Folder problem

[John Larronn]

Hi,

I am running Windows Vista Premium and I have a folder problem.

I cannot open folders with photos on the desktop. When I double-click on a
folder to open it, I get the message 'Application not found'. But when I
right-click on this folder, I can open it with 'Open' or 'Explore'. I have
also noticed that when I right-click on this folder, 'Compress files' is
bold but 'Open' and 'Explore' are not bold. I have no problems with folders
that contain Word documents.

I have not removed any photo programs. It just happened out of the blue a
few weeks ago. It may be a virus problem that has changed a registry
setting.

Could anyone help me please? Thanks!

John

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Hi,

I am running Windows Vista Premium and I have a folder problem.

I cannot open folders with photos on the desktop. When I double-click on a
folder to open it, I get the message 'Application not found'. But when I
right-click on this folder, I can open it with 'Open' or 'Explore'. I have
also noticed that when I right-click on this folder, 'Compress files' is
bold but 'Open' and 'Explore' are not bold. I have no problems with folders
that contain Word documents.

I have not removed any photo programs. It just happened out of the blue a
few weeks ago. It may be a virus problem that has changed a registry
setting.

Could anyone help me please? Thanks!

John

It might be as simple as fixing the file association.

Go to such a folder, right click on a file, and when you choose a
viewer, make sure "Always use this application to open this file type"
(or similar wording).

Assuming I read your description correctly...

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

It might be as simple as fixing the file association.

Go to such a folder, right click on a file, and when you choose a
viewer, make sure "Always use this application to open this file type"
(or similar wording).

Assuming I read your description correctly...

Also assuming that I typed my response correctly - but I didn't

I meant
"Make sure (stuff)" *is checked*.

 

[John Larronn]

Also assuming that I typed my response correctly - but I didn't

I meant
"Make sure (stuff)" *is checked*.

Hi,

Thanks for your quick reply, much appreciated!

I have tried this, I have tried a few programs but they didn't work.

It is very strange.

When I create a new folder on the desktop and I double-click on it (this
folder is empty), I get the error massage 'Application not found'. But when
I create a copy of this new folder by holding down the Ctrl key and I
double-click on it (this folder is also empty), then I can open the folder
in a normal way.

But when I create a copy of a folder with photos and I double-click on this
folder with photos, then I get the message 'Application not found'.

So the problem is not - as far as I can see - that the folder is opened with
the wrong program, but it is something much more complicated.

John

 

[John Larronn]

Perform a restoration from a System Restore point that was created prior
to when this problem first occured.

Hi,

Thanks for your advice, but I have tried this a few times. But each time the
System Restore fails to do its job.

John

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Hi,

Thanks for your quick reply, much appreciated!

I have tried this, I have tried a few programs but they didn't work.

It is very strange.

When I create a new folder on the desktop and I double-click on it (this
folder is empty), I get the error massage 'Application not found'. But when
I create a copy of this new folder by holding down the Ctrl key and I
double-click on it (this folder is also empty), then I can open the folder
in a normal way.

I can't decode what you are saying here.

"I create a copy of this new folder by holding down the Ctrl key" ????

If I hold control and double-click a folder, nothing happens. No - the
second time I tried, it opened just like if I double-clicked without
Ctrl. Same with Shift, but not Alt...

But when I create a copy of a folder with photos and I double-click on this
folder with photos, then I get the message 'Application not found'.

Empty or full of photos, no change...

So the problem is not - as far as I can see - that the folder is opened with
the wrong program, but it is something much more complicated.

John

It kind of sounds like Windows doesn't associate to Explorer.

I imagine that's in the Registry, but I have no idea where.

So I suggest you follow David Lipman's advice in his reply,

Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Sorry I can't do better.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Hi,

Thanks for your advice, but I have tried this a few times. But each time the
System Restore fails to do its job.

Clarify please. Do you mean System Restore says it failed to restore
your system, or do you mean it doesn't fix the problem?

If the former, do you run Norton Antivirus or System Protection (or
whatever they call it)?

 

[John Larronn]

Clarify please. Do you mean System Restore says it failed to restore
your system, or do you mean it doesn't fix the problem?

If the former, do you run Norton Antivirus or System Protection (or
whatever they call it)?

It says System Restore failed to restore the system.

No, I do not run Norton Antivirus, but you mentioning System Protection -
Windows Defender - is a very good tip indeed, thanks! This may well be the
reason why System Restore fails to work.

So I turned off Windows Defender and opened System Restore, but
unfortunately the oldest restore point is only two weeks old. And the
problem started just before Christmas.

But that's a good tip, I'll remember in the future to rurn off Windows
Defender before using System Restore.

John

 

[John Larronn]

I can't decode what you are saying here.

"I create a copy of this new folder by holding down the Ctrl key" ????

If I hold control and double-click a folder, nothing happens. No - the
second time I tried, it opened just like if I double-clicked without
Ctrl. Same with Shift, but not Alt...


Empty or full of photos, no change...


It kind of sounds like Windows doesn't associate to Explorer.

I imagine that's in the Registry, but I have no idea where.

So I suggest you follow David Lipman's advice in his reply,

Message-ID: <[email protected]>

Sorry I can't do better.

Thanks for your help, much appreciated!

John

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

It says System Restore failed to restore the system.

No, I do not run Norton Antivirus, but you mentioning System Protection -
Windows Defender - is a very good tip indeed, thanks! This may well be the
reason why System Restore fails to work.

So I turned off Windows Defender and opened System Restore, but
unfortunately the oldest restore point is only two weeks old. And the
problem started just before Christmas.

But that's a good tip, I'll remember in the future to rurn off Windows
Defender before using System Restore.

John

I have never had a problem with System Restore while Windows Defender is
running, but I have with Norton.

Norton protects itself so well that it blocks System Restore.

What I did when I ran Norton was to do a System Restore, then when it
failed I would remember to turn of Norton's self protection (not turn
off Norton, just disable *only* its self protection). I hardly ever
remembered in advance

I haven't run Norton for a few years (the above is only one reason).

 

[John Larronn]

Try it again but this time do it from the POV of booting in Safe Mode.

Safe Mode is a good idea, thanks, but since the eariest restore point is two
weeks old and the problem started just before Christmas, it would not solve
the problem.

John

 

[John Larronn]

Sigh - yes :-(

Thanks for your help, Dave, very kind of you and much appreciated!

John

 

[John Larronn]

I have never had a problem with System Restore while Windows Defender is
running, but I have with Norton.

Norton protects itself so well that it blocks System Restore.

What I did when I ran Norton was to do a System Restore, then when it
failed I would remember to turn of Norton's self protection (not turn
off Norton, just disable *only* its self protection). I hardly ever
remembered in advance

I haven't run Norton for a few years (the above is only one reason).

Thanks for your help, Gene, very kind of you and much appreciated!

John

 

[John Larronn]

I have never had a problem with System Restore while Windows Defender is
running, but I have with Norton.

Norton protects itself so well that it blocks System Restore.

What I did when I ran Norton was to do a System Restore, then when it
failed I would remember to turn of Norton's self protection (not turn
off Norton, just disable *only* its self protection). I hardly ever
remembered in advance

I haven't run Norton for a few years (the above is only one reason).

Thanks for your help, Gene, very kind of you and much appreciated!

John