Is it possible to fix a system (?) file without doing a completereinstall?

[John]

I seem to have a problem where my links (?) are confused "open" comes up
with "open with". Also the system restore window is corrupted so I can't
see the buttons.
If I could identify the process would I be able to reinstall the file??
Or would I have to do a complete reinstall.
I don't have a system restore date going back far enough (just today)...
Thanks
John

 

[Guest]

Try this:

reboot your computer.
tap f8 until the boot options screen comes up.
select (last known good configuration).

____________________________________
I''ll try to help... but I''m still learning too.

 

[John]

Try this:

reboot your computer.
tap f8 until the boot options screen comes up.
select (last known good configuration).

____________________________________
I''ll try to help... but I''m still learning too.

Thanks, I tried it. It didn't work as (I think) I only have a system
restore point from today(??)

 

[Guest]

Can you explain your problem in more detail?

Thanks, I tried it. It didn't work as (I think) I only have a system
restore point from today(??)

 

[John]

Can you explain your problem in more detail?

Something is screwed up, actually it appears to be a windows explorer
problem and registry key issue. The PC is recovering from a virus
delivered via flashcard.. and apparently a few others (despite having
AVG Free and Zone Alarm)
I did an online scan with nod which removed viruses which may have been
in quarantene,
I edited the registry and may have sneezed (while fixing the virus)
or maybe the virus altered some things.

The symptoms are
I put in a flash card to drive F> I rt click and select open > i get the
"open with" dialogue box and have to browse for explorer. "Always use
this program" check box is is unavailable. If I choose "open with " it
opens as it should if I clicked "open"... It seems like a case of "wires
crossed"!

I was also getting a search companion when I clicked the harddrive but
this fix (below) seems to have fixed it.

[Windows Explorer Opens Search Companion Rather than the Folder

If the Windows Explorer opens up the Search Companion rather than
opening up the actual folder, the default setting for opening a folder
is changed.

To correct this:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Directory \ shell and HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
\ Drive \ shell]
3. Edit the default value to be explorer or none]

I've tried all the fixes here:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

(I'll probably do a reinstall later..)
Thanks
John

 

[Elmo]

I seem to have a problem where my links (?) are confused "open" comes up
with "open with". Also the system restore window is corrupted so I can't
see the buttons.
If I could identify the process would I be able to reinstall the file??
Or would I have to do a complete reinstall.
I don't have a system restore date going back far enough (just today)...
Thanks
John

Try the LNK and URL association fixes here.

Fix File Associations.
http://dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

 

[Guest]

Since the 'open with' dialouge pops up, it sounds like the virus removed the
program or link or codec that was used to open that file type.

It is also possible that the program that was used to open that file type
had been infected with the virus and removed by the anti-virus.

Try the link Elmo posted and windows update. Also just do a search for the
file type that is causing the open with to pop up and see what is supposed to
open it. You may find a link to download the missing file.

--
I''ll try to help... but I''m still learning too.

Can you explain your problem in more detail?

Something is screwed up, actually it appears to be a windows explorer
problem and registry key issue. The PC is recovering from a virus
delivered via flashcard.. and apparently a few others (despite having
AVG Free and Zone Alarm)
I did an online scan with nod which removed viruses which may have been
in quarantene,
I edited the registry and may have sneezed (while fixing the virus)
or maybe the virus altered some things.

The symptoms are
I put in a flash card to drive F> I rt click and select open > i get the
"open with" dialogue box and have to browse for explorer. "Always use
this program" check box is is unavailable. If I choose "open with " it
opens as it should if I clicked "open"... It seems like a case of "wires
crossed"!

I was also getting a search companion when I clicked the harddrive but
this fix (below) seems to have fixed it.

[Windows Explorer Opens Search Companion Rather than the Folder

If the Windows Explorer opens up the Search Companion rather than
opening up the actual folder, the default setting for opening a folder
is changed.

To correct this:

1. Start Regedit
2. Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Directory \ shell and HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
\ Drive \ shell]
3. Edit the default value to be explorer or none]

I've tried all the fixes here:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

(I'll probably do a reinstall later..)
Thanks
John