Association with .exe files has vanished

[Guest]

Using Win XP Pro - clicking on any .exe file or .lnk file launches Windows Media Player with message 'unsupported file type'. Cannot execute programs from icons, double-click on the program .exe file, or from run command. Already checked for virus - none found. Tried booting to 'last known good configuration', but no change in behavior. Any suggestions short of a full re-install of XP?

 

[dev]

snottgaard said:

Using Win XP Pro - clicking on any .exe file or .lnk file launches Windows Media Player with message 'unsupported file type'. Cannot execute programs from icons, double-click on the program .exe file, or from run command. Already checked for virus - none found. Tried booting to 'last known good configuration', but no change in behavior. Any suggestions short of a full re-install of XP?

Doug's site, below. Click on XP-FIXES. In the righthand column...
"Restore Default File Associations Easily"

 

[Guest]

Thanks. Did as you suggested, ran the scripts, rebooted - no change in system behavior. Would removing Windows Media Player (clicking on an icon or other start method launches media player with 'unsupported file type' message) help to narrow down the possibilities (see what happens) - or would that cause additional problems? Only thing left I think may be repair from the install CD - restore does not work - would like to get it working without a reformat/reinstall if possible. Re-ran Norton AV & AdAware and still both report no problems.