ALL applications try to open through EXCEL

[dmay]

I hope someone can help me with this, I'm beyond frustrated.

Any time I double click (or go to START --> RUN) any application, Excel
will open and say that the target was not found or that it is not a
valid Excel file. However, this does not affect IE, which will open
fine.

I don't remember changing/opening anything that could have started
this. I can't do system restore because I haven't backed up my system
for a long long time (I know, bad planning), and I can't reformat
because Windows was installed on my computer when I got it and I don't
have a reinstallation disk.

I found an old thread,
(http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support/browse_
thread/thread/dd0f861369a8784a/caa3b0d53290ddb2?lnk=gst&q=all++programs+Excel
&rnum=1#caa3b0d53290ddb2)

but I've tried everything in there:

-- I've gone to www.dougknox.com and gotten the LNK and the EXE fixes
-- I've cleaned out my registry multiple times (with AVG Free and
EWIDO) in safe mode and regular
-- As well as running virus scans multiple time with AdAware SE
Personal, Spyware Doctor, Spybot Search & Destroy, and Norton Antivirus
(also in safe mode and regular).
-- I've gone into Excel: Tools --> Options and clicked the box for
"ignore other applications"

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in
advance for your help!

 

[Jose Gallardo]

Start > Run and type in

cmd

there type

assoc .exe

What is the result?

 

[DRM113]

Thanks for the reply.

When I went to Start-->Run, the run box came up but when I typed "cmd"
it opened Excel... big surprise.

I got to the command prompt through my computer folders. I typed in
"assoc .exe" and the reply was ".exe=exefile"

Hope this helps. Thanks again!

D

 

[Jose Gallardo]

Try this first for the exe files:

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/exefile.htm

 

[DRM113]

Thanks Jose! That link to the exe fix solved my problem. Everything is
working normally now!

Thanks again!

D

 

[Jose Gallardo]

You're welcome.