Snipping Tool Literally Disappeared

After a search, I did not find this EXACT problem discussed anywhere.

My OS is Win 7/64 and it included Snipping Tool which I used very frequently. It was pinned to my Start Menu. Yesterday, I went to use it and it has literally disappeared. I tried a Restore To Earlier Date, no joy. I looked in the Accessories folder and it is simply not there. Perhaps if I knew the original file name I could search my HD for it.

Any ideas as to how to restore it?

My computer is an HP and they offer several Restore discs (for a fee) but I'd like some ideas as to how to fix the problem.

MS Support basically says in their KB, it's an OEM vendor problem.

 

>> Snipping Tool Literally Disappeared. After a search, I did not find this EXACT problem discussed anywhere. DON GAYNOR <<

What happens when you enter "Snipping Tool" (without the quotes) in Start/Search and then hit the Enter key? If that does not work: Also try SnippingTool.exe

If nothing happens (after you have tried that) then it is possible that either you; or perhaps someone using your computer may have done something which inadvertently turned off the optional Tablet PC features, of which Snipping Tool is one (and has been since 2005). In any case, try the following steps:

(1) Click on Start button, and go to Control Panel.
(2) Click on Programs link then Programs and Features.
(3) Click on Turn Windows features on or off link.
Note: If User Account Control pops up for confirmation, click on Continue button.
(4) Scroll down the list of features in Windows Features dialog window, tick the check box for Tablet-PC Optional Components to enable and show the Snipping Tool

Finally your Snipping Tool should now show up under Start/All Programs/Accessories.

Side Note: Incidentally, evidently this is actually a very common problem. I searched Google using the Search terms "Snipping Tool missing" and found "About 48,500 results"

Good Luck! -- COMP
​

 

Thank you, Compuable.

I applied your suggestions and discovered some new clues.

1. Typing Snipping Tool in Start/Search yielded "File not found!"

2. Clicking "PC Tablet features on" had no affect. I found the whole folder blank which I thought was unusual. Is it possibly a vulnerability in Win 7/64 that malware is exploiting? Should I check for malware? If so, which malware app? I use Avast freeware AV and MS Security Essentials.

 

Avast and MSE are notoriously bad flatmates. Use one or the other, NEVER both. To avoid system corruption you should only ever use one installed AV.

It's possible that this may have caused your problem, though that can only be speculation at present.

 

>> I applied your suggestions and discovered some new clues. 1. Typing Snipping Tool in Start/Search yielded "File not found!" 2. Clicking "PC Tablet features on" had no affect. I found the whole folder blank which I thought was unusual. DON GAYNOR <<

You might also try this: Navigate to C:\Windows\System32, and then right-click SnippingTool.exe and choose create a Desktop Shortcut and/or Pin the shortcut to the taskbar.

Another option you might try could be doing a full Windows Restore (choosing a more recent Windows Restore Point; one that is dated before the problem first started).

>> Is it possibly a vulnerability in Win 7/64 that malware is exploiting? Should I check for malware? If so, which malware app? I use Avast freeware AV and MS Security Essentials. <<

Regarding possible malware infection; anything is possible, I guess. For malware scanning I would suggest installing Malwarebytes and then running a full scan. Note that choosing the "Perform Full Scan" option w/Malwarebytes can take several hours, depending upon how large your hard drive is. Also, I know that yesterday (Tue. 7/10/12) there was a major 'Windows Update' but it is purely speculation as to whether or not this caused your problem.

Good Luck! -- COMP ​

 

Comp et al,

Thank you so much. Someone had posted the .exe file on a Google link and I reloaded it on my computer and Eureka! Success! Color me elated but please stay within the lines.

Seriously, thank you.

 

>> Thank you so much. Someone had posted the .exe file on a Google link and I reloaded it on my computer and Eureka! Success! Color me elated but please stay within the lines. Seriously, thank you. <<

Oh, anytime DON... Always happy to help out and I'm really glad that you were able to find an answer via the Google link, as well.

Good Luck! -- COMP​