Sunday, November 06, 2005

Restore missing shortcuts under the System Tools

If we open System Tools present under the All Programs>Accessories>System Tools we find there are several system tools like - Backup,Character Map, Disk Cleanup,Disk Defragmenter - Files and Setting Transfer Wizard Security Center, System Information, Schedule tasks,System Restore,Acivate Windows.

The problem:-The above shortcuts are missing under the system tools.

Resolution:-To recreate those missing shortcuts do the following:-

Right click on desktop>New>Shortcut.
In the blank box type the following :-

%SystemRoot%\system32\ntbackup.exe then click Next and give a name to the shortcut-Backup and click Finish.

Like wise create shortcuts for the followings:-

Character Map - %SystemRoot%\system32\charmap.exe
Disk Cleanup - %SystemRoot%\system32\cleanmgr.exe
Disk Defragmenter - %SystemRoot%\system32\dfrg.msc
Files and Setting Transfer Wizard - %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\usmt\migwiz.exe
Security Center - %SystemRoot%\system32\wscui.cpl
System Information - C:\PROGRAM FILES\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSInfo\msinfo32.exe
Scheduled Tasks-%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe ::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}
System Restore - %SystemRoot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
Activate Windows-%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /A

Now open Windows Explorer>Expand My Computer>Expand 'C' Drive>Documents and settings>Local User Name>Start Menu>Programs>Accessories>Click on System Tools.

Now copy and paste the above created shortcuts in the System Tools folder.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Yup, sounds good but when I used %SystemRoot%\system32\charmap.exe XP said he couldn't find the file on my "C" drive (only Hdisk). Any idea how I can find the charmap.exe to restore it to my system?

Soumitra Sengupta said...

Hi John,
Using ADD/REMOVE programs
in the control panel under windows accessories, select the character map as an installed option.

Unknown said...

My Shortcuts in "All Programs" have been missing for sometime and I didn't know why, or how to correct the problem. A Tech columnist in my local paper, The Miami Herald, got me started in the right direction via email. However, when I got to the System Tools, I was lost. Fortunately, I Googled "Restore System Tools Shortcut in XP" (without the quotes)and I was brought right to your blog! Neat! I really appreciate your making your knowledge available for those of us who don't know as much. I'm a 77 year old great-grandmother, and I'v created a Blog and also a Pod-Cast. I love learning. So again, thank you for your part in helping me today.
Ruth Garcia (the Great-Grandmother from Georgia, USA.)

Unknown said...

thanks, that was just what i needed to fix my ctrl panel =D

Unknown said...

Glad I used Google and found your site. Somehow after one of Microsofts installs I lost my Character Map in the System Tools. I finally have it back thanks to your site. Microsot site was no help at all.

Abandoned By Wolves said...

This is exactly what I needed to know. "System tools missing" brought me to your blog, and this was a great post. Thanks for your help!

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Thanks a lot... i really struggled for the past one week, missing system restore.. Thanks and applauds