Help! I lost Microsoft programs!

I thought I would be smart and clean out some old word documents.
Then I went and downloaded updates for Windows XP
NOW I CAN'T FIND ANY OF THE MICROSOFT PROGRAMS!
I CAN'T OPEN ANY MICROSOFT DOCUMENTS!
IS IT STILL ON MY COMPUTER? IF SO , WHERE?
IF IT IS GONE, HOW DO I GET IT BACK?

I TRIED SYSTEM RESTORE, IT DIDN'T WORK.
PLEASE HELP!

 

TRUSTING GOD wrote:
> I thought I would be smart and clean out some old word documents.
> Then I went and downloaded updates for Windows XP
> NOW I CAN'T FIND ANY OF THE MICROSOFT PROGRAMS!
> I CAN'T OPEN ANY MICROSOFT DOCUMENTS!
> IS IT STILL ON MY COMPUTER? IF SO , WHERE?
> IF IT IS GONE, HOW DO I GET IT BACK?
>
> I TRIED SYSTEM RESTORE, IT DIDN'T WORK.
> PLEASE HELP!

Please don't use all upper case lettering. There is no need to 'shout'.

How did you "clean out some old word documents"? What does that mean?
What "updates for Windows XP" did you download (and install, I suppose?)

What do you mean by "can't find any of the microsoft programs", what
microsoft programs?

What specific version of Windows XP?

Start button --> RUN (no "RUN"? Press the "Windows Key" + R on your
keyboard) --> type in:
winver
--> Click OK.

The picture at the top of the window that opens will give you the general
(Operating System name) while the line starting with the word "version" will
give you the rest of the story. Post both in response to this message
verbatim. ;-)

System Restore does nothing for your files/folders or any applications you
install - it is for the protection of system (the operating system, Windows
XP) files and folders. Not yours. You need to utilize a backup solution
for that.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

TRUSTING GOD wrote:
> I thought I would be smart and clean out some old word documents.
> Then I went and downloaded updates for Windows XP
> NOW I CAN'T FIND ANY OF THE MICROSOFT PROGRAMS!
> I CAN'T OPEN ANY MICROSOFT DOCUMENTS!
> IS IT STILL ON MY COMPUTER? IF SO , WHERE?
> IF IT IS GONE, HOW DO I GET IT BACK?
>
> I TRIED SYSTEM RESTORE, IT DIDN'T WORK.
> PLEASE HELP!
==========================================
Sometimes a virus scanner can cause System Restore
to fail...did you try running System Restore in Safe Mode?

(315222) A Description of the Safe Mode
Boot Options in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315222

--

J. Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

On Sun, 17 May 2009 21:36:05 -0700, TRUSTING GOD <TRUSTING
GOD@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I thought I would be smart and clean out some old word documents.
>Then I went and downloaded updates for Windows XP
>NOW I CAN'T FIND ANY OF THE MICROSOFT PROGRAMS!
>I CAN'T OPEN ANY MICROSOFT DOCUMENTS!
>IS IT STILL ON MY COMPUTER? IF SO , WHERE?
>IF IT IS GONE, HOW DO I GET IT BACK?
>
>I TRIED SYSTEM RESTORE, IT DIDN'T WORK.
>PLEASE HELP!

Did you use a registry cleaner ?

 

On May 18, 12:36 am, TRUSTING GOD <TRUSTING
G...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
> I thought I would be smart and clean out some old word documents.
> Then I went and downloaded updates for Windows XP
> NOW I CAN'T FIND ANY OF THE MICROSOFT PROGRAMS!
> I CAN'T OPEN ANY MICROSOFT DOCUMENTS!
> IS IT STILL ON MY COMPUTER? IF SO , WHERE?
> IF IT IS GONE, HOW DO I GET IT BACK?
>
> I TRIED SYSTEM RESTORE, IT DIDN'T WORK.
> PLEASE HELP!

Stop panicking.

As stated, System Restore will not help you. I am growing fond of my
new axiom: "System Restore is not a time machine".

I would be pretty sure your Microsoft Office applications (I assume
that's what you mean) are still installed, but maybe you just don't
see them where you think they should be after your update.

Is your problem that if you go to Start, Programs you're missing the
Microsoft Office option/folder? Do you see all your other installed
programs?

If that is the case, what to do next depends on the requested system
information (winver) AND the version of Microsoft Office you think
have installed. Check in Start, Settings, Control Panel, Add or
Remove Programs and see if Microsoft Office is listed and what it says
- exactly.

If that is not the problem, then try to describe your problem in more
detail about what you think you should see that you do not see.

Jose