Volume Shadow Service component error 0x80042302

Some time ago I installed WinCleaner on my pc (which I had been successfully using for the previous decade on various machines) and obviously managed to damage/delete some key registry entries, as when I try to access various functions as an administrator (most notably trying to open Services) I get a message:

C:\Windows\system32\services.msc
Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.

I've also lost the option to change start menu/control panel etc to Classic View - the option just isn't there any more.

So I tried to do a System Restore but there are no restore points and when I try to create one I get another message:

The restore point could not be created for the following reason:
A Volume Shadow Copy Service component encountered an unexpected error. Check the Application event log for more information. (0x80042302)

I assume the problem is all connected but have no idea what to try, short of doing a "reset to factory settings" which I'm loathe to do in case anything goes wrong - if it will even work!

Any ideas for the fairly non-technical?

Google shows that this problem is quite widespread. One of the comprehensive solutions found on Googling is below.

i. Check whether Volume Shadow Copy Service, System Restore Service is started and Set to Automatic

1. Type Services.msc in Start Menu search box, hit Enter.
2. Make sure that the Volume Shadow Copy Service is Running and set on Automatic.
3. If the Status of System Restore Service is not Started, Start it. Also set it on Automatic if it is not.
4. Restart your computer and try to do a system restore.

ii. Check how the computer works in safe mode. If the computer works fine in safe mode, then do a clean boot. The procedure to do a clean boot is at How to troubleshoot a problem by performing a clean boot in Windows Vista or in Windows 7

iii. Run the System File Checker (SFC.exe) to make sure system files are intact. Follow the steps below.

1. Click Start, and then type cmd in the Start Search box.
2. Right-click cmd in the Programs list, and then click Run as administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type your password or click Continue
3. At the command prompt, type "sfc /scannow" without the inverted commas and then press Enter.

If all the above fails then the only option left would be to start again by clean reinstalling Windows 7 and then staying away from WinCleaner.

Thanks for all the advice - it looks like I will have to do a clean install, as part of the problem is that I can't do a system restore (even though the system says it is active) and I can't access the Services panel to check anything else.

Any ideas how to access the service panel would be useful!

Thanks, I'll give this a go.