am using Custom start menu but see nothing there affecting these apps.

Would appreciate someone pointing me to possible areas hidden but affecting these items.

Thanks

 

Looking at all available choices under General and Advanced Custom settings I saw nothing that to me were related to either of these items. I expanded System Administrative Tools, which I have marked not to show, but none of the menu items seemed to address Run or Search. I have Set Programs Access and Defaults checked but don't know what that is and I'm sure it's at the default setting.

 

This link should help:
http://www.coolnerds.com/XP/StartMenu/xpStartMenu.htm

Note*
The run and search check boxes are near the bottom of the list of options.

As a side note:
You can still access Run via the keyboard by pressing the Windows Key + R even if it does not show on the Start Menu.

Search is done with the F3 key.

---------------------
If the above doesn't do it try:
#57 restore the run command
#70 search is missing from the startmenu
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

 

Thanks, goddez1. For some reason my list of Advanced custom choices does not include Run, Search, or even Printers and Faxes even though Printers and Faxes does show up on the Start Menu. My list does include all other items in the link you provided.

Will follow up on other options you provided tomorrow.

Thanks

 

Hello again shylo,

Please give the fixes supplied by kelly's site site a shot as they will reverse any registry policy that may be causing this. If that doesn't work then it's time to check for a policy setting via "group policy editor" and if that fails prime suspect shifts to something viral/malwate related may be going on. For further instructions on both see:
http://ask-leo.com/why_cant_i_enable_the_run_command.html

You may need to consider a visit to our virus/malware removal forum but you can cross that bridge when and if you get to it. Does regedit, taskmanager and control panel access run without a fuss? Any additional problems with these would be a dead give away that a critter has run amuck.

 

Hi. Still working on your suggestions as time allows. Windows key + r brings up an error message "This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator ", F3 does totally nothing. Windows Task Manager and Control Panel seem to work fine. Is there a way to start regedit without the Run app?

So far as administrative effects go this has never even come up on this computer as I have forever been the only user and I have never set any user restrictions of any kind.

Have run a virus scan with the free app avast and am in process of attempting to analyse the results. Only a couple of items were noted for sending to the Chest but many could not be inspected because of "decompression bomb ", whatever that means.

I don't seem to be having any other problems with this machine.

 

Hi shylo,

As Arie suggests you can find help by following his link directions and continue this issue in the virus/malware forum. The fact that policies have put into place that you yourself have not done is suspicious. Coupled with your virus program finding something, may require an expert in this area, to help you get rid of it permanently. In the least, the professionally trained members there, will help in the reversal of the policies that have been set into place that have effected/infected you.

-Please do the above ^ but purely for your own F.Y.I. see below v--

1]As for an additional ways to run the registry editor, you can open a command prompt via the startmenu>all programs>accessories> "command prompt "
*just click on the shortcut and type regedit then hit your enter key.
*Registry editing is a HIGH RISK procedure. Remember to use safe, cautious methods and practices while using your registry editor. These include "export hkey, backup registry, make a restore point, all done before any edit is attempted. If you don't know what these are or how to do them just ask.

2]It should also be available on the Tools Tab in msconfig, which you can also open up via the "command prompt" by typing msconfig and hitting the enter key.

3]Group policy editor can also be opened. Simply use command prompt and type gpedit.msc hit enter. The setting of your looking for was provided in the link I previously gave. This console maybe available only in Windows XP Professional:
http://ask-leo.com/why_cant_i_enable_the_run_command.html

4]F3 keyboard key shortcut for search: I should have also said you need to give focus to the shortcut by clicking blank area of desktop. Then hit the F3 key. You can also use the search line in "Help and support center" or IE for that matter.

But policy block may be preventing this and the runline function, as well as preventing any of the alternate ways of doing such.

5] "decompression bomb" maybe viral but could also be a file your aware of such as an *.iso. The expression means a file that has been compressed in such a way that when opened it will consume mass quantities of diskspace. I suggest you google the phrase to learn what it is and means. Just don't open these "bombs" out of curiosity. They have been aptly named Running a virus program not capable of also removing malware/adware or correcting the registry maybe ineffectual for your problem.

To sum up and just for my own F.Y.I.
Did you use the Kelly's Korner reg patches as suggested in an earlier thread?

 

Thanks a bunch for all the info. Have been gone all day due to friend's medical emergency and need time to absorb all this. I have gone to the Kelly's Korner but have not tried any of the patches because not sure how they work and thought I might need regedit. Will do a back up on Acronis before making any of the registry fixes. If KK has a help or instruction I missed it. Not sure what happens when I click one of those links like #57 or #70. I have not generally used restore point.

Avast! log shows many files not inspected because of decompression bomb or in some cases files are password protected. Need to try to better acquaint myself with that program. Using Windows Clean up I have compressed some old files. Could this be related to decompression bomb?

Just raising these questions in case they are germane to original post, but ignore if not appropriate as I am not used to this forum.

