task scheduler is acting crazy

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.configuration_manage (More info?)

hello folks. may i request for some help regarding my task scheduler. im
using an xp pro sp2.
the problem involves a general cessation of the task scheduler function. i
can still see the scheduled jobs in the scheduled tasks folder. however, the
jobs are not ran at all. shown under the "last run time" column in the said
folder is "never" for each job.

and when i right click on a job and choose properties, i get an error box
which says

"General page initialization failed.
The specific error is:
0x80070003: The system cannot find the path specified.
An error has occurred attempting to retrieve task information. You may
continue
editing the task object, but will be unable to change task account
information"

when i try to set the AT Service Account Configuration to a user (like the
administrator or a user with admin privileges, i get a message which says:

"An error has occurred attempting to retrieve task information.
The specific error is:
0x80070003: The system cannot find the path specified.
Try using the Task page Browse button to locate the application."

all the fields, buttons, etc on the task property page cannot be accessed
(not greyed out but just arent editable nor clickable).

the users accounts, namely 2 users admin and the user with certain admin
privileges) seem to work fine with regard to file and folder permissions,
etc. its just the task scheduler that seems to raise an issue of account
information.

the scheduled task service is running as shown in task manager and is set to
be ran automatically under services.msc.

ive tried doing some fiddling with user access policies to no avail.

any form of enlightenment, even an outright and final "there's nothing you
can do about it but reinstall", is greatly appreaciated. anything to set my
mind at ease.

thanks a mil.