Please HELP! All Windows XP programs are associated with another program

[Frank D]

Please help, Windows XP Professional runs but I can't run ANY programs.

I don't know exactly what happened, but while trying to associate a program with its own .EXE file (using a folder window's Tools>Folder Options) I accidentally must have associated the other program with *Windows Explorer*. Then no matter what program I tried to run, the associated program tried to run but failed. I renamed the other program's EXE file to EX_, but that doesn't solve the problem. Now I get this message: "Windows cannot find 'C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE.' Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again."

I can't even run Control Panel. There I get the message "Windows cannot find 'rundll32.exe.'" I can't run System Restore to return to a restore point. I get the message "Windows cannot find 'C:\Windows\System32\Restore\rstrui.exe.'"

I tried rebooting to the last known good configuration, but that is THIS one.

I tried rebooting in Safe Mode, but the same thing happens.

I don't want to try reinstalling Windows if there is a simpler approach because I may lose things. However, if that is what I must do . . .

Can anyone help before I take the next step? Thank you!

Frank Dauenhauer

 

[Edward]

Hi, Frank.

I don't know if this will help, but If Windows can't find the file then it
is either missing or corrupted. It should be in C:\Windows, as the message
tells you.

Now, I think there should be a replica copy in C:\Wndows\Driver Cache/i386
folder. I suggest you check and if you find it, drag it and copy it into
C:\Windows - overwrite the exsiting if asked.

Hope this helps,

Good luck,

Ed





Please help, Windows XP Professional runs but I can't run ANY programs.

I don't know exactly what happened, but while trying to associate a program
with its own .EXE file (using a folder window's Tools>Folder Options) I
accidentally must have associated the other program with *Windows Explorer*.
Then no matter what program I tried to run, the associated program tried to
run but failed. I renamed the other program's EXE file to EX_, but that
doesn't solve the problem. Now I get this message: "Windows cannot find
'C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE.' Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then
try again."

I can't even run Control Panel. There I get the message "Windows cannot find
'rundll32.exe.'" I can't run System Restore to return to a restore point. I
get the message "Windows cannot find
'C:\Windows\System32\Restore\rstrui.exe.'"

I tried rebooting to the last known good configuration, but that is THIS
one.

I tried rebooting in Safe Mode, but the same thing happens.

I don't want to try reinstalling Windows if there is a simpler approach
because I may lose things. However, if that is what I must do . . .

Can anyone help before I take the next step? Thank you!

Frank Dauenhauer

 

[Mike Matheny]

You may have a virus. I had a similar problem that was caused by a virus. If
you do a repair install, you won't lose anything.

--

Mike Matheny

Please help, Windows XP Professional runs but I can't run ANY programs.

I don't know exactly what happened, but while trying to associate a program
with its own .EXE file (using a folder window's Tools>Folder Options) I
accidentally must have associated the other program with *Windows Explorer*.
Then no matter what program I tried to run, the associated program tried to
run but failed. I renamed the other program's EXE file to EX_, but that
doesn't solve the problem. Now I get this message: "Windows cannot find
'C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE.' Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then
try again."

I can't even run Control Panel. There I get the message "Windows cannot find
'rundll32.exe.'" I can't run System Restore to return to a restore point. I
get the message "Windows cannot find
'C:\Windows\System32\Restore\rstrui.exe.'"

I tried rebooting to the last known good configuration, but that is THIS
one.

I tried rebooting in Safe Mode, but the same thing happens.

I don't want to try reinstalling Windows if there is a simpler approach
because I may lose things. However, if that is what I must do . . .

Can anyone help before I take the next step? Thank you!

Frank Dauenhauer

 

[Frank D]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Matheny" <mikematheny@swbelldotnet>
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2003 1:00 PM
Subject: Re: Please HELP! All Windows XP programs are associated with another program

| You may have a virus. I had a similar problem that was caused by a virus. If
| you do a repair install, you won't lose anything.
|
| --
|
| Mike Matheny
|

Mike, thank you for your reply.

I ran my antivirus program (AVG, up to date) and it did not detect any viruses.

