The unusable programs may need to be reinstalled.

Did you intend to perform a Repair Installation or Clean Installation?
Since some of your programs remained, you did not perform a Clean
Installation.
Whatever your original problem was may remain on the computer.

Right click My Computer and click Properties.
What Service Pack is listed?
If not SP-2, follow the Service Pack Installation Checklist:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm

--
Jupiter Jones [MVP]
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar
http://www.dts-l.org


"Mike Fisher" <MikeFisher@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4AB20534-8ED7-4E2F-A79D-0A9CD82A14D2@microsoft.com...
>I recently re-installed my OS, Windows XP SP1, downloaded and installed
> updates (for SP1). Then I downloaded SP2--(Microsoft) Windows Update
> tells
> me so. But when Windows Update tries to install SP2, my computer freezes
> halfway through, and I have to shut down my computer. Re-booting shows me
> a
> message that my OS is in an unstable configuration. Add and Remove
> Programs
> tells me SP2 is installed. Can you tell me (1) where SP2 is located, and
> (2)
> how to finish installing SP2?
>
> On a related note: after re-installing my OS, (most) of my programs were
> still intact, but (most) won't run. I can use IE, but not any of the
> antivirus or antispyware programs. Is there a simple way to restore these
> programs?