blank.exe

[askolepaul]

I've recently noticed that when I attempt to open a thumbnailed jpeg file in My Pictures, I cannot open it but instead get the following: Program not found error message stating that Windows cannot find blank.exe. It also says that this program is needed to open jpeg files.

I don't know when this started as I usually view my photo files using ThumbsPlus, which works well. But with Windows Explorer my jpeg files won't open. Any suggestions? And is this a big deal since I can open them in other programs?

I always appreciate the help I get here, and it vastly contributes to my learning cycle.

[Tweaker]

Have you tried system restore?

[askolepaul]

Thanks, Tweaker, for the suggestion about Restore, I never thought of that. I then tried it but only had one checkpoint to select, which was four days prior. I could not roll back to any other checkpoints and the checkpoint selected did not fix the problem with Blank.exe. As a consequence I undid the restore. But now my question is: Why can't I roll back to earlier restore points and/or, why is there only one restore point available?


Thanks again.

[Tweaker]

Hi again Paul

Not sure why you have only one restore point, I think at this point we need to check for viruses and spyware.

First run a virus check (up to date)

Then if you would download (if you don't already have it) Hijack This and run the program then post the results of the scan in our safety forum and someone will be along shortly to take a look to see if there are any issues.

[askolepaul]

I'll perform another virus scan shortly and then use HIJackThis and post that info on Cyber Safety. Thanks again.

[askolepaul]

Back again. My HJT log was clean, so I'm posting back here to see if you have any more suggestions. There were some spyware issues that Ad-aware and SpyBot cleaned but they had no affect on the blank.exe or restore problems (if there is indeed a problems with the Restore function.) So I'm open for suggestions again. Thanks in advance.

[Tweaker]

Give this link a look over Paul and see if it helps, It applies to both Win 98, ME.

[askolepaul]

Tweaker, I followed the link suggested and downloaded and installed it according to directions but there wasn't an improvement at all. Windows is still wanting the location of blank.exe.

[Tweaker]

I know you checked for spyware, I'm assuming you already checked for viruses also.

Have you tried changing what they are opened with? Right click on a pic and choose the program you want it to open with see if that helps.

[askolepaul]

Hello again.
I have performed anti-virus and spy-bot scans as you assumed. And I did change programs for opening jpgs, it was defaulted to IE and I changed it to Imaging, and then to Image Preview. Each time I selected a program the picture then would open into a larger picture from the thumbnail but when I close it and then go back to it, windows again is looking for blank.exe. What does Windows use by default to open jpg files? Perhaps that would help me to know what it is. Another question: I wanted to undo the last registry change that I made for your last post to me as my system "seemed" to be even less stable than normal, but I was unable to locate my backup of the registry that scranreg made. So I thought I would just use Restore to a later date to effectively restore my registry but when I looked at it I no longer had past dates to select from. As you might recall, before I had one date of August 4 to select from, and then Aug8, but now I only have the 9th to select from and that is when I made the registry change and I'm assuming, backup. So something definitely seems to be haywire with my System Restore functionality. What's your thoughts?

[Tweaker]

Not sure whats going on with your system Paul I've never heard of that blank.exe, I'm going to pass this on to the other mods and see if anyone has any suggestions.

[Murray S.]

Howdy Paul:

Try this..

Control Panel>Folder Options..

Click on the "File Types" tab..

Now, scroll down until you find the .jpg extension.. Highlight it..

Now, use the Open With" and click "Change".. Pick the program you want to use to open jpegs with..

Apply and okay out..

Murray

[askolepaul]

Murry, at first read of your suggestion I was ready to point out that I had already performed that in Tweaker's suggestion, two posts ago. But of reviewing that post and yours, I decided to do it as it was a bit different than Tweaker's. And good that I did. I found that jpe and jpegs were set to open with Image Preview, and JPG files was set to open with nothing...hence the search for blank.exe. I then associated all three file extension with Internet Explorer and the problem seems to have been corrected. But for my personal knowledge I would like to know what the default application for opening images is for Windows. And one more question: what is the differences of the three file extensions--jpe,jpeg and jpg? Is it all about compression? I've always assumed that they were the same.
Well thanks again to you both. You indeed do increase my knowledge base when it comes to these diabolical machines, although I must admiit I seem to forget more than I take in.

Thanks again for all of your assistance, it's deeply appreciated.

[Murray S.]

They are all one in the same.. Depends on how they are saved is all..

Not sure what you mean by Default Windows program.. Usually Paint I would think !!

Murray

[erServi]

Hi. I've just tried this solution and I've achive it!!!

Thanks a lot!

Originally Posted by Murray S.

Howdy Paul:

Try this..

Control Panel>Folder Options..

Click on the "File Types" tab..

Now, scroll down until you find the .jpg extension.. Highlight it..

Now, use the Open With" and click "Change".. Pick the program you want to use to open jpegs with..

Apply and okay out..

Murray