Strange XP

Just looked at a friend's XP Home PC - a bit odd! Apparently he had the blaster worm and tried to fix it. He went into admin tools - services to change RPC to "Take no Action" and then loaded the fix. After a re-boot, PC took ages to load up and then couldn't connect to the internet at all. I've looked at it today and got this: when I try to look at properties of RPC, nothing happens. No message or anything. Just nothing happens. Same thing when I try to look at properties of anything in admin tools - services. In Control panel - user accounts all I get is a blank window. Can't add or do anything. Executables (like ms works) won't run. I get error messages 1058, 1068 saying "dependency service failed to start" when I try to start services like RPC. I can't even add a new internet conenction - error 711. I can't run the blaster fix or sasser fix on usb key - get error message soon after begins to install (sorry can't remember the detail on that one.) It's all very strange. Have tried safe mode but no luck. Have tried last known good config but also no luck. The thing is, I can't get into anything to make any changes (account has admin rights by the way) so I'm a bit stuck. It's a faily new PC, about 18 months old so a decent spec. Had worked fine so he says before the blaster worm. Any suggestions would be gratefully received!

Login as Administrator in safe mode.

If you can run services.msc from start run then compare the services state with this

You could take the quick way out and do an inplace install - boot with the xp cd, let setup run ALL the way to where it asks you which partition you want to install xp on and take the repair existing installation option.

I have logged on as Administrator in safe mode - there's no start bar and pressing the windows key does nothing. I had to make a new shortcut to control panel and then go into admin tools etc. I will check the settings against that link you suggested when I get a chance next week - if anything's different I can't change them anyway! Will let you know what happens.
Many thanks.

Had to do as you suggested NooNoo - do a repair reinstall of XP. All seems fine now thanks.

Glad to help pluto.