cannot open files; link may be been deleted in registry

[Carol Bragg]

upon start-up, get several "Open With" messages for some programs. I believe the link for these files may have deleted from the system registry. Can not even open the system folder on the control panel.

[hypnotizeminds]

Carol Bragg, welcome to CTH. :)

I believe your version of Windows contains the System File Checker, so it might be a good idea to run that. Have your Installation CD handy in case it asks for it. Then go to Start > Run and type:

SFC / SCANNOW

and hit Enter.


Also, check the items in your startup list to make sure that there aren't any odd ones in there that could be causing this problem. Go to Start > Run and type:

MSCONFIG

and hit Enter. Then click the Startup tab to show the list. Uncheck any items that may be causing this issue and restart.

[Carol Bragg]

when i try to run sfc / scannow, i get the "Open With" error message. What program do I use to run it? btw, This all started when we tried to delete a virus with an .exe file extension in the system registry.

[degsy]

Try this http://windowsxp.mvps.org/exefile.htm
and the Doug Knox links on that page

[Carol Bragg]

okay, tried the windowsxp.mvps.org.exefile.htm recommendations

got down to the last step - there are no .exe files on the registry.

then went to the dougknox solution 2. cannot download zip files on my computer.

any other suggestions. thanks, cb

[degsy]

cannot download zip files on my computer.


Is that associated with your problems?