First please check if the options are available in safe mode..
Scan your PC for malware threats if any..
For Windows XP:
To recreate those missing shortcuts do the following:-
Right click on desktop>New>Shortcut.
In the blank box type the following :-
%SystemRoot%\system32\ntbackup.exe then click Next and give a name to the shortcut-Backup and click Finish.
Like wise create shortcuts for the followings:-
Character Map - %SystemRoot%\system32\charmap.exe
Disk Cleanup - %SystemRoot%\system32\cleanmgr.exe
Disk Defragmenter - %SystemRoot%\system32\dfrg.msc
Files and Setting Transfer Wizard - %SYSTEMROOT%\system32\usmt\migwiz.exe
Security Center - %SystemRoot%\system32\wscui.cpl
System Information - C:\PROGRAM FILES\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\MSInfo\msinfo32.exe
Scheduled Tasks-%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe ::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{D6277990-4C6A-11CF-8D87-00AA0060F5BF}
System Restore - %SystemRoot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe
Activate Windows-%SYSTEMROOT%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /A
Now open Windows Explorer>Expand My Computer>Expand 'C' Drive>Documents and settings>Local User Name>Start Menu>Programs>Accessories>Click on System Tools.
Now copy and paste the above created shortcuts in the System Tools folder.
For windows 7:
For some reason, the option for System Restore disappeared from the Tools file of my Accessories Folder in the Start Menu.
In order to recover, I Googled but after hours of searching could find NO answer which helped to recover the option even though a lot of people seemed to
be having the same problem.
After some fiddling around, I managed to resolve:-
1). Locate original System Recovery Icon = C:\Windows\system32\rstrui.exe
2). Right click and choose 'send-to' and Desktop from the options. Make sure it is a Shortcut you are sending and not the
actual exe file.
3). Rename the shortcut to 'System Recovery' (may need Admin priviledges).
4). In Windows Explorer, Click: Tools/FoldersOptions/View/Show Hidden Folder, Files and Drives
5). Locate & Move shortcut to :-
c:\Users\YourName\ApplicationData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\StartMenu\Programs\Accessories
6). This is it - Just remember to close Tools/FoldersOptions/View/DON'TShow Hidden Folder, Files and Drives (Opposite of
Step 4).
I have a strong feeling that a downloaded application may have affected this Start item and as such I am running an additional Full
Virus and Malware Scan.
Whatever the case, I now have the option back in my Start/Accessories/Tool/System Folder although of course it was always
available in the Menu Tool Bar of 'Computer' under System Properties., but access is easier from Start Menu I think.