Windows components missing

[mjh01210]

We have about fifty HP-Compaq DC5100 SFF computers in the office. Randomly, different PC's will be missing certain components right after being booted up at the beginning of the day. Here are the spec's on the PC's themselves:

CPU: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz w. Multithreading
Chipset: HP 82915G/GV/GL/P/PL/GL Grantsdale Host Bridge/DRAM Controller
512 MB RAM
80 GB SATA hard drive (different manufacturers in different PC's)
Windows XP Pro

The main component that ends up missing is part of the network configuration software, the PC will still be able to connect to the internet through the network but will not be able to access the network drives or change it's network name. For example, if I go to "System Properties" and click on "Computer Name" it will say

"The identification of this computer cannot be changed because: Networking is not installed or is not properly configured.?

Other components which will sometimes go missing are: Internet Explorer, Windows Messenger, Games (the basic Windows ones, Minesweeper, Solitaire, etc) and a few items in Accessories (sound card related mostly).

It's relatively easy to fix, I just need to pop in the Windows XP O.S. disk and re-install the missing components, but sometimes they will disappear again right after re-installing, and sometimes it will be different components / combinations that go missing. Not the end of the world but it's damn annoying. No other files go missing and the hard drives don't show any signs of dying (HD tests come back fine).

Has anyone ever heard of this, and can it be stopped? For the love of God, make it stop!

Any help anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated.

 

[bendixG15]

You got 50 HP computers that you are having a problem with
and you post here for help ???

Hey... go to HP, they are your support.

 

[mjh01210]

It's not happening on all 50 PC's, it happens intermittently on various PC's, I was just stating that all PC's in the office are the same model and it is not a recurring problem on any 1 PC.

I am also going through HP, not suprisingly they have been less than forthcoming with potential fixes, although they were kind enough to recommend I reinstall the O.S. to restore the services. Since I can just reinstall the components that are missing that seems to be not only redundant, but kind of overkill.

I'm posting here in addition to going through HP because, from experience, I know that after going through the list of standard fixes (update Windows/drivers/firmware, reinstall O.S., reset CMOS, uninstall 3rd party software) HP will more than likely give up or tell me to contact Microsoft. I have a wee bit more faith in the people at Anandtech.com than the people at HP, they aren't exactly known for excellence in customer service.

 

[chusteczka]

Have any of these pc's been tested for viruses, spyware, or malware. My unqualified opinion questions the integrity of the network and believes that something has spread through the office network.

 

[mjh01210]

Nope, aside from the standard precautions (antivirus, spyware, firewall, etc) due to an unrelated network problem we had a few weeks ago everything on the network in all offices was thoroughly checked and rechecked to rule that out.