windows doesn't recognize .exe or .com files

[Guest]

for some reason after a simple reboot over night I turned my PC back on and
was unable to do anything. All of the .exe files show as unrecognized file
exts and when clicked on I am asked to search online to find a program that
will read the file, I also cannot run .com files same thing unrecognized. I
currently removed the main boot drive and I am scanning it for virii in
tandem hooked to another PC. but any suggestions on how to get windows to
start reading these again?

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Please see the following link to Doug Knox's web site and try the fix for
the
..EXE files:

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

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
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[Guest]

I will try this and let you know, Thanks a lot, this saves me from formating

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

If Doug's fix doesn't work, you could try a System Restore back to a point
before the problem started.

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[John John]

or the Swen fix:

http://download.nai.com/products/mcafee-avert/Fixswen.inf

Download it then right-click on it and select install.

John

 

[Guest]

unfortunatley it doesn't recognize .reg files I cannot access the registry at
all and I cannot run system restore due to not being able to run .exes, is
there another way to do it?

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Can you try running System Restore via Safe Mode?

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
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[myth]

from a website...
"f 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."

i'm also trying to fix the exactly same problem right now...mine got
affected this morning... it seems to be working, but i still haven't
got my icons back. and i've never been more scared of restarting my
windows again...
even my anti virus works now, and it can't find anything wrong... some
websites say it might be Sircam virus. but i'm not sure what seems to
be wrong...

 

[myth]

Will, I tried that but get a blue screen of death... and it's weird the
only thing that were able to run were windows explorer and firefox. but
it seems to be coming back slowly - thanx to Doug Knox's tips...

 

[myth]

ok, it might be too early to say anything for sure... but i think the
prob is fixed following those steps...
also i was reading somewhere on the web, there's more likely a
worm/spyware/virus is capable of escaping known anti-virus apps as
hackers and code writers use them as tests to make sure how to use
their flaws.
i found this anti-virus written by some russian code writers, avast,
that seems to have some good rating on the web. also, a home edition is
free - u just have to register with them.
so, currently i'm running avast anti-virus, lavasoft adaware and
xoftspy. so far, xoftspy has found 3 entries, but the others show
everything clean.
thanx a lot to Doug KNox for the tips and fix files...

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Avast has had some good reviews, but I don't personally use it. Hope
everything works out OK for you.

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[Guest]

I can boot to safe mode with the same results, i tried to reinstall without
overwriting the drive but it gets about halfway thru and still cannot run
..exe, .reg. etc

 

[Guest]

also no since trying to overwrite the windows files the drive won't boot up
anymore, I get a quick flash of a blue screen and it reboots.