Windows Fixes ......
What's confusing is what happens AFTER you have Windows re-installed? Do you have to re-install your software programs? Redo your Internet settings? Restore your backed up data? (Of course you backed up "My Documents" etc, right?? More on this in the future. Meanwhile here are some descriptions of bug cures at the Windows level.
These notes I lifted from Fred Langa's Web site (Langalist Newsletter is wonderful for keeping me in touch with new developments).
"One often-overlooked option is an "in-place reinstall" where you just layer a new copy of the OS over the copy that's gone bad. With some kinds of problems--- missing or overwritten system, files, for example--- this kind of reinstall may completely cure what's wrong, and can do so without losing your data, your installed apps, or any customizations or alterations you've made. Instead, the new copy of the OS picks up your existing installations, alterations and such, and leaves them alone. With a little luck, the only thing the reinstall alters is the broken portion of the old OS install.
The problem with the in-place reinstall is that it's not as thorough-going as a clean install, and can also pick up bad settings, and may not correctly replace subtly corrupted files. An in-place reinstall isn't a panacea, but it may be worth a shot if you're out of other options:
It's easy: Just insert your OS setup CD, navigate to the root directory on the CD, and launch the Setup file. The OS should reinstall right on top of the existing OS. The broken or missing parts should be restored, and your settings *should* remain intact."
For technicians and other advanced users, he goes on. This is not something I even want to read about, but it is possibly a course of action to avoid losing everything that I might suggest to the repairman.
"If that doesn't work, there's still another option short of a full reformat, and it's spelled out at http://www.winmag.com/library/1998/1001/fea0045i.htm#won't_work . It's basically a way to completely delete Windows from your system, leaving no trace, but leaving all your data intact. Although this "no-reformat reinstall" does require that you re-install all your applications, it's still faster than a full-reformat reinstall because all your data stays put."