our computer couldn't start properly, one of the options offered was to start from the last known restore point. we chose that option and the pc came back to life, but sort of in a previous life, meaning it is now functioning with a windows 98 look. how do we go back to XP?  Your better off just Fdisking the drive... Trying to get the the bottom of this wil be complicated...

[glb]Flame[/glb]I am not sure what you mean by fdisking the drive...Flame is suggesting a FRESH install.
Open Windows Explorer>Tools>Options and look in there.explorer/tools.internet options, that's what's there and explorer sure is not where my problem will be fixed. any other ideas?Windows Explorer>Tools>FOLDER Options
Sorry.THANK you for the correction.
now I have been in there but i am not quite sure what i need to change. can you elaborate on your suggestion? like explain what you think it happened and what the remedy would be? thank you Restore does exactly what it says, it restores your computer to a previous point in time.
The problem is that it can also screw things up for you so I never use it.
Your computer has gone back in time like a tardis.
I was hopefull you would change the settings in there back to how it was before.You can revert back to the Windows XP look if you wish.somehow what fed suggested WORKED, a day later.
eventhough I restarted the pc after making the changes it wasn't until this am that they took effect. so far so good.
thanx to all