Help, my computer is on strike

I introduced my friend at work to your forum. Here's the problem
anytime I try to open a window it acts like it is doing something but then nothing happens it just stays on the desktop. It only seems to be affecting windows, I can still play Diablo and other games as well as use word perfect, but i can't get on the internet or access the control panel, I tried to use the system restore function but it won't open, I can't even get the garbage can to open. I recently updated my computer and began using the windows firewall could this be the problem maybe. PLEASE HELP ME!

 

If the problem was just an issue with Internet access, I might suspect the firewall. Since launch of the Control Panel is also a problem, I personally suspect a browser issue.

I'd try a repair of IE - here's a typical scheme to follow, there are others. I'm assuming XP is the OS.

Blue

 

I would tend to lean more towards a virus and a combotation of spyware. Is your virus scanner up to date? If so, when was the last time you scanned your PC? I would reboot into safemode, do a virus scan, while in safemode I would also run Ad-Aware & Spybot, remove all that they find. Then reboot again into normal mode, and test the waters. See whats going on.

A simple check though, is if you get into safe mode, and you still can't open the control panel, then your OS is probably messed up a bit, and you may have to either do a repair install, or a total re-install.

 

Before reinstalling XP, you could also try running System File Checker (SFC). These links should help: Using the System File Checker Tool and Repair Internet Explorer.

Nick

 

Does anything show up in the taskbar?