There's always the possibility I'm in over my head also.

 

Hi again,
Although you can edit the Registry with the Registry Editor, you can also make changes by using Registry patches. A Registry patch is an exported portion of the registry. It is text file, with the .REG extension. It is that extension that controls the behavior of the file if double clicked on. If you double-click on a .REG file, the patch is applied or merged into the registry, usually after prompting the user "if they are sure ". This is a way to share or back up small portions of the registry for use on your own computer, or someone else's. It is generally considered a much simpler, convenient and less dangerous method of editing the registry as opposed to manually editing. If curious, nervous or wishing to double check what will be effected by using a regpatch, they can be opened in notepad for viewing. Once you have determined the patch is safe you can apply it to the registry by double clicking on it, or by opening regedit its self and selecting the File>import option from the toolbar and browsing to the *.reg file desired.

It is advisable to backup the registry before making changes. Links to how tos are provided below:

Create a restore point
http://www.online-tech-tips.com/computer-tips/how-backup-registry/

export a portion [Specific hkeys and values] or the whole shabang:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/c02cdc19-923e-450a-b796-c01059ca14151033.mspx

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/registry.htm

------------------------------
In your case I suspect policy changes have been set in the registry.
The hkey effected would be:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

You may have none or more keys and values here ^ but it would be only the two values below that are of interest or focus.
The values would be:
Registry Value: "NoRun "
Registry Value: "NoFind"

See:
The policy hkey and values:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q292504/

The patches suggested are from Kelly's Korner, an often used, recommended, and trusted reference source. The patches only effect the two settings of concern; "NoRun" "NoFind "

The patches change the values to off or 0.

To download these files you right click on them and select save or save as. Once downloaded you can view them in notepad as previously described. To merge them into the registry double click on them. A reboot may be required for the change to effect [unsure].

The above ^ patches are easily reversible, should the need arise and is, in my opinion, a "low to no risk" procedure.

-----------------------------
As for asking if the compressed "old files" you have done are related to Avast description of a "decompression bomb ". I would think so depending on the method and size. You would be in a better position to know this based on the name of the files. I know next to nothing about Avast as I have never used it, or it was so long ago and many versions back that I've forgotten. Sorry

 

I'm baaaak. I went to Kellys Korner, dl the #70 item, opened it in notepad, read it, merged the dl and it appears where it should in registry. I rebooted, and search still not present. DWORD is all 0's. I set a restore point rather than back up registry some other way for this single attempt.

How do I know what the resulting action of the patch should be other than in the registry? What I mean is, the opening in notepad tells me what the reg entry will be, but how do I know if it should be a 0 or 1 to drag the search function to the start menu. All #70 says is "Search is Missing From the Start Menu ". I presume that means that the patch will eliminate that stated defect, right?

#57 is similar relative to second paragraph above, but it states it is for XP, or XP, SP1, I have installed SP3.

I have also attempted to submit the "highjackthis" data to the proper forum as suggested by Ari(?), and I am trying to stay with you on your input. I'm going slow to avoid getting deeper in trouble.

Thanks for all you do!

 

Are you using Reshacker?

 

Sorry sled, thought I responded to this yesterday, did something wrong. No I do not use Reshacker. After googling it do not think I would use it.

 

Hi shylo,

Well isn't this a puzzler? You got a darn administration block informing you "you do not have permission to perform this action or access...." when using winkey+R for run. I thought for sure the kelly patches would take care of that but noooo.

I still have a couple of other suggestions but will wait for the results of your scan in the malware forum. Possibly one of the members there will use some magic to take care of this. It is always best not to do, change, add or remove anything while a virus/malware forum "screen and clean" is ongoing.

Hang in there....

 

Thanks,

hanging.....

 

While looking over your post in the viral/malware forum I did notice a few programs that while I'm unfamiliar with can see where they may have a potential to cause symptoms you may be seeing or suffering from, in particular this one:

AcceleRun in particular the feature of A "Windows Start Menu Customization wizard "

What do you know about the program options and results or bugs that may result from the way you have this program set up [referring to AcceleRun]?

How about these?:
Task Catcher
WinPatrol
steganos safe 8
1-Click Answers

Do you know of any options, settings or bugs that would effect "run and search in the startmenu ", block or lock ability to make changes by restrictions? Perhaps a closer look at what these "are ", "do" and the "settings" they're using should be looked at, just in case you've forgotten you even have these and what settings they are using or capable of using.

Please note that if, on a whim, should you decide that you will experimentally uninstall any of these, read carefully any un-installation hows-to before hand. Many of these types of applications need certain settings disabled or returned back to windows defaults prior to uninstalling, or any registry or system changes they've made will not be undone.

 

None of these programs would appear to affect start menu except for putting themselves to start at windows start up. Several are monitors of activity behind the scenes and generally notify if a newly installed program wants to set itself to start at boot, or if something unusual occurs affecting start up list. Programs have been active before current problem arose.

Will heed advice re uninstall.