*error: counter: no such object

It appears that suddenly, my counter objects do not function at all: icon has a dotted edge, no inlets or outlets. Please help.

Here are the details:

PROBLEM SYMPTOMS:

If I select it, floating inspector says:
No Objects Selected

In existing patchers,
I select help for existing counter objects,
counter.help IS NOT DISPLAYED,
max windows says:
*error: poobah: no such object

In a newly created patcher,
I try to add a counter,
max windows says:
*error: counter: no such object

In newly created patchers,
I select help for new objects in which I typed "counter",
counter.help IS DISPLAYED,
max windows says:
*error: counter: no such object
*error: #X: No Such Object

NOTE: When counter.help is displayed:
its counter object exhibits the same errors.

TROUBLESHOOTING LOG:

1. Using MaxMSP 4.5.7 on Windows XP, I have restored the MaxMSP 4.5/ and Cycling74 directories from a backup made at a time when counter was functioning fine. The problem still exists.

2. I downloaded and newly installed Max/MSP 4.6.3. The problem also exists with the new version.

3. Although I haven't checked every single object in MaxMSP, the problem appears to be unique to counter.

I'm now checking the search paths for files, folders, and subfolders named counter.

I would appreciate some assistance.

Lucky Choi