Folder options missing

Win XP with SP2 and I've lost the option to 'View Filetypes' .

There was several ways to acces it if I remember , eg double click
MyComputer and under tools there was a fourth option - now there are 3 - Map
Network Drive, Disconnect network drive, Synchronise..

I also seem to be able to user Windows Explorer, and Tools to get to it..

Files are now displayed in explorer like this :- file instead of file.txt
or file.jpg. etc

Can anyone throw any light on why this has happened, and how to remedy it.
Thanks.

I can't tell you why it has happened. However, you should still be able
to access the menu via Control Panel.

Open Control Panel and click on Folder Options.

Then, select the View tab and under Advanced Settings, uncheck the box
marked "Hide extensions for known file types".

Click on "Apply".

Thanks for that, and I was sure in my mind that it could be done thru the
Control Panel, except I no longer have a 'Folder Options' Icon there
either...

Is there a 'repair windows' option in XP . This computer came with XP
pre-installed and a rescue disc that ONLY puts it back to the same state as
It was when I bought it. Hence my reluctance to do that. I do however have a
Win XP install disc for a second PC , so at a push I could use that if there
is a repair option ( maintaining the original serial no of course)... I have
tried going back using system restore, as far as I can , and it still
doesn't appear, so it may have 'broken' some time ago. Obviously done a full
virus scan , and Adware scan , and trojan scan, and apart from a few
'cookies' all was well.
Thanks

Its looking like I am suffering some sort of Administrator failure... There
are effectively two accounts on the PC- Mine and the original administrator-
both with full administrator facilities. Using the account "Mine" , ( name
changed to make it easier to follow) , I cannot import that *.reg file from
the above site, and it gives me a message that 'the administrator has
removed that facilty' , except I am the administrator.

So a startup in Safe Mode , and on both 'Administrator' and 'Mine' , Folder
options is available in all the places I expected to find it...Reset the PC
and start normally , and Folder options is still missing...
Back to a safe mode startup and I imported the regfile successfully in both
accounts.
Reset and back to normal mode- and folder options is still missing , and I
still don't have the administrator priveldges to import the regfile.
Back to Safe Mode and create a new account 'Mine2' with full admin
properties.. I now make 'Mine' a non administrator account.
Reset PC and choose 'Mine2' - perfect - Folder options in in the right
place, and I have full admin facilities..
Change to 'Mine' and folder options still missing.
Reset to SafeMode and change 'Mine' to full Administrator priveledges.
Reset and choose 'Mine' as the account , folder options still misssing and
its still not a full admin account..

Oh Dear, looks like moving everything over to Mine2, and remove the 'Mine'
account and see how that goes...

Thanks for the help.

Found it!! Just for those that may be suffering similarly, here was the
problem.

I had somehow picked up a 'remote Trojan' although the PC has Trend Micro
Internet Security 2007 - fully updated..

A download of Trojan Remover 6.7.4 and loaded with database 7221 correctly
identified the Windows Registry keys, the files, and the 'restrictive
practices' A single scan cured all ills in one go... As a matter of
completeness , 'Housecall' also failed to identify and correct the files and
problems..
Thanks to those who offered their help..

Gadcom.exe was the file ( thank goodnes for the scanLogs!!!), and in the
'Temp' folder a file csrssc.exe was a suspicious entry which I suspect was
the 'carrier' for the trojan. A google search for Gadcom.exe shows exactly
what it was.
Gadcom.exe also locked some registry keys which were removed by a reset from
'Trojan Remover v6.7.4' .
I then did a Virusscan with Trend Pc-Cillin, and then ran Adware, then
Trojan Remover again. Pc-Cillin did find a file wss[1].exe or something
similar, which seems to have been orphaned as its registry key had been
removed, successfully quarantined it and it was then deleted. I've ran all
the Antivirus progs now several times in different sequences with no futher
problems..

Thanks for your help

[Zachary]

Did you restart your computer after running that fix? Is Folder Options actually listed in the Tools menu in Windows Explorer? Is it listed in your Control Panel?

You could download the free tool called Remove Restrictions Tool (RRT) by searching on google.

Make sure you boot in to Safe Mode to use Remove Restrictions Tool (RRT).