I need advice and counsel

[JimG]

If I click on the Printer or Networking links in the Control Panel, it generates a crash and an error message to send to Mr. Gates. After that, the Control Panel itself will crash until the system is rebooted.

I have Windows XP and a home wireless network using Linksys G-Router (WRT54G). It worked fine, but then out of the blue the printers became incommunicado. I tried to delete and reinstall them, and now I have the problem above.

Here's my question: how can I find and repair the files that link to the Printer/Fax and Networking functions under the Control Panel. Or is there something else I should do to repair this problem?

Full disclosure: I'm an English prof so am more-or-less literate but, um, less than expert in computers.

- Jim

[JackMDS]

I think that you have to reinstall Windows.

[JimG]

I was afraid of that. Is there any other fix short of that extreme measure?

[JackMDS]

The control panel is a collection of Icons that are linked to files that resides in directory C:\windows\system32.

All of these files have an extension cpl, as an example the file ncpa.cpl in the above mentioned directory is the files that will invoke the Network Connection Panel. You can browse to this file and double click on it and if it working you will get the Network connection manager.

However even if you can bypass the Control panel main windows, some thing is wrong with the system and sooner or later it will crash. Better to refresh the OS before you loose you files.

.

[YeOldeStonecat]

Give the old WindowsXP restore a shot?

Install any fax software lately?

[JimG]

I checked all the .cpl files you mentioned, Jack. They all work, though I can't find any that link to printers. (The networking one did work, even though it doesn't under the Control Panel.)

I haven't installed any fax software.

Again, thanks for you advice and thoughts.

[Murman]

try restore like YeOldeStonecat mentioned, bring it back to a day you know the system worked properly. If that fails try running sfc /scannow , pop in your XP cd and see how that goes. It should repair corrupt system files.


where abouts in mass you from? I'm on the north shore

[JimG]

I will try the rollback/restore, though because I have added a number of programs since the last date I know was "workable," if I have to go back very far, I might as well reinstall the whole shootin' match.

I did try the sfc/ scannow with no luck (but no CD, either - XP comes installed on a partition of my hard drive. I've made the back up CD's, which run to seven, so it'd be hard for me to know which is the one that might be useful for this problem).

I'm in central Mass.

I was thinking about YeOldeSC's question about a new fax. I did patch in an updated driver for the modem a couple of weeks back. When I try a rollback, I'll give it a shot at the before that date.

Thanks again for the suggestions.