Administrative tools are missing. How do I get them back?

From another forum he suggests opening an administrative command prompt and run:

sfc /scannow

sfc scans protected system files and replaces bad/missing files with windows versions.  And the person with the issue claimed that it works, so try that first.

I found that page after going through the process of creating them manually.

To create them manually:

Create a new folder on the desktop (just for organizational purposes and ease of moving them when done)

Right click - New - Shortcut

Paste the path   (list included below)

Next

Paste the name

OK/Done/whatever it is

You'll need to repeat that for each shortcut.

When you're done:

Select All  (all of the shortcuts)

Navigate to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools

Paste

OK the UAC popup

Now your Control Panel - Administrative Tools should show up and work properly.

Administrative Tools windows 8.1 missing

located in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools

Below are the Name, Path, Start folder (if any)

Component Services

%windir%\system32\comexp.msc

Computer Management

%windir%\system32\compmgmt.msc /s

%HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%

Defragment and Optimize Drives

%windir%\system32\dfrgui.exe

%systemroot%\system32

Disk Cleanup

%windir%\system32\cleanmgr.exe

Event Viewer

%windir%\system32\eventvwr.msc /s

%windir%\system32

iSCSI Initiator

%windir%\system32\iscsicpl.exe

%windir%\system32

Local Security Policy

%windir%\system32\secpol.msc /s

ODBC Data Sources

%windir%\system32\odbcad32.exe

%windir%\system32

Performance Monitor

%windir%\system32\perfmon.msc /s

Print Management

%systemroot%\system32\printmanagement.msc

Resource Monitor

%windir%\system32\perfmon.exe /res

Services

%windir%\system32\services.msc

%HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%

System Configuration

%windir%\system32\msconfig.exe

System Information

%windir%\system32\msinfo32.exe

Task Scheduler

%windir%\system32\taskschd.msc /s

Windows Firewall with Advanced Security

%windir%\system32\WF.msc

%windir%\system32

Windows Memory Diagnostic

%windir%\system32\MdSched.exe

%windir%\system32

Windows PowerShell ISE

%windir%\system32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\PowerShell_ISE.exe

%HOMEDRIVE%%HOMEPATH%

This is a misleading an inaccurate statement:

sfc scans protected system files and replaces bad/missing files with windows versions.  And the person with the issue claimed that it works, so try that first.

Let me assure you with 100% certainty that sfc /scannow does not know or care anything about any missing shortcuts in the Administrative Tools folder.  That is not how sfc /scannow works, that is not what it does and that is not what it is for.

Suggesting sfc /scannow is akin to saying "I have no idea what the problem is or how to fix it."

I would also be wary of any suggestions that include the word "try".

You don't need to try things - you need to do things.

Try the following:

 Right-click on an empty area in the system tray at the bottom-middle of the screen.  Then:

       Properties ->  Start Menu (Tab) ->  Click "Classic Start Menu"  -> click "Customize"

In the window at the bottom, make sure that "Display Administrative Tools" is checked.

"OK" your way out.

HTH,

  JW

There are a couple of boats here...

If you are running XP and only your Administrative Tools folder is empty, take a look here:

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/admintools.htm

What is "Services Manager"?

If you mean "Services", once you get your folder reloaded, right click the Administrative Tools and choose "Open" and that will open that folder and there will be a shortcut in there for every tool.  Everything you see in Programs, Control Panel, etc. are usually just shortcuts in a folder somewhere...

If you right click the shortcut of interest and choose Properties, you will see what happens behind the scenes when you click that tool.

For example, the Properties for the Services shortcut reveals the Target looks something like this:

%SystemRoot%\system32\services.msc /s

That is alot to remember to type in and it is too much trouble for me to do all that clicking and clacking every time I want to look at Services or Event Viewer or Device Manager...

A shortcut would be to just click Start, Run and in the box just enter this part from the shortcut:

services.msc

Click OK and the Services applet will open (you don't normally need all that other stuff in the shortcut).  A MSC file is a Microsoft Snap-in Control file.

For Event Viewer you would just enter:  eventvwr.msc

For Device Manager you would just enter:  devmgmt.msc

Since I am in Services, Device Manager, Event Viewer and MSC things all the time, I put shortcuts on my desktop and also in my Quick Launch area so I can get to these things I use all the time with just one click.

I am a lazy cuss.

There is some malware out there that causes things to disappear from the menus by simply hiding the shortcuts.  Hopefully this is what you have.  As administrator, try starting up Explorer and navigate to the following directory (where all your administrative tools should be):

    C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Administrative Tools

Once you are there, change your settings so that you can see hidden files:

    Tools -> Folder Options -> View (Tab)

    Place a check in front of "Show hidden files and folders"

    Remove the check from "Hide protected operating system files". (It will complain but it's OK).

If you then see your shortcuts there ghosted, simply right-click on each, select "Properties", and un-check the "Hidden" box under the "General" tab.

HTH,

  JW