Computer had been running fine--all of a sudden when I clicked on the start button, it showed no programs. Do I have to restore from the recovery disk?

Anscar

It maybe that you just lost the shortcuts to the programs. I wouldn't go for a full recovery just yet - you might loose stuff.

Shut down and Restart in MS-DOS mode then type scanreg /restore (hit Return key). Select a registry dated just before you problem came along and see if this helps. Type exit (hit Return) to restart Windows.

If the date is recent you only need to re-install what was put in afterwards (probably little or nothing).

DerekW

You can r-click the Start Button and choose 'explore' to go to that folder and add shortcuts if necessary

Are you employing 'user profiles'?

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Are you saying that in the column that opens when you hit 'start' there isn't an entry that says 'programs'? Or is there a 'programs' but when you open it nothing is there?

The 'programs' that shows in the start column is a subfolder in windows\start menu. The shortcuts in that folder are what show when you open 'programs'.

If the programs folder is missing then it won't show in the start column. If it's there but is empty then it'll show in the start column but will be empty.

If that is the problem scanreg/restore won't fix it since the files aren't there. Look in the recycle bin and see if it's there.

Yep, sure thing. Scanreg /restore can only work if the registry itself is screwed. Easy to try but no files, no go.

DerekW

Tried scan/reg--but still no shortcuts. Had someone work on it for me--for a fee--and he went from program files and created shortcuts from application files. I now have some back--but can't find all I need to create more. such as System Tools, etc.

When I lost the shortcuts, they were not in the Recyle Bin. And I assume there is no easy way to restore original programs with shortcuts, etc. without losing all the other stuff I have. Thanks for trying!

Anscar

Do a Find/Files or Folders for one or more of the shortcuts that is missing. There is a possibility that they have moved, so see if there is more than one entry for any of them. If you have no luck then it does get a bit fiddly to produce them all again.

The shortcuts can be restored manually if you happen to know what programs they linked to and what sub-folders of "Programs" they were in (that's the hard bit).

System Tools is in the folder named Accessories, but then you need to know the name of all the tools that have gone missing. I can always give you my list but I'm sure to have moved some of the shortcuts to different locations.

Having to pay someone to do this seems a bit unfortunate, bearing in mind that the actual programs are still on the machine (see Program Files in Windows Explorer). It seems like only the shortcuts to them that are missing so it is not particularly technical to sort out.

DerekW

The links in the accessories folder should be the same for all setups. I'm going to send a copy of the accessories folder I have. That should restore those links.

Thanks to all of you! I'm not very computer savvy--but to answer one question, I clicked on Start and Programs and that's when I saw there were no links. I had nothing in the Recycle Bin, and I did have Program Files, but it didn't look like everything was there. I have some shortcuts restored to the menu, but can't find all the application folders--I'm not that good at this as I generally use an industry based software at my job and little else.

Anscar

Looks like DAVE can fix you up with the standard Accessories folder, which would be a good start.

There are just a few standard ones in the "Start/Programs" itself so maybe between us we might be able to help with all or some of those too.

The rest in "Start/Programs" will vary with what particular programs you have onboard. If you go to "Windows Explorer" or "My Computer" then work your way through to Program Files you should see all the programs you have running (in sub-folders).

You can make shortcuts to the .exe files that start these programs then move them into c:\windows\start menu\programs (which will make them appear in the "Start/Programs" list). They can be renamed more appropriately if necessary.

If you can remember what programs (shortcuts) are missing we might be able to give more detailed guidance.

I still wonder if all your "Start/Programs" shortcuts have somehow got dragged into some other folder because it is odd for them to just vanish. If you can find them in the wrong place it should be possible to move them back again.

DerekW

It would be an idea to stop Windows hiding things from you (forever). Go to Start/Settings/Folder Options and select the View tab. Put the blob in "Show all files" and also untick the one underneath "Hide file extensions for known file types". Apply/OK your way out.

We can now put the Windows Explorer shortcut back into "Start/Programs". This is the long winded/wordy method but there is less chance of errors:-

Right click the Start button and select "Explore". This takes you straight to the Windows sub-folder called Start Menu (which will be useful later). Move the vertical scroll bar up until you see the Windows folder on the left pane, then give it a single click to open it.

Move the bottom scroll bar along until you see a file named Explorer in the heap of files in the right pane.
It has an icon which looks like a folder but with a blue eye glass on it.

Right click this file and select "Create Shortcut".
A shortcut will appear with the usual arrow bottom left. Right click it and select Cut. Move the vertical scroll bar back down to Start Menu. Click Start Menu and then Programs. Right click an unused area of the right pane and select Paste.

The shortcut should now arrive back in "Start/Programs". Right click it and rename it to Windows Explorer (rather than just Explorer). There's another shortcut we can put back like this but let me know how this works out first. Don't worry, it gets easier....

DerekW

Have been checking your responses at work and have been gone every evening--will try to implement your suggestions and get back to you--thanks for all your help!

Anscar