I have tried repeatedly to run the Windows XP Repair Installation program following instructions I found at http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_repair_install.htm and http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm , but the procedure does not work. Here's what happens.

Everything is OK until I get past the Windows Licensing Agreement screen. I press F8 to agree to the license agreement. I make sure that my current installation of Windows XP is selected, -- BUT THERE IS NO 'R' OPTION to enter or display "the Recovery Console." The only option it offers me is a complete installation, which it says will overwrite my current installation and delete my files. At this point I bail out.

I don't understand why my screens and options don't agree with the ones in the instructions.

Is there something I'm doing wrong or something I'm missing?

I would appreciate any help you or anyone can offer at this point. Thank you.

Frank Dauenhauer

P.S. I have a new, extra hard drive I haven't done anything with yet. I can use it to make a clone of my current hard drive as a backup, before I do something irreversible. Does this give me any options?

 

[Frank C. Dauenhauer]

| | Please help, Windows XP Professional runs but I can't run ANY programs.
|
| I don't know exactly what happened, but while trying to associate a program
| with its own .EXE file (using a folder window's Tools>Folder Options) I
| accidentally must have associated the other program with *Windows Explorer*.
| Then no matter what program I tried to run, the associated program tried to
| run but failed. I renamed the other program's EXE file to EX_, but that
| doesn't solve the problem. Now I get this message: "Windows cannot find
| 'C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE.' Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then
| try again."
|
| I can't even run Control Panel. There I get the message "Windows cannot find
| 'rundll32.exe.'" I can't run System Restore to return to a restore point. I
| get the message "Windows cannot find
| 'C:\Windows\System32\Restore\rstrui.exe.'"
|
| I tried rebooting to the last known good configuration, but that is THIS
| one.
|
| I tried rebooting in Safe Mode, but the same thing happens.
|
| I don't want to try reinstalling Windows if there is a simpler approach
| because I may lose things. However, if that is what I must do . . .
|
| Can anyone help before I take the next step? Thank you!
|
| Frank Dauenhauer
|
|
| You may have a virus. I had a similar problem that was caused by a virus. If
| you do a repair install, you won't lose anything.
|
| --
|
| Mike Matheny
|

Thank you Mike. Let me apologize to the group for asking for help in bailing me out of a stupid problem I created myself. I hope this information will help someone else who ever does the same kind of thing.

Looking back, I see that I erroneously changed the association of (what I thought was) one EXE file to something other than Windows Explorer. But because of that change I then couldn't run ANY programs. In effect, I had changed the associations of ALL EXE files to something other than what they needed to be able to run! I was now stuck in a loop that I couldn't get out of.

I jumped to the conclusion that I needed to reinstall or repair Windows XP to get up and running again. Who knows, if I had been able to do that it might have worked, but I also may have lost some settings and would have had to reinstall many Windows updates due to it.

But, LUCKILY, I COULDN'T do that because the "Repair Console" prompt would not appear when I ran the Windows CD and tried to access it. I couldn't repair Windows. Instead, I would have had to do a full install and lose everything. That forced me to try and think of something else. Out of desperation, I began reading all the postings on this list. By pure chance I found one submitted by "Frank" at 4:42 PM on the subject of Associations. It was the right one! His text was, "Right click on the file and choose open with, check the box to always open with and select the program you want to associate it with." Why didn't I think of that to begin with?

I right-clicked on the EXE file whose association I had previously changed. I clicked on "Open with..." and selected Windows Explorer (I had to search for it in the \Windows folder because it did not appear in the list). Windows then asked me if I wanted to change associations for all EXE files to Windows Explorer. I couldn't believe it! I said YES. And it worked!

After rebooting my machine, it's back to absolute normal! Thank you Frank!!!!

The first thing I will do tomorrow morning is install a second hard drive in my PC and clone my current drive to it as a backup.

My thanks to all who offered their help! This is a great group!

Frank Dauenhauer

 

[Alex Nichol]

Please help, Windows XP Professional runs but I can't run ANY programs.

