Regedit will not open

[Stephen Flanagan]

If I select Start and Run and type in regedit then the normal explorer type
folder doesn't appear. A DOS window opens with the blue toolbar stating
'C:\WINDOWS\system32\regedit.com', a flashing cursor in the main window
which will accept no keyboard input, the only way I can close the window
down is to click the X in the top right hand corner, which gives me the
dialogue box End Program with an End Now or Cancel button.. After that I
get an error message "16 bit MS-DOS Subsystem" stating
"C:\WINDOWS\system32\regedit.com The NTVDM CPU has encountered an illegal
instruction. CS:06cd IP:00f6 OP:cd 06 86 32 00 Choose 'Close' to terminate
the application'

If I try to open regedit using Fresh UI it opens normally so wonder if
somehow the run command is pointing at the wrong file?

Can you advise what is wrong with regedit?

Thanks

Steve

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Nothing is wrong with regedit, but there is a problem with your system.
There is a file called regedit.com in the system32 folder and you need to
delete it. In order to do this, you must first do two things:

1) Set the system to see hidden and system files/folders. Go to the Control
Panel/Folder Options, and on the View tab, set the options so you can see
hidden and system files. Specifically:

Enable (check) "Display the contents of system folders"
Enable (check) "Show hidden files and folders"
Disable (uncheck): "Hide protected operating system files (recommended)"

I also recommend that you disable (uncheck) "hide extensions for known file
types".

2) Restart the system in Safe mode, as the file with the .com extension is
likely a virus and will resist deleting in normal mode.

How to start in Safe mode:
http://www.rickrogers.org/fixes.htm#Safe mode

Also, check for cmd.com (the real file is cmd.exe) and delete it as well
before restarting.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org