Solved Damaged taskbar & startmenu + computer management

[Graviton]

I have damaged a crucial component of my win7 installation (in a not so crucial manner )! The taskbar and startmenu have lost the ability to have items pinned upon them. There is no longer an option to do so in the context menu (nor jump list) of apps or shortcuts. Dragging items onto the taskbar fails to perform a 'pin to', this method is still functional for the start menu.

The start menu's frequently run applications no longer respond to 'remove from this list' in the context menu; and their option to pin is also gone.

Furthermore, the added functionality by way of an expansion arrow for those programs located on the left side of the start menu is no longer responsive. The main program buttons highlight when hovered and can still be clicked but the arrow to the right doesn't highlight when hovered and can not be clicked. The button on the right-hand pane of the start menu and the 'all programs' switch still work as expected.

There are two mistakes I believe may have caused these malfunctions:

• I performed a rebuild of the icon cache using Axialis IconWorkshop. This programs implementation of the command is intended to be used under WinXP not Win7. (This one isn't the likeliest culprit, but I'm including because it was also done recently)

• I uninstalled a previous version of SpybotS&D to upgrade to version 2.0, but there was a pinned shortcut to the old version on the start menu that was not removed. After installing the newer version I simply changed this shortcut's target to point at the new installation. Here's the catch, this shortcut was one of those with the expansion arrow, meaning it contained specialized tasks for it's app. Not realizing this I clicked on the arrow for the altered shortcut, needless to say it did not expand and since then none of the other start menu items have been able to either.

Another malfunction being caused by the same mistake (started the exact same time) is that I no longer can access computer management through the run dialogue. I can still access device manager stand-alone using hdwwiz.cpl

When I submit compmgmtlauncher I get the following error:



When I enter compmgmt the error is...


Hopefully those error boxes help point towards a solution; who knows what else is wrong.


I do not have any previous restore points (dual-boot of WinXP deleted them all ), and I'd like to avoid doing a repair upgrade of the OS. PC has already been restarted several times and the altered shortcut has been deleted and replaced by a valid one.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Northernsoul55]

Hi Gravitron,

Interesting issue

Firstly I would usually suggest a :ar: Repair Install but as that is last resort
I have a few things you can try:


Run SFC to check the integrity of all Windows 7 system files:

• Click on Start > Type in search cmd
  Right-click cmd after results are displayed and Run as Administrator
  Type SFC /scannow at the prompt
  (Note: There is a space between SFC and /scannow)

:ar: SFC Tutorial

   Note

Select option two. If any problems are found, run the scan 3 times and immediately
reboot the computer after each scan.

The only other way I can think of is to extract the missing file from the Win 7 DVD.

Follow this tutorial: :ar: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/42776-extract-files-windows-7-installation-dvd.html

Then you should be able to extract the missing file compmgmt from the DVD and replace it.

Hope this helps

Cheers Dave

 

[Graviton]

Thanks for the reply NorthernSoul55,

I did as you suggested with concern to the SFC check. The first scan found issues and repaired them, all subsequent scans were clean. I have no idea what was repaired (the log file is enormous, 2.51MB & 18,496 lines).

Anyway, that repair didn't solve the problems I'm experiencing. It looks like a repair install is my only recourse; I hope this goes well , my system disk is pre-SP1.

Any suggestions on the best way to back up crucial drivers before doing a update-repair.

Thanks for the help, Jermain.

P.S. the compmgmt.msc file is not missing, I can launch it if I add the '.msc' at the end. I have no idea know why Windows 7 no longer responds to that command without the file extension attached.

 

[Northernsoul55]

Hi,

compmgmt.msc may not be missing, but the file may be corrupt, replacing the file may help?

You could use :ar: DriverMax as it is free Just be aware of any 3rd party installs.

If replacing the file doesn't help, then good luck with the repair install.

Cheers

Dave

 

[Graviton]

Did the repair install and all went well. Win7 up and running without any of the aforementioned issues. Thanks for the help NorthernSoul.

 

[Northernsoul55]

Your welcome, glad it's sorted.

Cheers

Dave