CrapCleaner deleted my control panel and explorer

[bpaid@hotmail.c]

I can't believe all I did was try this 'internet cookie cleaner' and the nasty program went in and did things to the registry. Now my control panel and explorer doesn't work. Is there a way to fix this without having to do a full re-install?

Thanks so much for any suggestions you have. I'm running XP, SP2.
-Elizabeth.

This is the program:
http://www.mrbass.org/freeware/crapcleaner/

[kaveman1969]

I use crap cleaner every day and have never had an issue. It will only remove what you TELL it to. That being said, you should just be able to run System Restore, and go back to a previous state that was working.
Go to start, all programs, system tools, system restore. There will be an option to restore to last known working state.

[bpaid@hotmail.c]

I unfortunately had system restore off. Sometime ago, I was setting up a backup system - short answer it didn't work out well (not a great external hard drive) and I forgot to turn it back on.

[GeneralKeys]

I use Crap Cleaner also, never had anything that bad happen to me.
Cant you just pop in your XP Cd and just do a repair or update?

[bpaid@hotmail.c]

When I did that, it said 'older version then what you have' so it wouldn't run. I have SP2 loaded, so I then thought about uninstalling SP2. When I was going to do that, it said a bunch of programs would stop working. Is that true? If we uninstall it, that will happen?

[Paul_K]

I don't use Crap Cleaner, so I'm wondering...
Did it ask if you wanted to make a backup before it made any changes?

If so, you may be able to restore your computer.

If you are successful, get rid of that (old) version. The latest is V 1.40.520 at:
http://www.ccleaner.com/
I wouldn't get rid of the old version, though, until you try to restore everything.

In the latest version, a Registry backup is saved in the 'My Documents' folder, with a .reg extension.

[kaveman1969]

Every version I've had has asked if you want to back up the registry.

[bpaid@hotmail.c]

I didn't see anything that mentioned the registry, backup or otherwise. I never imagined it touched the registry.

I'm going to make a slipstream version of my XP disk and do a repair. What a pain in the arse from this supposely 'internet clean up' program. They should make it very explicit that it messed with the registry and can do real damage.

[Paul_K]

Originally Posted by bpaid@hotmail.c

I can't believe all I did was try this 'internet cookie cleaner' and the nasty program went in and did things to the registry.

Still, even if you don't remember it asking if you want to make a backup, it might be worth doing a Search - if you can get to that utility on the Start menu.

Maybe search for *.reg, and use the Advanced option 'modified within the last week' (or whatever).

[The Dude]

www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm <<>> REG SEEKER is much better

[Brian07]

Hi,

You should be able to repair this with TweakUI

Open TweakUI and select the "Control Panel" menu option. Make certain that all of the options you want are selected. Once you have done this, go to the "Repair" menu option, and make sure that "Rebuild Icons" is selected. Hit "Repair Now"... Your missing Control Panel icons should have reappeared.

or you can try this

Run the Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE).
Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Control Panel.
Delete the Don't load key entirely, and close the Registry Editor.
The change should take effect immediately.

This should sort your problem.

Brian

http://www.britec.co.uk