Microsoft games folder gone

Yesterday morning I installed Microsoft updates and also downloaded Windows
Live Essentials. Since then I have discovered a number of missing items,
including the entire folder with the Microsoft games that came with my
computer - Freecell, Minesweeper, Spider Solitaire and some others that I
can't think of right now. The Shortcut folder is gone from the start menu and
I cannot find a folder under C:/Microsoft with the games. I did find the
application file for Freecell under c:/windows/sys32 but I can't find the
other game application files.
Anyone know how I can get these files back.
I am running XP Home, SP3

Magsmom wrote:
> Yesterday morning I installed Microsoft updates and also downloaded Windows
> Live Essentials. Since then I have discovered a number of missing items,
> including the entire folder with the Microsoft games that came with my
> computer - Freecell, Minesweeper, Spider Solitaire and some others that I
> can't think of right now. The Shortcut folder is gone from the start menu and
> I cannot find a folder under C:/Microsoft with the games. I did find the
> application file for Freecell under c:/windows/sys32 but I can't find the
> other game application files.
> Anyone know how I can get these files back.
> I am running XP Home, SP3

The games that come with Windows XP can usually be reinstalled with the
control panel's Add/Remove programs applet (they are considered Windows
components). You might have to uncheck the games in the applet and exit
the related pop-ups via their "OK" buttons before reentering the applet
to reinstall the games. Unless your computer manufacturer included a
hidden Windows XP installation partition, the reinstall may require
files from your Windows XP installation CD.

Reposted from earlier in case you have trouble finding it:

Please post an additional response here with the results of the
following additional tests. If the games don't run include the full text
contents of any error pop-ups:

Click the "start" button on your Windows XP task bar.

Click "Run..." in the second column of the menu

Type "freecell" (without the quotation marks) in the drop down box
marked "Open:" in the "Run" window.

Press your "Enter" key or click the "OK" button.

Repeat, substituting "sol", "spider" and "winmine" in place of "freecell"

Magsmom wrote:
> Yesterday morning I installed Microsoft updates and also downloaded Windows
> Live Essentials. Since then I have discovered a number of missing items,
> including the entire folder with the Microsoft games that came with my
> computer - Freecell, Minesweeper, Spider Solitaire and some others that I
> can't think of right now. The Shortcut folder is gone from the start menu and
> I cannot find a folder under C:/Microsoft with the games. I did find the
> application file for Freecell under c:/windows/sys32 but I can't find the
> other game application files.
> Anyone know how I can get these files back.
> I am running XP Home, SP3

Further content from a different prior post (Oct 2 in windowsxp.basics
Missing Entertainment Folder Contents):

If you don't find the .exe files in your \Windows\system32 folder PLEASE
respond with a report of the results of following the procedure below.
IF you have a generic "gray box" PC or upgraded from an earlier version
of Windows you may need your Windows XP installation or upgrade CD:

Click the "start" button on your task bar.

Click "Control Panel" in the second column of the menu. Depending on
your settings this might produce a window OR a fly out menu.

Click "Add or Remove Programs".

Click "Add/Remove Windows Components" in the left pane of the "Add or
Remove Programs" window.

Wait for the "Windows Components Wizard" window.

Click "Accessories and Utilities" if necessary to highlight that line.

Click the "Details..." button.

Repeat with the "Details..." button with "Games" highlighted on the
resulting "Accessories and Utilities" window.

UNCHECK the missing games in the "Games" window. The games might NOT
REinstall unless you use this procedure to UNinstall them first.

Use the "OK" buttons to close the "Games", "Accessories and Utilities",
"Windows Components Wizard" and and "Add or Remove Programs" windows in
that order.

Open the "Add or Remove Programs", "Windows Component Wizard",
"Accessories and Utilities" and "Games" windows again.

This time CHECK the desired games.

Use the "OK" buttons again to close the windows in the order specified
above. For some of these clicks the wizard will need to access the
hidden Windows XP installation/repair partition on your hard drive (for
many brand name PCs) or you Windows XP installation/upgrade CD.

Look for the game shortcuts on the "start" button menu.