MSC files not working, System Restore hosed

[mcherry]

Okay, so something is seriously wrong with my Windows XP Professional.

After midnight, when the new day started (19th), my Device Manager stopped working, giving me the following error:

"MMC cannot open the file C:\Windows\system32\devmgmt.msc
This may be because the file does not exist, is not an MMC console, or was created by a later version of MMC. This may also be because you do not have sufficient access rights to the file."

When I go to System Restore, I don't have anything earlier than 1:07am on the 19th. I can't even check restore points in December, because the months don't move back before January.

I scanned my C: drive for viruses with the latest Norton AV definitions, but none were found.

Also, when I run Windows Update, I get an error saying it can't display the page but I can send an error report to Micro$oft (yeah, right).

I smell product key issues...

Please advise. Thanks.

[beeboy]

smells like a Trojan horse to me. Do an online scan at Trend/Micro
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

[mcherry]

Well, nothing found by HouseCall. I'm gonna try reinstalling Windows on top of itself.

[mcherry]

Forgot to mention it, but reinstalling Windows on top of itself solved the issue. It probably was a virus that was cleaned after it did the damage, but I have no way of knowing.