Unable to open .exe files

Anonymous
2010-02-01T02:00:45+00:00

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.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Apps

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Anonymous
2012-03-30T01:04:56+00:00

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.

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Anonymous
2010-02-04T09:10:54+00:00

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

  1. Type command in the RUN dialog box to open Command Prompt
  2. 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

  1. 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" %*
  2. Lastly expand exefile, expand shell, expand open, click on the command folder, Right-click (Default) and Modify. Change the Value Data to "%1" %*
  3. 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!

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  1. 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.

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  2. 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

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-03-05T23:19:32+00:00

    My antivirus software found the trojan and deleted it, but I still couldn't open any .exe files.  In order to use the System Restore I had to right click on it and then click "start" in the options given.  Sometimes "run as administrator" would work.  Anyway, restore to a time before the infection and all is well except Mcafee needs to be downloaded again.

    Nasty virus!!!

    Thanks to all here for the help.

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