Windows cannot find .EXE error?

[Simon Lister]

Hi all,

I am trying to fix a laptop here that runs windows XP home edition.
the problem is that whenever I try to open an application, the following
error occurs:

windows cannot find 'applicationname.exe', make sure you typed the name
correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Strat button,
and then click Search.

I had my suspicions that this may be W32/Sircam virus but after booting up
in safe mode with command prompt, I found this not to be the case having
looked into the registry.

Has anyone else had any experience in this or can anyone suggest a fix?

Thanks,

Simon

 

[Ramesh [MS-MVP]]

If the file association for .exe has changed automatically, this behaviour
is generally caused by viruses. One of which is Sircamm virus, which
modifies the .exe file association in registry. Reset the .exe file
assocation using any of these steps:

Solution 1:

Click [Start] [Run] [Command]
Type the following and then press Enter after typing each one:

cd\windows
copy regedit.exe regedit.com
start regedit.com

Navigate to and select the following key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command

Double-click the (Default) value in the right pane.
Delete the current value data, and then type: "%1" %*
(ie., type the following characters:
quote-percent-one-quote-space-percent-asterisk.)

Exit the Registry Editor and restart Windows.

Solution 2:

Download .exe File association fix from here:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

NOTE: Most importantly, update the definition files for your A/V
software and scan the system for viruses.

--
Regards,
Ramesh
[MS-MVP]
AOL: SRamesh2k

«·´`·.(*·.¸(`·.¸ ¸.·´)¸.·*).·´`·»
«.............. Ramesh ...............»
«·´`·.(¸.·´(¸.·* *·.¸)`·.¸).·´`·»

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Hi all,

I am trying to fix a laptop here that runs windows XP home edition.
the problem is that whenever I try to open an application, the following
error occurs:

windows cannot find 'applicationname.exe', make sure you typed the name
correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Strat button,
and then click Search.

I had my suspicions that this may be W32/Sircam virus but after booting up
in safe mode with command prompt, I found this not to be the case having
looked into the registry.

Has anyone else had any experience in this or can anyone suggest a fix?

Thanks,

Simon

 

[Simon Lister]

Thanks,
I had checked this registry entry for the sircam virus, after your advise i
modified it which fixed the problem.
Having looked a little bit deeper into this, I have found that the computer
was infected by Gibe.C and the point of entry was via email. I have advised
the user about this.

Thanks for your help

Simon