After automatically installing Windows Update KB898461 on 6/29/05 and restarting XP I got a message like "The Registry was corrupted during install process...Restoring previous successful registry....process successful. (Not in those exact words)
Then I opened the Start Menu. It looks the same, but when I hover over or click All Programs or any other submenu they don't appear. I had Control Panel set up as a submenu but when I clicked it it appeared in category view. I also can't view all my Quick Launch folders as submenus...they appear in Explorer mode as well.
I right-clicked Start/Explore All Users and the subfolders and shortcuts I had before are all still on the hard drive, they just don't show up.
I went to Windows Update site and viewed my update history, then clicked on this update and it said I could uninstall it through Add/Remove Programs, but it's not listed there. How can I get my Startmenu back?

Do you have Show Updates clicked on the top of Add / Remove programs?

You can also try a System Restore.

i have XP Home and Show Updates doesn't appear at top of a/r progs, but there are other "XP Hotfixes" showing.
Unfortunately I hadn't done a system save in over a year, so I think a System Restore would make it even worse. Thanx though.

System Restore points are created automatically every other day.

As well as with any download.

If you explore the calendar you should have a point when that update was installed.

Start/Run/ %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

Thanks, but System Restore monitoring was turned off when I Got to it after the update. There are no bold dates indicating a restore point, and the calendar won't even go back past June 2005. So I guess the sys doesn't automatically create ANY restore points, even during windows updates if the box isn't checked, right?
I know I had it checked over a year ago and never thought about it again. Maybe a virus or something changed it.

The beginning of the following thread relates to your initial issue:

http://www.d-a-l.com/help/showthread.php?t=22026

With this & the following quote to clarify the initial fix:

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/AllPrograms.htm

First off that site did not list the full path. Sorry. They are here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\UserShel lFolders\

HKEY_USERS\DEFAULT\Software\
Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\UserShel lFolders\

You can backup the registry by clicking File under regedit & choose Export.

Also as that thread goes on I would suggest trying to run sfc /scannow

http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

If the issues are not cleared up by the above we are at the stage of a Repair Install (if you have a full version XP CD):

http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Or if your XP is OEM then consult your manual or manufacturer for Recovery Options.

Wow, that looks like a great resource, thanks! I printed the stuff and will try it tomorrow after I get some shut-eye. FYI I don't have the full XP disk, just the mfg. version.
Will check in after trying this. Take care.

Hi-
I'm trying to edit the Registry per your instructions, but I am unclear about WHAT DATA SHOULD BE UNDER THE 4 REGISTRY VALUES to fix the Start Menu. Can you help me out on this?
Thanks!

Originally Posted by jephree

The beginning of the following thread relates to your initial issue:

http://www.d-a-l.com/help/showthread.php?t=22026

With this & the following quote to clarify the initial fix:

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/AllPrograms.htm



Also as that thread goes on I would suggest trying to run sfc /scannow

http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

If the issues are not cleared up by the above we are at the stage of a Repair Install (if you have a full version XP CD):

http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Or if your XP is OEM then consult your manual or manufacturer for Recovery Options.

Although this describes a different error the keys & values are the same:

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;886549

Backup your registry before making changes

In regedit click File then Export.


Altering system files; & or modifying the registry can be risky and D-A-L.com and its members cannot accept liability for any adverse effects caused by following advice freely given on this site.

All the registry values match the ones you have kindly pointed out, but the problem still remains. I have at least boiled it down to a simple question:
My Start Menu won't display the All Programs submenu since installing Windows Update KB898461.
Normally I would do a System Restore but I don't have any previous System Restore Points available on my system because it got turned off somehow by some malware or something since the last time I checked it, about a year ago.
I can't do a a Repair Install because I only have the OEM Windows CD.
All the shortcuts are on the hard drive in the correct folders where they should be, but the only way I can access them is through the Windows Explorer file mgr.
What controls whether the Start Menu displays the All Programs submenu and what can I do to fix it?