Help Urgently needed -- cannot execute .exe files in Win2000

[mariod]

This is quite involved so I hope to be clear.
I suspect I caused this problem for myself when I "blocked" several files which AdWatch (part of AdAware) was asking for "allow/block" action on booting up my IBM laptop running on Win2000 Professional

Results:
All my desktop icons (except for ones id'd below) have now a .lnk extension next to their names. Double clicking opens the "open with" window where I have no idea on what program to associate with. If I click on the icon's "properties" and remove the .lnk reference next to the name, the shortcut portion of the properties goes away and the icon's name is no longer recogbnized as a legitimate name.

Only active icons (those that by clicking give correct results) are:
MyDocuments
MyComputer
MyNetworkPlaces
NortonProtectedRecycleBin
IE 6.0
MS Outlook
PalmPilotQuickInstall
EpsonPrintLabSeries
a Zip file
an Mpeg file

Cannot run .exe files ...I get the "open with" window
Occaionally I will get a "rundll32.exe" window that says: " Access to specified device, path or file denied" and one that says: " file system error 16389".

If I right click on any .exe file, the resulting menu list does not list "open" at all and the first line offers "erase beyond recovery" as a first option . the only exception is right click on rundll32.exe which does list "open" (but I did not yet take this action).

Tried to load Norton System Works from CD, but I run into the "open with" window like all the other .exe attempts.

I'm sure that it's a registry block but cannot even launch regedit.

Whatever help you can give is gratefully accepted. :confused: :sad:
Good thing I have a desktop to rely on!

[DELTREE]

I "blocked" several files.
Can you unblock them?

[mariod]

I cannot access even my administration programs. everything is listed as an .lnk file.
as a matter of fact, when I click on the Programs button of the Start menu, every program that has submenus shows all contents to be .lnk extensions.

and as I mentioned previously, cannot execute any .exe files, as well as getting occasional "access denied" error windows.

I have been going into the Program Files folders searching for anything that might be related to this problem but cannot find anything.

How could I go about "unblocking" without access to the AdWatch app?
What could possibly circumvent the ability of executing the .exe files? Better yet, what portion of Windows2000 controls .exe files?

:dizzy:

[Tom]

mariod,

Happened on This (http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/wwwboard/forum/132017.html) link by off chance. Mimics your situation and if you scroll down it has a fix using utilities to restore extensions. Might do the trick. Make sure you post back with an update. Thanks,

Tom

[mariod]

Your last direct was a big help! I was able to download xp_exe_fix.reg prog that fixed the .exe problem. BTW this file is for xp os but works equally well for Win2K.
The .lnk fix did not work, but I was directed to a Win2K tech help. A posting mentioned the .lnk problem and suggested searching the registry for the LNK folder in the Users/Software branch. The key should list only the (default) value. I had a ton of values probably related to each of my desktop icons. I deleted all of them except the (default).
Rebooted and voila! all is now OK.
Once again, you guys came through!
Thanks! :D

[Tom]

Thanks for posting back your fix, mariod. Yeah, plenty of 2K and XP solutions are the same (personally, I think XP is just 2K with sunglasses and a GPS locator). Great to hear you got it going. Tom

[Spider]

personally, I think XP is just 2K with sunglasses
Ha! How true.