All .exe files suddenly fail to run

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lee
  • Start date Start date
L

Lee

When I select ANY executable application file or short-
cuts to an EXE file to run it, a unexpected thing happens:
my adobe acrobat reader is launched. When I right-click
an EXE icon to select another application to run the file,
all the EXE applications will launch as another
application -- such as word pad, or msPaint. ALL shortcut
and program ICONS now change in appearance to word pad or
msPaint or acrobat reader.

Please advise.
Lee
 
if you are comfortable with regedit follow these instructions to check my
theory.

click start -> run -> regedit

if regedit doesn't start and you get same error as previous then rename
c:\windows regedit.exe to regedit.com and try running now.

look for this

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command

the entry should be
(default) REG_SZ "%1" %*
If not, change it to this.

if you had to rename regedit then now change it back.
 
I'll give it a try tonight, thanks Vicky!
-----Original Message-----
if you are comfortable with regedit follow these instructions to check my
theory.

click start -> run -> regedit

if regedit doesn't start and you get same error as previous then rename
c:\windows regedit.exe to regedit.com and try running now.

look for this

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command

the entry should be
(default) REG_SZ "%1" %*
If not, change it to this.

if you had to rename regedit then now change it back.





.
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