Windows XP - lost Games and Calculator

vanity

[mtbopfuyn]

Help! A couple weeks ago our Outlook Express freaked out and locked up. Never did get it working again even with psc tech help so we went to the plain jane Outlook. Then looking around, noticed under the Start Menu under Programs - Accessories that the calculator, Record Now, MS Paint and Games (free cell, spider, etc.) were missing. While I can't care less about email, I NEED my games and calculator and the kids need Paint for their homework and Record Now for school band practice!

I did a Run Search and can get to MS Paint and spider that way so I know those are still somewhere in the computer. I'm guessing the other games are in there as well. I still can't find the calculator. And I think Record Now is missing too since I couldn't find it just now.

I tried to do a System Restore but it won't let me. Yes, I clicked on the bold dates. It also won't take me back any further than August. I was hoping to get back to the original date but no such luck.

I tried to go to Install New Software but apparently the back up and recovery disks don't want to work. I know the back up disks are from this computer but I'm not so sure about the recovery disks - are there 8 recovery disks?

Can anyone help me find where these files are hiding and put them back on the Start Menu where they belong? Thanks.

BTW, what all is listed under Assessories because I may be missing much more that I'm not aware of.

[PAR35]

Now I see that Windows Media is also missing from the Start Up.

When you restore the link to it, it would go in your now empty entertainment folder under accessories. (Real Player would be there as well, as well as perhaps volume and sound recorder controls, based on your setup.

[mtbopfuyn]

If all else fails, take the CD that you got with the computer and reinstall the whole operating system.

It came preinstalled but we do have 8 disks that it said to write for this which I'm assuming will take it back to the original configuation. Of course, I've installed all new gadgets like screen, printer, keyboard, the power source thingie (lingo dummy here), and a few other nifty things inside the CPU. Right now, I'm not sure I'd trust the discs to do their thing correctly.

[mtbopfuyn]

Update - Windows Media is also missing although it can be gotten to in a round about way through the files so I don’t know yet if it’ll even record or just run the files already there.

[mtbopfuyn]

When you restore the link to it, it would go in your now empty entertainment folder under accessories. (Real Player would be there as well, as well as perhaps volume and sound recorder controls, based on your setup.

It seems I can only get to Windows Media by going through a music file that's already in My Documents. I can't seem to find it anywhere else. Do you know where it's located and how to restore it's link?

[editor-surveyor]

Those programs should be .exe files in the main Windows directory. All you have to do is right click them to the menu that you want them in and pick “Make short cuts here”

[Aliska]

Your character map which should be under System Tools you didn't mention, didn't check all the others. I use that quite a bit.

I never use the camera and scanning wizard, I scan through Photoshop and use Windows Explorer to dl my photos, whatever else I need to do pertaining to that. I used it once, and it didn't use the same numbering system the camera uses, Pic 001, etc. I did have to buy a card reader for 20 bucks, works great with Windows Explorer.

When I have a problem, I do just a little at once and see if things stay stable. Chances are if you reload Windows, you won't know some of the options to pick. That may be your only alternative.

I think you can create new shortcuts (good advice about the arrow), and drag them to your desktop (if you want them there), and manually add them to your start menu another way. Help told me how to add, deleting you just right click and delete. I don't know if I want all that junk in my startup folder, maybe it is automatically put there. Your call. Whatever works at this point.

Glad so many came along to help. It is good to know most of that is in Windows System 32 folder. Also the documents and settings, will look there if I need to.

I never had much luck with System Restore, just once did it do what I wanted.

[FlyVet]

If it’s restored to the original configuration, didn’t you lose everything you had on it? I really don’t want to do that and if the back up disks only work when they feel like it, well...

If you only have the one hard drive, and you perform a Destructive Recovery (as HP calls it), without backing it up on a CD, DVD, secondary hard drive, etc, yes, you will lose it, because it reformats the hard drive. My HP (a1610n) also has a Non-Destructive Recovery, which doesn't reformat the hard drive. But, they recommend you do a backup before you do that, just in case.

In my case, I backed up everything I wanted to save on DVD and the secondary hard drive. Then, I restored it to original configuration, ran the Destructive Recovery, plugged secondary hard drive back in along with the other stuff (CD burner, keyboard), and it worked out great.

