Submenus quit working - XP 64bit

[artheim]

My submenus quit working. If I open "All Programs" and then hover over any menu item that has a submenu, only a partial outline of the box appears. On IE, on the toolbars that have additional items (>> shown), right clicking on that also only causes a similar box outline to appear, but no items shown. In Outlook when right clicking on any attachment, a similar box appears and I am not able to save the attachment(s). This is on an XP Pro 64bit system and has just recently started to give this problem. I have not tried sfc /scannow as the system came preloaded and I do not have access to a 64bit CD. Thanks for any suggestions..

 

[linney]

See if there are any clues to be derived from this sort of similar post.

Menu response slow
thread1583-1432133

You should be able to run SFC /Scannow without any CD as long as the Source files required are on, and pointed to via the Registry, the original install source such as a recovery partition etc.

Have you checked from Safe Mode, or tried System Restore to just before the problem?

What about logging in with another user instead of the possibly corrupt one?

Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right-click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking. Try it first by not checking either box (this will run it in a Read-only mode) to see if it flags any hard drive or file problems. If it does, restart it by ticking both boxes, and rerun it to allow it to attempt to fix any found problems.

 

[artheim]

Thanks Linney, I have tried your suggestions and nothing seems to make any difference other than running in Safe Mode. I disabled all startup services and Startup modules with no effect on the problem. A new user ID also does not work unless system is started in Safe Mode. I tried messing with the visual effects and MenuShowDelay with no help either. sfc /scannow did not find anything and System Restore going back as far as I could, also did not help.

What's next?

 

[linney]

I see lots of recommendations here for programs like -

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

SuperAntispyware

http://superantispyware.com/

Try running ChkDsk to check your drive for errors. Right-click your Drive icon/ Properties/ Tools/ Error Checking. Try it first by not checking either box (this will run it in a Read-only mode) to see if it flags any hard drive or file problems. If it does, restart it by ticking both boxes, and rerun it to allow it to attempt to fix any found problems.

HOW TO: Verify Unsigned Device Drivers in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/5/14.asp

Have a look at some of the Context Menu Handlers used by you with the aid of this tool.

ShellExView v1.41 - Shell Extensions Manager

http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html