How to: Fixing Updater / missing shortcuts / Proper re-install

[Deirdre]

I tried everything suggested and was still unsuccessful. I finally did the following and was successful:

Hit start button, in search field typed java.
Found the Java in Control Panel and clicked the Security tab.
The "Enable Java Content in the browser" was not ticked. (I vaguely remember unticking it a while ago in response to the outcry over Java's security issues) Once I ticked that, everything was fine.

Just thought this might help if other's have also been pulling their hair out.

Deirdre