XP Users and Groups

[pointd]

Windows XP Service Pack 1

When trying to open the User Accounts from Control Panel I receive the error "The system cannot find the file specified."

If I use Computer Management | Local Users and Groups | Users then I can see the list of users but when I try to open the properties for the Administrator the first screen opens but then when I click on the "Member of" tab I receive the above error. The Profile tab opens fine.

For all other users I get the error ""An unknown directory object was requested" when i try to view the properties.

Computer Management | Local Users and Groups | Groups gives me a list of groups with the Administrators and Users groups missing. If I try to create a group with these names the system tells me the group already exists.

As far as I know this machine has never been connected to a domain.

Has anybody seen this before or can offer a few pointers.

Thanks.

P.S. I am running a full virus scan now.

[KHT]

In control panel\system\network identification\properties, does it list you as a member of a domain? If so, uncheck that and check workgroup...most likely MSHOME.

edit: Also check conrol panel\users\passwords and see if there are any users you don`t expect.

[pointd]

No the PC is a member of the Workgroup "WORKGROUP".

I can't open CPL User Accounts but there are no extra users in Computer Management.

[andyms18a]

have you tryed system restore ?

[pointd]

About half an hour ago. It failed to restore. I also tried System File Checker but I don't have the original install disk and it didn't like my copy of XP.

I also reinstalled SP1 which gave me a message along the lines of "Part of your registry has been restored from an earlier version", "The restore was successful" which I thought had done the trick but it hadn't.

I am trying a repair install as I type.

[pointd]

The repair install also failed to repair the damage but did give the following error

COM+[9:23:32]: Creating COM+ System Application Service
COM+[9:23:33]: Deleting legacy COM+ roles
COM+[9:23:34]: Creating COM+ roles
COM+[9:23:34]: Processing tidCOMSERVICES_ROLEDEFINITION table
COM+[9:23:34]: ERROR: Throwing Exception - FILE: d:\nt\com\com1x\src\complussetup\comsetup\ccompluscatalogsetup.cpp, LINE: 472
Currently there is no help for this error message. Please see systemroot\comsetup.log for more details.
Error Code = 0x80070002(-2147024894)
COM+[9:23:34]: RaiseException: Error Code: 0x80070002
COM+[9:23:36]: Warning: error 0x80070836 in IsWin2001PrimaryDomainController
COM+[9:23:36]: Machine is not a PDC
COM+[9:23:36]: ProcessDSSchema succeeded: 0x0
COM+[9:23:36]: COM+ Successfully Deactivated
COM+[9:23:36]: Memory usage for setup process...
COM+[9:23:36]: PeakWorkingSetSize: 59768 Kb, WorkingSetSize: 59756 Kb
COM+[9:23:36]: QuotaPeakPagedPoolUsage: 97 Kb, QuotaPagedPoolUsage: 95 Kb
COM+[9:23:36]: PeakPagefileUsage: 38140 Kb, PagefileUsage: 34836 Kb
COM+[9:23:36]: Sub-component COM+ raised an exception while processing the OC_COMPLETE_INSTALLATION setup message.

d:\nt\com\com1x\src\complussetup\comsetup\ccompluscatalogsetup.cpp (line 472)

Error Code = 0x80070002



The system cannot find the file specified.


Currently there is no help for this error message. Please see systemroot\comsetup.log for more details.
COM+[9:24:5]: End OC_COMPLETE_INSTALLATION Return Value = -2147024894

Does this mean anything to anyone or should I take an FDISK to this drive?

[andyms18a]

is the windows xp cd a copy if it is its damaged

[pointd]

No it's original and no it's not damaged. It's probably all part of the same problem.

Thanks.