Windows XP problem

[TheMatrix]

I'm not much of a Windows XP user, but my dad's laptop has a bit of a problem. I tried today to open Firefox, and I am met with a pretty dialogue asking me what i want to do with firefox.exe.

That was the start.
Then as I had finally opened Firefox, all of a sudden I realize that it can't connect to our WiFi anymore. No passwords, etc. have been changed, it just stopped working all of a sudden.

And on top of that, Windows can't find C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe anymore.
So yeah, a bit of a problem here.
Any help?
Thanks.

[Nelson]

One option, run a System Restore to the last time you knew it working.
That will atleast retain your files and stuff.

Another option is to to a fresh install of Windows XP, but in that you will lose your stuff, unless you back it up.

Or an even better option, ditch XP and go to 7

[starlit dreams]

check this link http://support.microsoft.com/kb/812340
that should get your rundll.exe file back.
sorry, idk about the other problems

[TheMatrix]

One option, run a System Restore to the last time you knew it working.
That will atleast retain your files and stuff.

Look, I'm not a Windows expert, so I have no idea about all this. I do kind of know DOS, but XP isn't DOS, so yeah....
But I'll recommend that to my dad.


Another option is to to a fresh install of Windows XP, but in that you will lose your stuff, unless you back it up.

I don't think we have the disc to that. It came with Windows pre-installed.


Or an even better option, ditch XP and go to 7

I'm afraid that's not possible. The laptop is a Dell Latitude D620, I think. Probably too old for Windows 7.

check this link http://support.microsoft.com/kb/812340
that should get your rundll.exe file back.
sorry, idk about the other problems
I'm afraid we don't have the disc, but I'll show this to my dad later.

Anyone else have any ideas?

[Unlucky_Leprechaun]

I did some searching and since you do not have the original XP CD the knowledge base posted earlier will not work ( unless you can obtain one....
Try this: The link did not post properly see the next post.

Good Luck

http://forums.whatthetech.com/index.php?showtopic=92065


Edit(Thor): Don't double post. Use the 'Edit' button next time.

[TheMatrix]

thank you all for your help. i showed my dad the links and he was able to fix it.

he told me it had something to do with the registry.
knowing only a little bit of DOS, i was of little help to him :P

again, thank you. all helpful responses will get +rep.

[ShatteredWings]

Locked by OP request