Can NOT run files with ext .EXE .REG .lnk, or others

[Guest]

Running Win XP HE with SP2, computer is virus free (checked yesterday full
system scan with 2 seperate progs). Turned computer on today and two
messages immediately appeared one a .exe and other .lnk both had message
"Windows needs to knw what prog created it" Searched newsgroups and found
message by Eca with response by Ron Martell on Sept/1/2004. Last message
said needed to scan for viruses but that was end of thread.
I can run IE, Corel, and view through folders. Can also view media files
(all are uncorrupted). There was a similar thread that had links to
correcting the registry files but as .REG files can not be run either that
was of little assistance (beyond discovering that .REG files are not running).

Pierce

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Please try the following link to Doug Knox's web site and run the fixes for
..EXE & .LNK Files:

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

 

[Guest]

Already tried that site, that was how I found the problem with the .REG
files. (Thank you for the quick response though).

 

[Guest]

Was able to sort through the problem on my own. It requires a reinstallation
of the XP from the core up. Start by swapping boot order on your bios and
activating the computer from disk. From there I can not remember the exact
path I had to take but you will need you microsoft product number (that 25
character thing) and about 2 or 3 hours total. Still no leads as to the
cause but the computer was virus and malware free before and after problem,
maybe something in the core programing considering this problem arose 14
months after acquisition of computer.

 

[kira]

Registry

Something obviously happened to your registry that deleted the file associations. I had the exact same thing happen and spent a month running on a spare drive because I had no windows installation CD, even though I had an expensive top-of-the-line eMachines. I even called them and they refused to ship me out a CD. He told me I'd have to go out and buy Windows Media Center (which, by the way, you CANNOT buy anywhere). I do own a proper copy of Windows, but it's on the machine! What happened to the days of getting installation cd's, driver cd's or even boot cd's ?!!!

After I got a 300gb external drive, i was able to move a backup of my c drive over and make another backup (yes of the corrupt drive) so i'd have all my email and that stuff. I ran the "restore" function, which the guy on the phone said would backup My Documents if I wanted but would delete everything. I chose "backup" and it wiped the My Documents folder ANYWAY! woo-hoo thanks microsoft! what if i were relying on you to save my stuff? hahahah that would never happen.

Anyway, got a clean install and proceeded to backup only the folders that I needed and now I'm fine.

~kira

ps- Why does microsoft make an OS that you can't buy while computer manufacturers refuse to give you installation cd's? Windows gets so dirty that you have to refresh the system files... it's just always going to be a necessity. it doesn't make sense why they won't give it to you. is it to force you to upgrade?