Using Application files after factory reinstall

Here's the problem. After allowing automatic Microsoft updates to run a few days ago I returned to my Gateway laptop to find that it would not boot past Vista's green loading bar. The process would hang at a black screen. I tried all "repair" options and none worked. I had to resort to a factory reinstall for my laptop. I have been able to retrieve a lot of files from the backup created prior to the reinstall procedure but i am experiencing the following problems:

1. I cannot save files to the Desktop
2. I cannot get my backup copy of MSOffice 2003 and some other applications to work.

Can someone help me with the following questions:

Will a recovery program recover program applications in a usable form?

Are duplicate files/programs in the system backup file going to cause conflicts with the files/programs in the new install?

Any ideas why I'm not successful in saving files to the Desktop?

Thanks in advance for any and all help.

Forum Administrator Edit: No bumping - please read Forum Rules here http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=152381

 

What happens when you try to create a file on the desktop?

Have you backed up the "program files" folder and are trying to copy the programs over to the reinstalled disk? That's almost impossible to make work. All the registry entries are missing.
You'll have to reinstall the programs to make them work.