Try using the latest Service Pack(s) for the software. This should save you from having to remove and reinstall the software and having to decide which 'shared' components to remove or not remove.
I trash my machine on a regular basis <smile>, which manifests itself in a variety of (sometimes interestng) ways. Generally the symptoms are: Things that used to work just fine, no longer work.
Installing the Service Pack has worked for me to restore components. Specifically the service packs for 'Developer Studio', and 'MS Office'.
This may help, good luck.
Amiel
amielzz@netscape.net