Windows XP - can't access c: drive, various other start menu/taskbar issues

[SuperDave]

No, I didn't delete any accounts.  We used the generic 'administrator' account for logging in.

Please do this even if you don't have the OS disk. Please let me know what happens.

Do you have an XP CD?

If so, place it in your CD ROM drive and follow the instructions below:
•Click on Start > Run and type sfc /scannow then press Enter (note the space between scf and /scannow)
*Let this run undisturbed until the window with the blue  progress bar goes away
SFC - Which stands for System File Checker, retrieves the correct version of the file from %Systemroot%\System32\Dllcache or the Windows installation source files, and then replaces the incorrect file.

[Anya]

Hi, SuperDave,

Hope you had a nice holiday. 

I inserted the XP disc I have, clicked start and run, and typed in 'sfc /scannow' and got a little blip of a window but nothing happened.    There isn't anything scanning.

Anya

[SuperDave]

Hope you had a nice holiday.

Yes, very nice but lots of playing music for church and parties.

There isn't anything scanning.

There is no scanning. It just checks your OS files.
Has there been any change since you you started this thread on Dec.1/13?

[Anya]

I see.  I thought since you'd said I should let it run undisturbed until the blue bar completes, I'd see something happening.  How do I know it's finished otherwise?

The only difference now is that I can access Windows Explorer, but I still can't open any files or programs, and the task bar is still limited to 4 icons, none of which I can click on.

[Anya]

I did a little online research, and it appears that my sfc /scannow command is not working.  Nothing happens - I'm not getting the dialogue box that I guess is supposed to appear. 

[SuperDave]

How do I know it's finished otherwise?

You should receive a message that all the files are good or that some are corrupted and have been repaired or couldn't be repaired.
Let's try another command.

1. Click Start, click Run, type chkdsk /f /r, and then click OK.
2. At the command prompt, type Y to let the disk scanner run when you restart the computer.
3. Restart the computer.
4. Chkdsk will run.

[Anya]

Hi, SuperDave,

I followed your instructions, but when I restarted the computer (in safe mode), it locked up on command prompt screen and never started Windows.  What should I do now?

Thanks,
Anya

[SuperDave]

Why did you try to start in Safe Mode?

[Anya]

I don't know - habit?  If I have to do anything on Windows, since the problem started, I run it in safe mode.  I guess I'll try it in regular mode.

[Anya]

Okay, I ran chkdsk in regular mode, and it reports that everything is clean.  However, I still can't access Firefox, c: drive or taskbar icons in regular mode.

[SuperDave]

Okay, I ran chkdsk in regular mode, and it reports that everything is clean.  However, I still can't access Firefox, c: drive or taskbar icons in regular mode.

Do these work in Safe Mode?

[Anya]

Yes, I can access everything in safe mode.

[SuperDave]

Do you receive any error messages when you try to run those programs or access your C drive?

[Anya]

Yes, it says I don't have the appropriate permissions to access the drive, file or path.  I had tried before this thread to reset permissions, but it didn't fix the problem.  For that matter, I couldn't get into the control panel to reset them anyway.

[SuperDave]

At this point it seems like there is a problem with accounts on that computer. Since you have the XP disk I suggest that you do repair from the disk. Boot from the disk and select  Repair.