Unable to open .exe files

did you get the same prompts when you right click?  I don't get a modify option.

Did all that and still can't run exe's. My problem (actually my daughter's laptop) was caused by that AV virus thing, only I had found one of the virus files and changed its name so it wouldn't run. When I did that the exe's wouldn't run so I changed it back and exe's ran again. I changed it again, but this time I was interrupted and didn't get back to the computer before it did some kind of restart and I now cannot remember where that file is, plus the permissions to where I think it is have been reset to deny me access, so I'm really stuck. This thing didn't come with a restore disk (they keep cheaping us down!). I can't get free support cause sysinfo won't run for me to get the appropriate numbers to qualify free support. In XP I know there is a program somewhere that goes thru all your system files and fixes them, but I can't remember where it is nor do I know if such is available for Vista. I have an "advantage" that I can call HP and get it fixed for about $100. That hurts my budget but I'm not finding any answers.

WARNING: I was able to back up files to my daughter's desktop not realizing she had deactivated her antivirus so now that computer is showng the initial signs of this "AV" virus. I'm not surprised, despite all MS's concerns for security, that they have no apparant recognition nor a solution for this virus which has been around since at least 2007.

If you can't run programs

I just had to deal with this problem and would like to put some useful things together in a convenient form (I am most likely repeating what other have said, but it will be probably help people anyway).

1. If you can't run any programs normally, try opening a context menu for one (e.g. via right mouse click on the program's file) and choosing Run as administrator (on Windows Vista or Windows 7). For others Start has worked.

You may also rename them from .exe to .com. You can do this in Windows Explorer or whatever file manager you may be using at the moment. Some programs won't launch this way, for some reason, though.

2. Once you regain the ability to run programs, run Regedit (is probably called regedt32.exe and located in C:\Windows\System32). Using it, do what the following code says:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes.exe]

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\secfile]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.exe\shell\open\command]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command]

@=""%1" %*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.exe]

@="exefile"

"Content Type"="application/x-msdownload"

How to do the most important part of this manually is described above by lilvtboiraver , but if you've succeeded opening Regedit, simply save the code above in a file and import it with Regedit (this will apply the code automatically and quickly). This is the easiest approach.

I was helping my dad yesterday to fight with this problem (using TeamViewer , a great free remote administration tool) (...at first. After I deleted the av.exe and rebooted his computer, no programs could be launched, including TeamViewer, and I had to lead him over the phone :) ) He couldn't get Regedit to open. Fortunately, he had Altap Salamander , a very good file manager) installed. It has an ability to edit registry too, but because I couldn't find a way to import registry files, I had to do this manually.

Once you're done with getting your computer working again, you should realize that no antimalware software can guarantee absence of malware on one's computer, and you should ask yourself if you are willing to risk your security by continuing to run the computer as it is. I'd always choose backing up my important data and reinstalling the operating system and all needed software because I think that once malware gets on one's computer, it means there was a security hole, and one can't be sure that nothing else had gotten in and is hiding in some dark corners of the computer :)