Unable to launch windows apllications or use Internet Explorer

Discussion:

(too old to reply)

lrbharmony

2008-08-15 16:18:01 UTC

After removing "Anti Spyware 2008" I am unable to launch Microsoft
applications, internet explorer, windows media player, Microsoft works,
etc... I get a message box "This file does not have a program associated with
it for performing this action. Create an association in the Folder Options
control panel. I have been unable to do this. I have no restore dates. I
would appreciate any help in fixing this problem that does not result in my
losing my files. Thank you.

l***@gmail.com

2008-08-15 19:07:00 UTC

Permalink

Sounds like you can't run any files ending in an EXE extension. From
what I have read this can be fixed with a registry patch.

First you're going to want to open up regedit.exe. If it fails to open
the regular way try this

- press [CTRL]+[ALT]+[DEL] to open up the task manager.
- click on file then hold [CTRL] and click on "New Task (Run...)"
a command prompt should open up.
- in the command prompt type "REGEDIT.EXE" and press enter.

I know that sounds crazy as how can you run cmd.exe, tskmgr.exe, or
regedit.exe if they didn't open up through explorer. Well it opens up
through tskmgr.exe and I read it should work on the internet. Everyone
knows the internet is infallible. So just give it a shot.

now you can do this manually or you can skip down a little and try
the .reg or .com fix I found.

-----------Manually--------------
in regedit navigate to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\exefile\shell\open\command

create a new string value

and for the value type

"%1" %*

---------premade fixes------------------------

you can try importing one of the many .exe association fixes I found
on the internet into regedit

here are two popular ones.

<a href="http://www.dougknox.com/xp/fileassoc/xp_exe_fix.zip">(.reg
patch from doug knox.com dated 2003) -- this site also has .reg fixes
for a heap of other extensions.</a>

<a href="http://www.winhelponline.com/exefix_xp.com">(.com patch from
winhelponline.com) -- this one is a .com file so it should be able to
run without going through regedit.

ALSO a quick support.microsoft.com mentioned something about a <a
href="http://support.microsoft.com/kb/837334">W32/***@MM (Swen)
worm </a> You may want to look into that as well

some sites that may help you

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm
http://www.winhelponline.com/
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/06/22/reset-and-fix-broken-windows-vista-file-ext-and-type-associations-include-exe-com-sys-zip-lnk-folder-drive/

Hope this Helps

lrbharmony

2008-08-16 04:40:00 UTC

Permalink

Post by l***@gmail.com
Sounds like you can't run any files ending in an EXE extension. From
what I have read this can be fixed with a registry patch.
First you're going to want to open up regedit.exe. If it fails to open
the regular way try this
- press [CTRL]+[ALT]+[DEL] to open up the task manager.
- click on file then hold [CTRL] and click on "New Task (Run...)"
a command prompt should open up.
- in the command prompt type "REGEDIT.EXE" and press enter.
I know that sounds crazy as how can you run cmd.exe, tskmgr.exe, or
regedit.exe if they didn't open up through explorer. Well it opens up
through tskmgr.exe and I read it should work on the internet. Everyone
knows the internet is infallible. So just give it a shot.
now you can do this manually or you can skip down a little and try
the .reg or .com fix I found.
-----------Manually--------------
in regedit navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\exefile\shell\open\command
create a new string value
and for the value type
"%1" %*
---------premade fixes------------------------
you can try importing one of the many .exe association fixes I found
on the internet into regedit
here are two popular ones.
<a href="http://www.dougknox.com/xp/fileassoc/xp_exe_fix.zip">(.reg
patch from doug knox.com dated 2003) -- this site also has .reg fixes
for a heap of other extensions.</a>
<a href="http://www.winhelponline.com/exefix_xp.com">(.com patch from
winhelponline.com) -- this one is a .com file so it should be able to
run without going through regedit.
ALSO a quick support.microsoft.com mentioned something about a <a
worm </a> You may want to look into that as well
some sites that may help you
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm
http://www.winhelponline.com/
http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/06/22/reset-and-fix-broken-windows-vista-file-ext-and-type-associations-include-exe-com-sys-zip-lnk-folder-drive/
Hope this Helps

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! I have nothing but praise for your help. I
am new to computer problem solving and was totally lost. I can't thank you
enough for giving several options on how to resolve the problem. I tried to
fix it manually but was missing something, so I tried the Doug Knox patch,
and it worked.

PA Bear [MS MVP]

2008-08-16 04:03:04 UTC

Permalink

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis log
to an appropriate forum.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use (in
conjuction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix anything on
its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html, or other appropriate forums for review
by an expert in such matters, not here.**

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Post by lrbharmony
After removing "Anti Spyware 2008" I am unable to launch Microsoft
applications, internet explorer, windows media player, Microsoft works,
etc... I get a message box "This file does not have a program associated
with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Folder
Options control panel. I have been unable to do this. I have no restore
dates. I would appreciate any help in fixing this problem that does not
result in my losing my files. Thank you.

lrbharmony

2008-08-16 04:50:01 UTC

Permalink

Post by PA Bear [MS MVP]
Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315
Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting your hijackthis log
to an appropriate forum.
Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=5878
http://wiki.castlecops.com/Malware_Removal_and_Prevention:_Introduction
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware
When all else fails, HijackThis v2.0.2
(http://aumha.org/downloads/hijackthis.exe) is the preferred tool to use (in
conjuction with some other utilities). HijackThis will NOT fix anything on
its own, but it will help you to both identify and remove any
hijackware/spyware with assistance from an expert. **Post your log to
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://castlecops.com/forum67.html, or other appropriate forums for review
by an expert in such matters, not here.**
If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA or Geek Squad) computer repair shop.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Thank you for replying to my call for help. The information you provided increased my knowledge base and will be part of my refernce material inthe event something like this happens again. Thank you for your time and assistance.