lnk, exe, & reg file association doesn't work

[Paul Isaacs]

My file associations for exe, lnk, reg are all screwed up. I've tried
running the fixes on http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm and they
don't work because the computer doesn't recognize the reg file type used by
the fix. Any other way to solve this problem?

Running XP SP2.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Click Start, Run and type "command.com" (press ENTER)
Type "regedit.exe" in the console and press ENTER

If the Registry Editor starts correctly, you can then import the REG files from the File menu (File - Import) of the Registry Editor.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


My file associations for exe, lnk, reg are all screwed up. I've tried
running the fixes on http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm and they
don't work because the computer doesn't recognize the reg file type used by
the fix. Any other way to solve this problem?

Running XP SP2.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Alternately:

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

<Q>

NOTE: If your EXE file associations are corrupted, it can be difficult to open REGEDIT, or to even import REG files. To work around this, press CTRL-ALT-DEL and open Task Manager. Once there, click File, then hold down the CTRL key and click New Task (Run). This will open a Command Prompt window. Enter REGEDIT.EXE and press Enter.
Thanks to Nigel Andrews for this tip.

</Q>


--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Click Start, Run and type "command.com" (press ENTER)
Type "regedit.exe" in the console and press ENTER

If the Registry Editor starts correctly, you can then import the REG files from the File menu (File - Import) of the Registry Editor.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


My file associations for exe, lnk, reg are all screwed up. I've tried
running the fixes on http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm and they
don't work because the computer doesn't recognize the reg file type used by
the fix. Any other way to solve this problem?

Running XP SP2.

 

[Paul Isaacs]

Thanks Ramesh. The import did the trick. Now there's the problem of why this
happened as my system seems to have a real problem. When I boot to Windows
there's a blank box with only a couple of small symbols that won't allow
the computer to finish loading windows until I click OK. Trying to x out the
box does nothing. Some sort of malware. Any ideas. Nothing to suspicious
with HighJack this. Adaware doesn't find anything.

Click Start, Run and type "command.com" (press ENTER)
Type "regedit.exe" in the console and press ENTER

If the Registry Editor starts correctly, you can then import the REG files
from the File menu (File - Import) of the Registry Editor.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


My file associations for exe, lnk, reg are all screwed up. I've tried
running the fixes on http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm and they
don't work because the computer doesn't recognize the reg file type used by
the fix. Any other way to solve this problem?

Running XP SP2.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Paul,

Following the Malware removal advice here should help.

The Parasite Fight - Quick Fix Protocol:
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.php

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Thanks Ramesh. The import did the trick. Now there's the problem of why this
happened as my system seems to have a real problem. When I boot to Windows
there's a blank box with only a couple of small symbols that won't allow
the computer to finish loading windows until I click OK. Trying to x out the
box does nothing. Some sort of malware. Any ideas. Nothing to suspicious
with HighJack this. Adaware doesn't find anything.

Click Start, Run and type "command.com" (press ENTER)
Type "regedit.exe" in the console and press ENTER

If the Registry Editor starts correctly, you can then import the REG files
from the File menu (File - Import) of the Registry Editor.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


My file associations for exe, lnk, reg are all screwed up. I've tried
running the fixes on http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm and they
don't work because the computer doesn't recognize the reg file type used by
the fix. Any other way to solve this problem?

Running XP SP2.

 

[Rock]

Thanks Ramesh. The import did the trick. Now there's the problem of why
this happened as my system seems to have a real problem. When I boot to
Windows there's a blank box with only a couple of small symbols that
won't allow the computer to finish loading windows until I click OK.
Trying to x out the box does nothing. Some sort of malware. Any ideas.
Nothing to suspicious with HighJack this. Adaware doesn't find anything.

Click Start, Run and type "command.com" (press ENTER)
Type "regedit.exe" in the console and press ENTER

If the Registry Editor starts correctly, you can then import the REG files
from the File menu (File - Import) of the Registry Editor.

My file associations for exe, lnk, reg are all screwed up. I've tried
running the fixes on http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm and they
don't work because the computer doesn't recognize the reg file type used
by
the fix. Any other way to solve this problem?

Does this happen in safe mode? If not then do some clean boot
troubleshooting to see what is causing this box to appear.

Clean Boot Troubleshooting

How to Troubleshoot By Using the Msconfig Utility in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310560

How to perform advanced clean-boot troubleshooting in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=316434

How to perform a clean boot in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=310353

Malware Removal
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

THE PARASITE FIGHT
Finding, Removing & Protecting Yourself From Scumware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

Richard Harper's Guide to Cleaning Pests
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm