default user profile in xp pro is compeltely borked

[robr]

My dad is having problems with his PC. Basically HTM and HTML and
other such extensions associated with Internet Explorer don't work. I
figured this would be simple to fix. I went into explorer (via RDP)
and reassociated the extensions with IE, but when I launch anything IE
related, it says it can't find IE and is trying to load it from his
user profile rather than C:\program files\internet
explorer\iexplore.exe.

I tried several things that didn't work then just created a new user
figuring a new user profile would fix the problem and I'd just migrate
his bookmarks over. Nope, same issue. Everything is trying find the
IE executable in the user profile directory. I'm not sure what's going
on or what to look at next. Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

My dad is having problems with his PC. Basically HTM and HTML and
other such extensions associated with Internet Explorer don't work. I
figured this would be simple to fix. I went into explorer (via RDP)
and reassociated the extensions with IE, but when I launch anything IE
related, it says it can't find IE and is trying to load it from his
user profile rather than C:\program files\internet
explorer\iexplore.exe.

I tried several things that didn't work then just created a new user
figuring a new user profile would fix the problem and I'd just migrate
his bookmarks over. Nope, same issue. Everything is trying find the
IE executable in the user profile directory. I'm not sure what's going
on or what to look at next. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Try assoc.exe from a Command Prompt to check his associations.
If his default profile is corrupted (which is highly unlikely) then you
could copy one of the intact profiles into the default profile.

 

[NewScience]

Checkthe following registry key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\htmlfile\shell\open\command
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\htmlfile\shell\command (if key present)

and verify the path is set to C:\Program Files\......

 

[NewScience]

Why would you have him overwrite the Default user profile with a known user
profile that has all sorts of settings in it not pertaining to a Default
user profile.

Wouldn't it be more prudent, if last resort, you check for a backup copy or
another system's Default user profile file?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Why would you have him overwrite the Default user profile with a known user
profile that has all sorts of settings in it not pertaining to a Default
user profile.

This was implied but yes, I should have mentioned it explicitely.

 

[robr]

Thanks for the ideas, but unfortunately I'm still having the problem
even though one of the registry entries you pointed out appeared to be
incorrect.

The first key was set to
"C:\DOCUME~1\Donna\Desktop\INTERN~1\IEXPLORE.EXE" -nohome

The second key doesn't exist. I set the first key to "C:\Program
Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE" -nohome

I then logged out and back in just to make sure the old values weren't
cached. I then double clicked on a saved URL link on the desktop and
am prompted with the "Open With" box with a list of applications (IE is
not listed in those apps, XML Editor is highlited). I then browse to
IE, select it, but it's still not in the list and nothing opens.

If I go to explorer and folder options>file types, I see HTM and HTML
appear to be associated to IE (the IE icon is to the left of those
types) but if I click Change, it comes up with XML Editor highlighted
(and again IE is not shown in the list of programs).

If I click Advanced and change icon, it tells me that Windows cannot
find the file C:\DOCUME~1\Donna\Desktop\INTERN~1\IEXPLORE.EXE - so it
appears it's still looking in the wrong place.

assoc.exe run from command line just shows
..ht=htfile
..hta=htafile
..htc=
..htm=htmlfile
..html=htmlfile
..htt=HTTfile

 

[robr]

I think I fixed it. I just did a registry search on
C:\DOCUME~1\Donna\Desktop\INTERN~1\IEXPLORE.EXE and replaced those
references with the correct location. IE now shows up in the "program
association list" and the icons on the desktop now start IE. Thanks
for the idea.

 

[NewScience]

Good for you. I was going to suggest that next and also check the
Application registry key.