Well, I have two suggestions. First, if the tech didn't do it, go to run, type in cmd.exe. In the resulting window type in sfc  /scannow. Hit enter and let it do it's thing.

 Be sure to put a space between sfc and the /.

If that don't fix it. Try this:

https://forums.wincustomize.com/410383

I believe there is a link to instructions for XP on the original article.

Daiwa, I generally recommend doing chkdsk /f /r  again, using the elevated command prompt (cmd>right ckick>run as administrator). It will perform the sfc /scannow as part of it.

Takes more time, but is more inclusive and fixes any bad sectors. Your msconfig.exe might be sitting in or partially in such a sector.

It takes more time, but imo, it's worth it. 

Thanks for the suggestions, guys.  I'll let you know the results.

As for the non-destructive XP re-install, what version of the OS gets reinstalled?  SP1?  Does it work with OEM versions?

THANKS!!

You have to have SP1 uninstalled for 7 and Vista) or it will fail same for XP SP2 and 3... check the article, though... never tried it..

http://home.ptd.net/~miles4/dotnetfx_cleanup_tool.zip

C:\WINDOWS\pchealth\helpctr\binaries
C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles\i386

Both are 04/14/2008 00:12:27 169,984

Anything else it's malware or corrupted. My guess is it's the latter.

Look in Event Viewer.... it's talking to you

Malware was the first thing I suspected. Should always do a Malwarebytes scan.. not perfect but really good....

Thanks for the help, yrag. .NET is the most troubling darned thing... have written about it...

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/astebner/archive/2005/04/08/406671.aspx

Aaron's blog... explains the tool, but care should be used with it as I understood from various articles I've read.

CHKDSK appeared to report/fix no errors (there's a switch which sets the post-scan report to persist but I've forgotten it).

yrag -

Thanks for chiming in - I was hoping you'd see this.

Both my files are 04/13/2008 5:12:27 169,984

Malware?

Event Viewer has this entry for 3:00 am this morning, I'd guess from an attempt by Automatic Updates to install an update:

That was in the Application section.  Don't see anything referencing MSConfig there or in the System section.  What should I be looking for?

Thanks for your kind help.

msconfig going missing is usually a good sign your system has been compromised, of course they don't want you going into the startup tab and removing whatever it was that was installed.

Typically tho, when it happens, task manager vanishes too, so perhaps, I may barking up the wrong tree.

Hope you get it solved.

I thought it might be your MMC snap-ins......we'll get back to that.

Run the tool I gave you and then run Windows update. If update won't run, install manually:

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=96

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=19

Than run update.

In the middle of a full Malwarebytes scan on that rig as I type.

Interestingly, during the MWB scan, MS Security Essentials popped up an alert and removed this:

TrojanDownloader:Java/OpenStream.AY

file:C:\Documents and Settings\Daiwa\Application Data\Sun\Java\Deployment\cache\6.0\49\73190831-1cc1f558.

I'm thinking that was a false positive, but maybe not.

After MWB finishes running, I'll proceed with your recommendations, yrag.  Might be late this afternoon or evening before I report back as we're going to be visiting some friends for awhile this afternoon (& MWB might not be done till then anyway).

I really appreciate your help.

Ran MWB on all four fixed drives & it flagged 2 registry items as 'PUM.Hijack.StartMenu':

• HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Start_ShowHelp
• HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Start_ShowMyDocs

It also flagged atomic.exe (Atomic Clock - a really old app that I haven't used in years) on a backup drive (which at one time was my primary hard drive) as an 'Adware.Agent'.

All three were successfully removed.  MSConfig.exe still MIA after reboot.

Starting yrag's recommended procedure next.

Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\MSCONFIG.EXE

Path:: C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HelpCtr\Binaries\MSConfig.exe

Note to self: Start reading original posts...........

yrag -

I ran the cleanup tool but initially only for .NET 2.0, the update for which was the one that would hang and fail.

After rebooting, Windows update does not offer the previously offered update for 2.0 but offers '.NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 and 3.5 Family Update for .NET versions 2.0 through 3.5 (KB951847) x86'.

It also has this additional update in the on-deck circle: '.NET Framework 3.5 SP1 Update for Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP x86 (KB982168)'.

No other high priority updates are on offer (aside from IE8, which I don't plan to install on this rig).

I'm going to hold off on installing this one and stop here for now pending your further advice, in case I should go ahead & run the cleanup tool for all versions first.

Thanks again.

You need to clean it all out, then install 1.0 and run update, then 2.0 and run update and so on......  

Anything Update doesn't offer can be found at: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=96 (scroll to bottom of screen)

Passed each other in the hall.

That reg key shows that app path here, exactly as you posted above.