clickin start gets you nothing

[tacoeater]

you can click any icon in the desktop and control panel works if you double click the my computer then control panel but start does not work. i have gone into safe mode and removed all the duplicate devices and old junk. nothing to speak of in the msconfig to change. what could be the problem? is there a tool to repair the start function?
please advise,
alan

[edrod13]

Possible virus. When was the last time you did an virus scan or cleaned your machine of malware? You said that you have removed any duplicate devices, so was this hard drive installed in a different machine at one time?

[GaryRouth]

. . . might want to run those malware scans in Safe Mode - it could be either a virus that jumbled the Registry, or some other cause.

What version of Windows is on the computer? There's an issue like this in Win2000, which is caused by an incorrect entry in the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Explorer/User Shell Folders/Start Menu

. . . that error can be fixed by entering the correct path info
%USERPROFILE%\Start Menu (where %UserProfile% is the variable - you'd type in the Username).

But we'll assume you're in the Win9x world here: if the system scans free of viruses, an over-the-top might be a bit of overkill for this, but would probably fix things [then you'd have to spend time with Windows Update getting the Security patches]. I imagine you're familiar with the over-the-top, but here's the link just in case: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=70846

If you haven't been in the Registry much, you could also try reverting to an earlier Registry with the scanreg/restore procedure (it's a much faster repair than a full over-the-top). But you'll likely have to repeat some of your other cleanup.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[tacoeater]

i tried a bunch of stuff. customer cries that she does not want to reinstall and lose her junky programs.
no virus found, no significant malware found.
i tried:
regsvr32.exe /i shdocvw.dll
and it did it's job as expected
then went on to
regsvr32.exe /i shell32.dll
and this one failed saying that shell32.dll was probably corrupt
i tried restoring a good copy with sfc
it acted like it worked but no change when i turned around and tried to
run the regsvr32.exe /i shell32.dll
i cannot do some things on this computer like folder options to show all files.
one thing i can not seem to do is change file attributes from within explorer to see if shell32.dll is read only. i suppose i could try dos command line attributes thingy but at this point i am ready to tell the customer that i want to reinstall. i really don't see anything other than word files and notepad stuff that needs to be saved.
thanks for the replies.
some things just defy resolution! maybee an over the top but would a corrupt shell32.dll resist being repaired by an over-the-top?
thanks,
alan

[glc]

Before doing the over the top, you could delete or rename shell32.dll from a DOS prompt - you are gonna be there anyway to start the setup.

[tacoeater]

computer is on the back shelf right now. gotta move on to other money makers since i am a one person shop. i appreciate the idea, glc, about deleting the file prior to the over z top.
if it works when i bring it back out to work on it i will let you know.
thanks gary edrod and glc for taking the time to give your ideas.
alan