Windows XP Pro Problems

I am in need of some serious help. For some reason, Norton selected to have windows automatically update my PC when I chose not to. I stopped to SP2 update. Then about 3 minutes later it found 3 more updates which were security updates. One of those updates was for a removal tool. After the download/install, when I rebooted all the buttons are grey, the start button is just a rectangle box now instead of the green oval. All my office programs are the same way. The taskbar is grey instead of the blue it used to be. Can someone explain what happened and how I get this all back to where it way?

Thanks

 

You could always try restoring the registry to a time before the updates.

Select Start, Programs (All Programs in XP) , Accessories, System Tools, System Restore to bring up the System Restore Wizard. To back up your Registry, choose Create a restore point; to restore the Registry, select Restore my computer to an earlier time.

 

I tried to restore. I went all the way back to 1 Jan 2006 and it will not let me. It says restore incomplete. I found out what happened but do not know how to fix it. If you right click on my desktop and select properties then go to appearance there is a drop down box under windows and buttons. It is supposed to list 2 options to choose which are windows classic and the other should be windows XP. I no longer have the windows XP. The only option to choose is windows classic.

 

Have a look in the registry and see if there is a key
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Data Type: REG_DWORD [Dword Value] // Value Name: NoSimpleStartMenu
Value Data: [0 = Default / 1 = Force Classic Start Menu]

If there is and the data value is set to 1 that may be your problem

 

I do not have XP on this computer but I think you can change to and from Windows Classic mode in the Users section. If that is not the case, when I get home I will get the method I used to make mine look the way you do not want yours to look. Phew that is a mouth full. I will post as soon as I get home, around 6:00pmEST. Until then, someone will probably have the answer.

 

Dont Worry Nothing has happened

Click Start > Run > Type Services.msc
Click Ok
You will get a List of Services
In that Search for the Themes Service
Right click on it
Click on Properties
Click On Start
Apply
Ok
Restart Comp
Then Go the Display Properties, you will now find Windows XP Theme along with Windows Classic

Try it and Let Us Know

 

Thanks for all the replies and support but I did not get your reply email alerts in time so I just inserted my windows xp disk and selected repair the current installation and all is good now. Once again, thanks for the replies.