This is difficult to explain. I would like to include screenshots, but I don't know if it's appropriate. If you think screenshots would help, please let me know and I will include them somehow.

Okay, I have had two Windows XP utilities suddenly "lose functionality" on me! It happens very suddenly, after somehow clicking in the wrong place.. I don't know where I may have clicked...

Utility 1: The Search screen.
I get to this screen by clicking Start - Search
I get a screen that is split... the R side is where the search results are posted, and on the L side is an animated dog with a large speech bubble. Inside the speech bubble is the place to type what files etc I'm searching for.

So one day I'm using the Search utility, when all of a sudden the "Speech Bubble" collapses, and now the bubble is only 3MM high! There is no place to enter information about files! I can't use the utility anymore! The dog is still there, but there's no place for me to type! Tried rebooting and right-clicking and looking for stuff in the drop-down menus, but there's nothing!

Utility 2: Ctrl-Alt-Del
The screen that comes up when I perform the 3-finger salute normally has 3 tabs, not to mention the normal title bar with the 3 buttons for closing, minimizing, and restoring the window. I clicked on the wrong place somewhere, and the whole title bar is gone, along with the 3 tabs! I'm stuck with the window which displays all active tasks, and I can't close it or change it! I can't even close it from the taskbar!

It sure seems like my Windows XP Utilities are self-destructing one by one!

Help would be much appreciated!

Respectfully,
Polonius

As to Search:

Open Explorer and go to the Windows\Inf folder. Locate the srchasst.inf file. Right click it and select Install. You'll need your XP CD or the files from the I386 folder. (This fix will require you to have your Win XP CD).

The Windows\Inf folder is a hidden folder. You can adjust your Explorer Folder Options (View tab) to Show hidden files and folders. You can also click Start, Run and enter %SystemRoot%\Inf to open directly to the Inf folder.

As to Ctrl Alt Delete:

Double click the top border.

If these don't work then screenshots would be helpfull

I have just screwed up my task manager trying to find out what was wrong with yours. There is no way of restoring it to how it was before. I can still right click it on the taskbar and exit it though.

Perhaps:

You're running Task Manager in "Small Footprint Mode." Simply
double-click anywhere along the top or side borders to return to a
normal view. Alternatively, pressing <Ctrl>+<Tab> will allow you to
cycle between the various displays, and <Alt>+<F4> will close it.

Task Manager Menu Bar and Tabs Are Not Visible in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;314227

Nope that didn't work....

May I ask what you did in the first place?

I think I clicked on the view tab. I think it said something about columns. Not sure though as I was clicking on everything.

hey jaynee..
i tried it myself. It wont go off completely. I mean even if u unchek everthin. can u pls temme wht exactly are u seeing when u open it up??

See attachment

Also here is a repair edit from

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Scroll down to Line 113, left column. Click
the Task Manager 'Repair' link to download the file.