I don't know exactly what happened, but while trying to associate a program with its own .EXE file (using a folder window's Tools>Folder Options) I accidentally must have associated the other program with *Windows Explorer*. Then no matter what program I tried to run, the associated program tried to run but failed. I renamed the other program's EXE file to EX_, but that doesn't solve the problem. Now I get this message: "Windows cannot find 'C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE.' Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again."

Make the following, after - - start and before - - end into a file by
cut/paste to NotePad. Make sure there is a blank line at the end. Save
as "Patch.reg" then right-click on this file and take Merge to enter it
into the registry.

- - start
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe]
@="exefile"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile]
@="Application"
"EditFlags"=hex:d8,07,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell]
@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open]
@=""
"EditFlags"=hex:00,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"


- - end

 

[Frank C. Dauenhauer]

| Frank D wrote:
|
| >Please help, Windows XP Professional runs but I can't run ANY programs.
| >
| >I don't know exactly what happened, but while trying to associate a program with its own .EXE file (using a folder window's Tools>Folder Options) I accidentally must have associated the other program with *Windows Explorer*. Then no matter what program I tried to run, the associated program tried to run but failed. I renamed the other program's EXE file to EX_, but that doesn't solve the problem. Now I get this message: "Windows cannot find 'C:\Windows\Explorer.EXE.' Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again."
|
|
| Make the following, after - - start and before - - end into a file by
| cut/paste to NotePad. Make sure there is a blank line at the end. Save
| as "Patch.reg" then right-click on this file and take Merge to enter it
| into the registry.
|
| - - start
| REGEDIT4
|
| [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe]
| @="exefile"
|
| [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile]
| @="Application"
| "EditFlags"=hex:d8,07,00,00
|
| [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell]
| @=""
|
| [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open]
| @=""
| "EditFlags"=hex:00,00,00,00
|
| [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command]
| @="\"%1\" %*"
|
|
| - - end
|
| --
| Alex Nichol MS MVP (Windows Technologies)
| Bournemouth, U.K. (e-mail address removed)8E8L.org (remove the D8 bit)

Alex,

My thanks and appreciation to you for creating this patch for my problem. At this point I won't be using it, however, because unexpectedly I found a solution to the problem as I wrote in my posting to the group at 9:52 PM (EST) last night (11/14). Here is the text:

"Let me apologize to the group for asking for help in bailing me out of a stupid problem I created myself. I hope this information will help someone else who ever does the same kind of thing.

"Looking back, I see that I erroneously changed the association of (what I thought was) one EXE file to something other than Windows Explorer. But because of that change I then couldn't run ANY programs. In effect, I had changed the associations of ALL EXE files to something other than what they needed to be able to run! I was now stuck in a loop that I couldn't get out of.

"I jumped to the conclusion that I needed to reinstall or repair Windows XP to get up and running again. Who knows, if I had been able to do that it might have worked, but I also may have lost some settings and would have had to reinstall many Windows updates due to it.

"But, LUCKILY, I COULDN'T do that because the "Repair Console" prompt would not appear when I ran the Windows CD and tried to access it. I couldn't repair Windows. Instead, I would have had to do a full install and lose everything. That forced me to try and think of something else. Out of desperation, I began reading all the postings on this list. By pure chance I found one submitted by "Frank" at 4:42 PM (11/14) on the subject of Associations. It was the right one! His text was, "Right click on the file and choose open with, check the box to always open with and select the program you want to associate it with." Why didn't I think of that to begin with?

"I right-clicked on the EXE file whose association I had previously changed. I clicked on "Open with..." and selected Windows Explorer (I had to search for it in the \Windows folder because it did not appear in the list). Windows then asked me if I wanted to change associations for all EXE files to Windows Explorer. I couldn't believe it! I said YES. And it worked!

"After rebooting my machine, it's back to absolute normal! Thank you Frank!!!!

"The first thing I will do tomorrow morning is install a second hard drive in my PC and clone my current drive to it as a backup.

"My thanks to all who offered their help! This is a great group!

"Frank Dauenhauer"

I am now about to begin the installation of the second hard drive and the cloning of the original to it.

Thank you again, Alex!!!

Frank