It is important to back up your essential stuff one way or another before you attempt even the Non-Destructive Recovery, though, just in case something goes wrong.

In the case of my computer, from bootup I toggle the F10 key repeatedly to get to the System Recovery screen.

You should be able to find your 'puter's method on its web site, whatever it is.

I'm only telling you what I know. I don't even resemble an expert. Your mileage may vary.

[tomkat]

I have other things to do tonight but will leave you with one other suggestion. Highlight and copy the following: C:\Windows\System32\calc.exe

Now click Start > Run
Right click > Paste > click OK

If calculator pops up then the others should too.
(do copy the full path name as it's the application's location you're trying to find)

If some of them don't, something's moved the actual executable file from it's default location, whether a user goof or some kinda bug.

In that case, click Start > Search > 'For Files or Folders' and copy/paste the filename w/o the path (eg: calc.exe, msimn.exe, etc) and note the location where it's found.

Chances are the other missing items might be in the same folder.

If you still have no luck you'd prolly be wise to spend a few bucks and have a local reputable tech have a look.

He/she could likely sort it out with a short visit.

Once again, good luck...

[tomkat]

FYI:

YMMV

[mtbopfuyn]

Sorry, I’m really not a stupid as what I might appear but I simply can not find anything other than Paint and Spider in the System32 file. Am I looking in the wrong place??? Here’s what I where I went -

My Computer - Local Disk (C:) - Windows - System32

System32 has all the icons, mostly dll folders. Scrolling through in alphabetical order, the only ones I found were Paint and Spider (nice bright colored pictures of a spider and paint brushes, easy enough). I right clicked on both and clicked “create a shortcut”. I then dragged the shortcuts to the desktop. Thankfully, they work. However, those were the ONLY ones I’ve located.

In alphabetical order looking for:

Calculator - the folders go from cabview.dll to cacls to camocx.dll so it’s not showing anything for a calc.

MSHearts - the folders go from msh263 to mshta with no MSHearts between the two.

Freecell - from framebuf.dll to fsmgmt

MineSweeper - from winlogon to winmm.dll

Again, am I not looking in the correct place or are they simply gone to be forever lost?

[PAR35]

Wait, I just had an idea - are your hidden files hidden?

[mtbopfuyn]

Your character map which should be under System Tools you didn't mention

Nope, that's not there either (ugh!). Just the 9 things I posted.

Yes, thanks to so many FRiends who are so knowledgeable and willing to give their expertise.

[tomkat]

Again, am I not looking in the correct place or are they simply gone to be forever lost?

Don't panic quite yet .. did you try this part ?

In that case, click Start > Search > 'For Files or Folders' and copy/paste the filename w/o the path (eg: calc.exe, msimn.exe, etc) and note the location where it's found.
Chances are the other missing items might be in the same folder.

I really do have to go now but fear not, as one of the nightshift geeks on here will surely carry on with you, and most assuredly w/more expertise than I can offer...

[mtbopfuyn]

My HP is a a320n. Haven’t seen a Destructive Recovery. M-teen here swears to know how to back up everything and was clearing out some old documents before heart throb called and made a quick escape. ;)

[FlyVet]

If you go to HP.com you should be able to search for relevant info for your machine. Tell your M-teen to get one of his/her ‘puter geek friends in there to help you, dang it, if you aren’t comfortable with the process. After all, you cranked him/her out, he/she owes you (at least that’s what my Mother would say...or something like that) :P.

[mtbopfuyn]

Nope, not there. Even had it look in hidden files and other places. Looks like I’m going to have to bite the bullet and take it into the puter hospital.

Thanks so much for all your, and everyone’s, help.

[mtbopfuyn]

Thanks, printed it out. Looks like I’m missing more and more all the time...

[mtbopfuyn]

Wait, I just had an idea - are your hidden files hidden?

I did a search and opened the "hidden files" but it didn't find anything.

[org.whodat]

Do a system restore, and back your computer up a couple of weeks.

[mtbopfuyn]

Ha, one step ahead of you but slipped two steps back down the parenting ladder! M-teen is taking two computer classes this year with a 100 in each so begged her to ask both teachers for help for the past week. I’ll give you one guess what happened... “sorry, I forgot”. Tonight we asked about geek friends but got nothing but eye rolls and a mad dash outta here when the phone rang, sigh...