some window drop down menus are blank

[hille005]

Some window features are blank. For example, 1. add remove programs... no programs prior to yesterday come up. Things I installed yesterday do however. 2. The window in IE , tools, internet options, security, custom ...is blank.  I finally get an error message "Dr. watson Postmortem Debugger has encountered a problem and needs to close 3.I can not install ActiveX when I try to do Windows updates
4. My networks does not work.

I really want to try and trouble shoot this rather than reinstall Windows XP.
Thanks a lot  

[Calum]

Sounds like you have a virus infection to me.
When did this start?
What happened before it started?
What malware protection do you have?

[hille005]

I ran spy bot, adaware and had my hijack this log checked. Everything is clean.  I really don't know when this actually started.  I can  not run House call because I can't load ActiveX.

[Calum]

Do you have an antivirus program or firewall?

[hille005]

No.  I ususally us House Call but I can't now because I can't load ActiveX.  The window to select a firewall doesn't work now either.

[Calum]

This sounds like a virus infection to me then.
Having no virus protection is a recipe for disaster.
What do you mean by this?

The window to select a firewall doesn't work now either.

Which window?
And what firewall?

[hille005]

Contorl panel, network connections, change window firewall settings does not work. I also can not download any files using IE or Firefox.  I get an message that my security level won't allow it.  I go to tools, internet options, advanced and the box is blank.  This seems to be where a lot of my problems lead back to.  I can't download ActiveX so that I can do a free virus scan.

[Calum]

Do you get that message with Firefox too?
Windows firewall isn't very good, I'd recommend a proper firewall.
I know you can't download anything at the minute, but bear that in mind.

[hille005]

Yes it is the same in Firefox.  I am running an old House Call lpt. file.  I am wondering if installing iTunes would have caused all this.

[Calum]

iTunes is annoying to some, but I don't think it would cause this sort of problem.
Is the error message the same in Firefox?
What exactly does it say?

[hille005]

It just says Windows installer cannot be accessed.  When I try to download the housecall file it says I need a java add on.  I click to get it and the error message is "Windows installer cannot be accessed.

When I use IE it says it needs ActiveX and then won't let me get it when I click on the information bar.  And the tools.... advance is blank.

[Calum]

I'll admit I don't know here.
Better for me to admit defeat now rather than start guessing, eh?  Otherwise I might make some disastrous mistake.
I will say it sounds quite serious.
I think the best way is to start from scratch.
However, I'm not sure.
Hopefully someone more knowledgeable than myself can advise you here.
Good luck.

[hille005]

Thanks a lot.  I appreciate your time and effort.

[Calum]

No problem, hope you get sorted.

[HDL_CinC_Dragon]

What about your processes in the task manager's process window. Can you see anything running that seems like it shouldnt?