Tjera Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 Yes ,all the program shortcuts on my desktop/start menu are notworking.For some strange reason Firefox is working!It seems the main reason why i am having this problem is that for someunknown reason the Program Files folder has disepeared from dics C!!It was either deleted ,or somehow it disepeared.I tried "sfc /scannow" ,during which process it asked for the XP disk and i insertedthe cd ,the process was finished but "program files" still does notappear.I Defraged the disk,i tried System Restore but no luck at all.Itried to create a new folder on disc C named Program Files ,but i amnot able to name it like that.Windows is not allowing me.I also tried to install new programs but i am getting the error the"c:/programfiles" can not be recreated.What should i do next?I believe a system repair will fix the problem,but i want to know ifthere is any easier way to fix this problem.Thanks to anyone who can help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANEMAN Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 Hi there, Firstly let me say that doing a "Windows Repair" will not lose any of your data if you do it correctly.Follow this article carefully: *** WINDOWS REPAIR *** Perhaps you have mistakenly made your Program Files Folder "Hidden". If so, unhide it.Instructions here: *** UNHIDE FOLDERS *** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tjera Posted March 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 Hi there, Firstly let me say that doing a "Windows Repair" will not lose any of your data if you do it correctly.Follow this article carefully: *** WINDOWS REPAIR *** Perhaps you have mistakenly made your Program Files Folder "Hidden". If so, unhide it.Instructions here: *** UNHIDE FOLDERS *** It was not hidden ,because i choosed "Show hidden files folders"and program files didn't appear.I guess ill just do a system repair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MANEMAN Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 Thank you for the reply. All the very best with getting your computer going well again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted March 5, 2008 Report Share Posted March 5, 2008 If your Program Files folder is really missing, then no amount of Windows repair or System Restore will bring it back. Only a restore from a recent backup will bring it back safely.Technically there was a chance to use some recovery software (such as Recuva) to try to rescue a recently deleted folder. However, after doing all you did - especially defragmenting - there is now almost zero chance to recover anything.So, if you do not have a backup, then your only way is to reinstall all your applications.B.t.w. I am curious: where is your Firefox installed, if not in Program Files? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dencandy Posted March 5, 2008 Report Share Posted March 5, 2008 Tjera, have you tried using the Search function to find where any of your "lost" programs are on your disk(s)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted March 5, 2008 Report Share Posted March 5, 2008 You are right - since Firefox is still working, they may still be around somewhere. Renamed, perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tjera Posted March 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2008 I dont mind installing all the apps all over again ,but the problem is that i can not create a folder on disc C named Program Files.When i name the new folder to Program Files ,a window opens which says: " the c:/ folder does not exist do you want to create it?" ,i click yes and absolutely nothing happens.When i click No that windows closes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tjera Posted March 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2008 Tjera, have you tried using the Search function to find where any of your "lost" programs are on your disk(s)?Yes i searched but all that search was able to fund were the program shortcuts placed on :" C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boris Posted March 5, 2008 Report Share Posted March 5, 2008 This may appear to be a stupid question, but have you run a search for Files and Folders using *.exe as the search term ? - with under "More advanced options" - all the boxes except "Tape backup" ticked.If they are there (in some renamed form) - this may find them ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted March 6, 2008 Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 May I ask again: where is Firefox installed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tjera Posted March 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 Ok ,here is what i am getting when i right-click on firefox ikon on the desktop:browse the interentmozilla firefox optionmozilla firefos safe modesend tocutcopydeleterenameStrange i know! This is not what i am supposed to get ,but belive it or not ,this is what's showing.This is what i am getting when i search My Computer for Mozilla:Name: Location:mozilla firefox(Folder) C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs(i opened this folder and its completely empty)mozilla.browser(icon) C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\CONFIG\Browsers(not opening)This is what i am getting when i search My Computer for Firefox:Name: Location:FIREFOX.EXE-0B573C88.pf C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch(not opening)FIREFOX.EXE-06188867.pf C:\WINDOWS\Prefetch(not opening) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tjera Posted March 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 This may appear to be a stupid question, but have you run a search for Files and Folders using *.exe as the search term ? - with under "More advanced options" - all the boxes except "Tape backup" ticked.If they are there (in some renamed form) - this may find them ?I did this as well but didn't find anything. It can be that all the leftovers from Programs were deleted when i run ccleaner. I was able to install ccleaner because this programs allows you to choose where to install it(unfortunately ,many other programs don't have this option) ,so i just created a new folder on disc C named Programe(as i said above i can not name the folder Program Files)and it installed without any prob. I run Ccleaner and i also scaned the pc for issues,it found a lot of stuff which mostly were left overs from Programs .Si i know for sure all my programs are gone,together with their folder.And i dont care about it.What i really care about ,and what i want to know is ,how to be able to install programs again? Since i am not able to create a new folder on C named Program Files. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 This seems to be a hopeless situation. Do you have, by any chance, a recent backup? If so, I think this is a good time to restore. (I do not mean System Restore; this will not recover your own installed applications.)If you have no backup, the best now would be to try a Windows repair install. This should at least recreate your Program Files folder (for Internet Explorer, etc.).And if this does not fix it, then I see no other option than a format and full Windows install. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tjera Posted March 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2008 Ok ,i reinstalled windows and the problem is gone now! :D I couldent bother anymore,maybe there could have been an easier way but i couldent wait .I moved all my files/folders at disc D ant after the reinstallation, i moved them back to C.Thanks to anyone that helped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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