File associations lost!

[nandrews]

I am with a user whose PC has lost all file associations, tho' it seems
to be able to start and run certain things (IExplorer for instance).
I have various .reg patches to apply (from www.dougknox.com) but since
the PC doesn't even know how to open Regedit I am stuck.

Doug suggested renaming regedit.exe to a .com .scr etc. but none of
those are recognised extensions either!

Can anyone suggest a way I can break this loop so I can apply a patch?

Thanks
Nigel

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Nigel,

If all of the major file type associations are lost, then you may need a
repair installation. Alternately, you can load the SOFTWARE hive of the
current Windows installation, by slaving the drive to another system, or
from a parallel installation of Windows XP.

Load a hive into the registry:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pr...elp/967e371b-40f8-4562-ac7c-91e8f251d65b.mspx

Example: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307016

See also:
How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=315341

Repair XP:
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm

--
Ramesh, MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com

Windows XP Newsgroup Setup Instructions for Outlook Express:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/newsgroupsetup.mspx