.scf files, Windows Update, "Open With" all fail

anonymous_at_discussions.microsoft.com
Date: 12/08/03 

Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2003 00:25:55 -0800

These things all stopped functioning at once, so I
speculate that they share a single cause.

The "Show Desktop" item on the Quicklaunch toolbar is
still present and has the proper script content, but its
icon has changed (looks generic), and it does nothing.

Windows Update will not run from the Start button menu
(brief hourglass, nothing happens). I can navigate to
the site manually, but clicking on "Scan for updates"
does nothing.

Right-clicking on a file in Explorer produces the same
context-sensitive menu as always, but selecting "Open
With..." produces no result.

Symantec Antivirus & Ad-Aware show nothing suspicious...

Machine is a Thinkpad T20 recently upgraded from Win2k
Pro.

I would very much appreciate any fresh ideas.

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