Can't access control panel function in XP?

[bd1886]

Friend gave me a computer to fix up and donate. Messed around with it a bit this evening and am finding that the control panel is frozen? What is up with that? Did a system restore back to later part of August and no change. I don't want to mess around with this to much but don't want to miss a learning opportunity either. If a virus causes this can I just use his COA and my retail disk? (He's not sure where his is.) The box is an HP 7966 Pavilion and just going to donate it to the community center after I get it cleaned up. Thanks you guys!

[Statica]

Firstly .. what version of XP? Pro or Home?

What exactly do you mean by frozen? Is it empty? Do you get an access denied message? A lot of it may be due to accidental tweaking around or software that does what it shouldn't .. for example if your control panel is empty you could check the registry key listed here:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_c.htm#cpiconsmissing

Have you run any malware scans? Not just a virus but spyware as well?

Finally, if this is a situation where you want to donate the computer .. the best clean up is a complete reinstall. It ensures that private files are gone (for most intents and purposes) and it also gives the recipient a clean computer. You should be able to use a retail disk and the serial numbers that came with HP.

[glc]

Do a system recovery and put it back the way it came.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...cname=bph07145

[bd1886]

Sorry guys...posted yesterday (while busy) and must have exited without posting! Have it running well and seems to be no gunk left. Going to do a clean install once I get there pics and stuff off. No HP tools? Must be a new generic install? I'll git 'er. Thanks, bd