XP Unable To Run Any .exe Program

[M]

Earlier today my fathers PC crashed and on restarting won't now run any
program, not even in safe mode. Selecting last know good configuration does
not correct this. When I double click any program icon the Windows can't
open this file dialog appears and then gives me the opportunity to select a
program to associate the .exe file extension with. I have tried associating
..exe with krnl386.exe didn't work. All I really want to do is get system
restore to run so that I can restore the PC to the sate it was in before the
crash. I would prefer not to have to do an overlay install this weekend so
I would be grateful for any advice as to how to get out of this one.

 

[Rock]

Earlier today my fathers PC crashed and on restarting won't now run any
program, not even in safe mode. Selecting last know good configuration does
not correct this. When I double click any program icon the Windows can't
open this file dialog appears and then gives me the opportunity to select a
program to associate the .exe file extension with. I have tried associating
.exe with krnl386.exe didn't work. All I really want to do is get system
restore to run so that I can restore the PC to the sate it was in before the
crash. I would prefer not to have to do an overlay install this weekend so
I would be grateful for any advice as to how to get out of this one.

Two options. One is to run a system restore to a date right before the
crash. Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | System Restore.

The second is to run the .exe file association fix on Doug Knox's site:
http://www.dougknox.com/. Go to Win XP Fixes section, then File
Association Fixes, Exe File Association Fix.

 

[M]

Thanks! The fix from Doug Knox's site worked first time. Thanks to Doug
Knox as well!

 

[Rock]

Thanks! The fix from Doug Knox's site worked first time. Thanks to Doug
Knox as well!

Great, glad it worked for you and thanks for posting back.

 

[JAyL]

This is WinXP_EXE_Fix.reg

Copy and paste in Notepad
.......................................From
Here..............................
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe]
@="exefile"
"Content Type"="application/x-msdownload"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\PersistentHandler]
@="{098f2470-bae0-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile]
@="Application"
"EditFlags"=hex:38,07,00,00
"TileInfo"="prop:FileDescription;Company;FileVersion"
"InfoTip"="prop:FileDescription;Company;FileVersion;Create;Size"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\DefaultIcon]
@="%1"

[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\" %*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\runas]

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

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\DropHandler]
@="{86C86720-42A0-1069-A2E8-08002B30309D}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\PEAnalyser]
@="{09A63660-16F9-11d0-B1DF-004F56001CA7}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\PifProps]
@="{86F19A00-42A0-1069-A2E9-08002B30309D}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\ShimLayer Property
Page]
@="{513D916F-2A8E-4F51-AEAB-0CBC76FB1AF8}"
...........................................To
Here...............................

Name the File what ever, like Fix.reg or something and save it in a
directory easy to remember,like C:\ or A:\
Do Windows key + R to open command line and type :
....Regedit X:\Fix.reg..... (X=the path to Fix.reg)
It will ask you if are you sure you want to add the information in that
file.reg to the registry.
Well, i wasn't sure nether but after reboot, it works pretty good.

Ref: http://filext.com/WinXP_EXE_Fix.reg

 

[jthomas]

I have tried both of the suggestions here, but I am still having th
same problem. Every .exe program tries to open in word. Any othe
suggestions


-
jthoma

 

[Kelly]

What were the suggestions? In the meantime:

EXE and LNK Fix for Windows XP - Line 12
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

To use the Regedit: Save the REG File to your hard disk. Double click it
and answer yes to the import prompt. REG files can be viewed in Notepad by
right clicking on the file and selecting Edit.


--
Happy New Year,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com