Unable to open .exe files

Anonymous

Vista won't load .exe files! And more problems...

Ok, so all of a sudden, my computer goes berserk and I get all these pop-ups and messages saying that my computer is infected. Then it continues to say that I can't use the computer unless I delete the Trojans. I press the Remove Virus button and it takes me to a page on IE that says I have to pay for this Windows Vista Security package to remove the viruses. I ignore that, and proceed to download Avast! the great free anti-virus program that so many people have told me about.

Well, I tried to open Avast! but Windows kept saying that that file was infected. So I shut down several times, and I still had the problem. So I gave up, went to bed, hoping that the problem would be fixed tomorrow.

Next day: I opened Windows, and I didn't have any of those pop-ups. But, I couldn't open ANYTHING. I tried to open Firefox, and something popped up saying something like "Windows cannot find the correct program to open firefox.exe, choose a program from the list" and all that was on the list was Internet Explorer.

When I tried to open Microsoft Word, it said that it couldn't find the correct program, and told me to choose frmo the listed programs, which was just Internet Explorer.

Same thing happened with Google Chrome, Avast!, and Notepad.... All of them were prompting me to open them with a different kind of program.

Thing is, when I try to open IE itself, it prompts me to open it with the correct program-opener, and lists Internet explorer.

I didn't get those pop-ups, or messages telling me I had viruses anymore...

Please help, as soon as possible.

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Hello Pixel Lite,

There was a KB article created to help fix this issue, the article has a Fix it to automate the steps.

See this KB article:

Can't open .EXE files in Windows 7 or Windows Vista

Hope this helps.

L.D.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

So I just fixed mine, EXEs are loading correctly now. It was a few registry issues that just need to be changed.

Type command in the RUN dialog box to open Command Prompt
When Command Prompt is up, type cd \windows3. Type regedit to open up the Registries.

4. Expand HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and find the folder of .exe

Without expanding it, on the main .exe folder, Right-click (Default) and Modify. Change the Value Data to exefile6. Now in the same HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT find the folder of exefile and Right-click (Default) and Modify. Change the Value Data to "%1" %*
Lastly expand exefile, expand shell, expand open, click on the command folder, Right-click (Default) and Modify. Change the Value Data to "%1" %*
Close Regedit and Restart the computer. When restarted, EXE files should not prompt you to choose a program to run it now and load correctly.

Hope this helps yall out!

0 comments

183 additional answers

Anonymous

2010-03-06T21:25:42+00:00

Hi,

I think that you are missing my point.

Read above posts for detailed info and only please reply if you have a valid solution, fix and something of practical help;

Again my points;

1 - this antivirus 2009 and security centre does not prompt or ask to install

2 - it disables any active and running antivirus software plus internet security software in less than a few seconds

3 - how it gets into the system is the key - this needs to be blocked via gpo edit or a microsoft system update.

4 - this is like the old internet based worms and win32 style problems

5 - once this gets in it overrides and blocks any attempt to eliminate it - so this is a system and security issue

I never even got a popup which asked me anything - it must come through some sort of advert or active component of the web page to self install.

Politely put I have thought about this - not to react is to let the thing get in.

Though once it is in it is hard to remove and permanently block it.

If you have not been infected on your pc with this thing then you won't understand.

If you try to experience this on your own pc - you will understand what everyone above on the above posts has had to put up with.

So rather than try and remove it every time I would prefer a more practical approach.

Go on the offensive and deny it the chance to get in at all.

"Best defense is a good offense", Field Marshall Rommel.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2010-03-06T21:07:52+00:00

Hi atr8472,

If you are surfing the web and all of a sudden a popup says you have virus, trojans or other malware and wants money

to help remove it just close that page as it is a total scam. No legitimate programs that would detect malware would do

that unless you purposely ran them as a scanner. If in doubt use the methods here to scan manually as ask in this and

similar forums. The trick is to think and not to react.

Rob - Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2010-03-06T20:47:03+00:00

Hi,

Is there anyone who has read my above point - I would much prefer a service pack or Windows Update which SHOULD stop the av.exe and fake security centre taking complete control of a system.

What is the tried and tested method to block, stop and deny this to get into a "secure" system.

I don't want it getting in again - let alone in the first place.

What options or security settings need to be implemented or amended to resolve my query - deny and block, not allow any little pest like this in and ruin anyone's day.

I've had enough of sorting out the removal of this spyware and virus from client and co worker's pc let alone to come home and get hit with the same thing.

Come on - someone should know how to block it.

Any ideas?

Regards

Andy
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments