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Resolved Question

Can't open exe files, such as IE, regedit or cmd.

Dec 7, 2011 6:22AM PST

Can't access exe files.
"This file does not have a program associated with it fr performing this action. Please installa program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Programs control panel."
I found "fixes" online, but nothing helped. I can't acess regedit files, ths has dropped my acess to "open as admin" as well.
The latest fix didnt work either. I changed the files to Adobe, to try to gain acess. Still a no go. I've tried in safe mode as well. Any suggesstions??

Discussion is locked

IndyWolf has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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System Restore to when it worked.
Dec 7, 2011 6:25AM PST

As you tried the usual it's time to use System Restore.

If you have Norton, ask Symantec how to use System Restore since they tinkered with that.
Bob

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THX
Dec 7, 2011 6:40AM PST

Thanks Bob.
I'm using Kaspersky, which also won't open. And I have tried system restore, it gives me an error message.

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Kap does that too.
Dec 7, 2011 6:51AM PST
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Not Kap
Dec 7, 2011 7:02AM PST

I changed all the exe files to open with Adobe, System Restore.exe gives an Adobe error..."There was an error opening this document. This file could not be found." It doesn't look like Kap is blocking.

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This one reminds me so much of
Dec 7, 2011 7:08AM PST

What Norton did. Same story so far. I have not offered any other fixes because you claim you did those. Including the old safe mode command line version.

Kap was supposed to stop this from happening. Now it's time for them to help you recover from what they claimed to protect the OS from.
Bob

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Answer
Let's say KAP can't help. Time to save our files.
Dec 7, 2011 6:57AM PST

I need to know which direction to go first.

Do you want to copy out your files to an external drive or would you rather install a new HDD, install the OS and get at your files later?
Bob

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IDK
Dec 7, 2011 7:08AM PST

Niether, I want a miracle. lol.
I have a couple of eternal hard drives, but after a move no idea where my OS disc for a reinstall is. Never done this. I've worked in the registry keys, but never wiped the whole disc.

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Then how comfortable are you with
Dec 7, 2011 7:10AM PST

NTPASSWD's offline registry editor? You could use that and put the association back.

But my bet is it's time for Kap to help you. They broke it.
Bob

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I've had
Dec 7, 2011 7:16AM PST

no experience with NTpasswd, other than what I just read. Is there a way to open Kap? I can't open my browser (I'm on a laptop now, in front of the PC)

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Back to KAP.
Dec 7, 2011 7:19AM PST

Let them answer.

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Answer
If you get to it with NTPASSWD. Here's the key I'd look at.
Dec 7, 2011 8:27AM PST

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile]
@="Application"
"EditFlags"=hex:38,07,00,00
"FriendlyTypeName"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,\
00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,\
32,00,5c,00,73,00,68,00,65,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,\
00,2c,00,2d,00,31,00,30,00,31,00,35,00,36,00,00,00

[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\" %*"
"IsolatedCommand"="\"%1\" %*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\runas]
"HasLUAShield"=""

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

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\runasuser]
@="@shell32.dll,-50944"
"Extended"=""
"SuppressionPolicyEx"="{F211AA05-D4DF-4370-A2A0-9F19C09756A7}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\runasuser\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{ea72d00e-4960-42fa-ba92-7792a7944c1d}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers]
@="Compatibility"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Compatibility]
@="{1d27f844-3a1f-4410-85ac-14651078412d}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\NvAppShExt]
@="{A929C4CE-FD36-4270-B4F5-34ECAC5BD63C}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\OpenGLShExt]
@="{E97DEC16-A50D-49bb-AE24-CF682282E08D}"

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

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers]

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

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I was able to open a browser
Dec 7, 2011 8:34AM PST

in exe*32. And I'm searching for an online download fix. I still can't get into regedit to work with the keys. I can't even open Kap to change the settings.

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Which is why we use NTPASSWD or other methods.
Dec 7, 2011 8:37AM PST

What other methods? Here's a starter article about it -> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc732157.aspx

What you may not know is that we do this by taking the drive to a good working machine to open the hive (yes, that is what the registry is called at MSFT) and to do such work.

NTPASSWD looks easier every minute.
Bob

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I don't know what fix...
Dec 7, 2011 8:52AM PST

This is something new to me, and I'm learning it as I go. Pulling a trojan out of the keys is one thing. That kinda thing I can know.
I can't get into regedit.
Blanking may be my best option. Which I know nothing about yet.

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Sorry but maybe I was unclear.
Dec 7, 2011 8:55AM PST

To get into regedit we do that on a working machine and have the HDD from the tainted/broken machine connected to the working machine. Then we can use Microsoft's methods for loading and unloading the hive from the other machine.

I think you are beginning to see why folk take classes and seminars on this. Or just reload the OS.
Bob

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Try the following ...
Dec 7, 2011 9:24AM PST

Go to this link and download the ex file association fix (it is a zipped reg file). While there download any other fixes you might need such as the com file association fix.

Unzip the files then RIGHT CLICK and choose the merge option.

Hopefully that will work.

If it doesn't work you might try renaming regedit.exe to regedit.com or try regedt32.exe (might also run if extension is changed to com)

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Edward....
Dec 7, 2011 10:02AM PST

What link?
Can't rename.