gpedit fails to register

[NRGeti]

I have a batch of serious errors that make no sense. I have Windows XP Pro.
One user account has no problems. The other is the one with troubles.
1. Opening the User Account menu shows the few commands at the top; the left command panel of the menu is blank.
2. Many IE web sites generate a script error. If I continuously click the Close X on the error screen, I can clear the each error alert and the web page does not respond. Clicking on anything on that page opens another set of script error alerts.
3. Attempting to install the Google Toolbar throws a script error just where it tries to attach to the web page.
4. If I create a new user from the good account, the new user acquires all of the problems mentioned here.
5. The search window is missing the options in the left side panel.
6. I found some forum suggestions to reregister a bunch of dlls such as: regsvr32 jscript.dll, regsvr32 gpedit.msc. All of them fail. But for the good user account they work.
7. I cannot open gpedit to set policies as offered by another forum suggestion.
8. Window update generates a script error. Viewing the Source says that this version of browser cannot handle frames.

Again note that the good account has none of these problems. I have run a number of virus, spy and ad scanners. As far as I know, they removed all malware.

There are many other problems but this is enough to suggest a pattern that something is redirecting all of the options to some embedded program that corrupts the result.

 

[linney]

Make sure you follow the copy a profile instructions correctly, there are a few files that must not be copied.

811151 - How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811151

Do you see the faults if you just create a new user and not copy the other profile to it?

A check for malware and the like might be worthwhile. Besides your own scanners look at these type of programs.

SuperAntispyware

http://superantispyware.com/

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

Some general things to try.

See if System Restore will get you back to a restore point before your problem with Explorer.

Try Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, (Do you have this problem in Safe Mode?).

Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right-click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking. Select both boxes.

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

If they don't work you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[NRGeti]

I did all you suggested over the past three days. Except for copying user profiles. Windows will not let me open the only user account that is valid when I am in the other user.

As I stated, creating a new user takes along all of the problems to that account.

I just ran a new program called Redirect that I found in a link in this forum. It failed completely.

I have run 6 different anti malware programs including the ones you mentioned. There are no more viruses on this PC.

 

[Zbrojovka]

Just for clarification NRGeti,

Is the suspect computer on a domain and are the users in Active Directory? Shouldn't really matter because it sounds like the problem is with your default user profile. You need to log in as the local administrator or a profile with admin rights other than that of the profile you want to copy. If the copy function is not available, restart the machine. I have seen many times when playing with the user profiles in Control Panel the Copy function is not available if you have been doing other work with the profiles (updating files and such). If you have a another machine available where everything is fine you can simply copy the Default User Profile from it to a removable drive or across the network to the affected machine and follow the steps outlined by the Microsoft Help Page referenced above.