Stalled startup, missing XP system files?

I recently posted in the malware forum (http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=227129), but when my logs were clean they suggested posting here in the software forum.

My Windows XP SP3 is stalling at the end of startup. System files are inactive - e.g. I have no internet connection and when I click Network under control panel the window that opens up is blank, only white. When I right click I cannot paste files, and I cannot Drag and Drop. Many toobar icons are missing. The same problem occurs even when I startup in Safe Mode with Networking.

I have been running updated NOD32 regularly.

I already tried booting to Recovery Console and ran CHKDSK and FIXMBR.

Short of a clean install of Windows XP from scratch after wiping a hard drive, can anything else be done about this?

What other information would be helpful for diagnostics?

Thanks in advance,
Jeff

 

Honestly unless your determined to know what caused it or have any irreplaceable programs, I would just reinstall, it's not hard to do, and is for the best IMO as your OS sounds quite damaged.

 

Wow, really? I don't even know what happened. Is it possible the hard drive has a bad block and some of those system files are there and cannot be accessed on startup -- I don't know hardware well enough to know if that is possible. The reason I ask is to know whether a full install will fix it, or if I am dealing with hardware that might fail me again.

What about reverting to a prior system restore point? I don't know how windows does that, and if it depend on some of these system componenets that appear corrupt or missing.

Finally, if all fail and I am going to do a brand new clean install -- what is the best way to do it? Do I simply say NEW and overwrite what is there? Or do I wipe the HD somehow and install differently?

I don't have irreplaceable progress, but would love to avoid reinstall of all purchased software, freeware, download, and system architecture that I have put together.

Thanks again.

Jeff