start menu gone

[hds82]

Hi all, thanks for previous response on media player,

I just did a reinstallation of windows xp. my start menu was cleaned out, like normal. but when i go into my program files all my programs are still there. and my disk space is the same. but when I try to run any of them, such as microsoft word, nothing happens. and there's nothing listed in add/remove programs. but the program files in windows explorer still show everthing. are the programs really still installed? or half there?

[NooNoo]

You will have to reinstall the programs... while the exes and stuff are all there, they are not in the registry.

[hds82]

oh ok. can I also delete the folders in my program files directory?

[cookin chef]

Originally posted by hds82
oh ok. can I also delete the folders in my program files directory?

Maybe? Maybe not??

Your program files folder usually contains all your loaded programs in it. Usually you also might have some important saved files in there like mp3's, saved game folders and others.

You can reload your programs overtop the existing ones too to get winxp to recognize them again.

If you do want to delete the stuff within the program files directory and start fresh, I strongly suggest you back them up such as copying and pasting that stuff into another folder like mybackup or burn the contents onto a cd.
Recommend you use either Roxio easy cdcreator or roxio or whatever came with your burner.

Winxp has some built in cd burning support too, but doesn't always work right.

Hope that helps you for now.
DR. NOONOO will be around shortly.

[NooNoo]

Well.....

Some progs will detect the previous install and insist you remove the old folders... others will offer you a repair. Its a per program basis.

If you are sure that there is no data or previous settings your need... or the program won't install - then delete the folder from c:\program files\ for that prog.

[hds82]

awesome, thnx

cool avatar btw