Vista doesn't recognize programs as executable anymore

Good morning!
"All of a sudden" (that is, I am not aware of any specific action that
caused this - probably after shutting down due to low battery while
running winamp and 7zip),

Vista business replaced program icons at the desktop and in the
taskbar/Systray (the place where you put program icons) with icons of
7zip, a free packer.

Klicking on these icons opened their folder with 7zip.
After deinstalling 7zip, Vista now asks "which program to use to open
this file" when i click on these icons. There are no programs to choose
from, but you can search for these programs (lower right button) so that
you can repopulate this window by hand one by one with some programs.

This does not work for some programs (eg regedit, which initiates the
childproof "continue" dialog but doesn't show up. System recovery
doesn't work either, i get access only by booting to F8/repair
computer). Some Control center (?, "Systemsteuerung" in German) programs
don't react neither.

Those programs which kept their proper icon, result in "program not
found" while the dialog box shows the correct path to the still existing
exe-file.

My path variable:
C:\Windows\system32>path
PATH=C:\Program Files\PC
ConnectivitySolution\;C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windo ws;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem;C:\Program
Files\NTRU Cryptosystems\NTRU TCG Software
Stack\bin\;C:\ProgramFiles\Wave Systems Corp\Dell Preboot Manager\Access
Client\v5\;C:\Program Files\Common
Files\RoxioShared\DLLShared\;C:\Program Files\QuickT
ime\QTSystem\

System recovery desn't help as there are no "recovery data"
("Wiederherstellungspunkte") available. Did I turn this feature off
initially? Stupid me.

I read something about a registry entry enabling "open" for exe files
missing in a similar situation - but I first need a replacement for
regedit...

Thanks for reading so far. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Regards
Alexander

Alexander wrote:
> Good morning!
> "All of a sudden" (that is, I am not aware of any specific action that
> caused this - probably after shutting down due to low battery while
> running winamp and 7zip),
>
> Vista business replaced program icons at the desktop and in the
> taskbar/Systray (the place where you put program icons) with icons of
> 7zip, a free packer.
>
> Klicking on these icons opened their folder with 7zip.
> After deinstalling 7zip, Vista now asks "which program to use to open
> this file" when i click on these icons. There are no programs to
> choose from, but you can search for these programs (lower right
> button) so that you can repopulate this window by hand one by one
> with some programs.
> This does not work for some programs (eg regedit, which initiates the
> childproof "continue" dialog but doesn't show up. System recovery
> doesn't work either, i get access only by booting to F8/repair
> computer). Some Control center (?, "Systemsteuerung" in German)
> programs don't react neither.
>
> Those programs which kept their proper icon, result in "program not
> found" while the dialog box shows the correct path to the still
> existing exe-file.
>
> My path variable:
> C:\Windows\system32>path
> PATH=C:\Program Files\PC
> ConnectivitySolution\;C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windo ws;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem;C:\Program
> Files\NTRU Cryptosystems\NTRU TCG Software
> Stack\bin\;C:\ProgramFiles\Wave Systems Corp\Dell Preboot
> Manager\Access Client\v5\;C:\Program Files\Common
> Files\RoxioShared\DLLShared\;C:\Program Files\QuickT
> ime\QTSystem\
>
> System recovery desn't help as there are no "recovery data"
> ("Wiederherstellungspunkte") available. Did I turn this feature off
> initially? Stupid me.
>
> I read something about a registry entry enabling "open" for exe files
> missing in a similar situation - but I first need a replacement for
> regedit...
>
> Thanks for reading so far. Any help is greatly appreciated.
>
> Regards
> Alexander


The usual way to restore the exe function is to make a REG file.
Copy and paste these 4 lines into a blank text document:


Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"
"IsolatedCommand"="\"%1\" %*"


Save the document, change extension from TXT to REG, right-click and 'Merge'.

HTH

> The usual way to restore the exe function is to make a REG file.
> Copy and paste these 4 lines into a blank text document:
>
>
> Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
>
> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command]
> @="\"%1\" %*"
> "IsolatedCommand"="\"%1\" %*"
>
>
> Save the document, change extension from TXT to REG, right-click and 'Merge'.

Thanks a lot. I managed to perform this, but it didn't change anything.
Are there any larger chunks of the registry to import? (preferably as a
text file )?
Is there any way to restore/replace regedit?

In the meantime, just before reading your post, things went further down
the drain: I tried Regseeker, but after complaining about not beeing
able to perform my changes (Icon size, to tryout), windows explorer now
immediately closes himself after opening. Therefore, I have to
manipulate files via firefox. Manipulation in the user directory appears
to work..

Alexander

Alexander wrote:
>> The usual way to restore the exe function is to make a REG file.
>> Copy and paste these 4 lines into a blank text document:
>>
>>
>> Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
>>
>> [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command]
>> @="\"%1\" %*"
>> "IsolatedCommand"="\"%1\" %*"
>>
>>
>> Save the document, change extension from TXT to REG, right-click and
>> 'Merge'.
>
> Thanks a lot. I managed to perform this, but it didn't change
> anything. Are there any larger chunks of the registry to import?
> (preferably as a text file )?
> Is there any way to restore/replace regedit?
>
> In the meantime, just before reading your post, things went further
> down the drain: I tried Regseeker, but after complaining about not
> beeing able to perform my changes (Icon size, to tryout), windows
> explorer now immediately closes himself after opening. Therefore, I
> have to manipulate files via firefox. Manipulation in the user
> directory appears to work..
>
> Alexander

Not sure what you mean by " restore/replace regedit" ?
Is it missing?
Maybe you have a virus or some sort of malware.
..

> Not sure what you mean by " restore/replace regedit" ?
> Is it missing?
> Maybe you have a virus or some sort of malware.

I can't open regedit (clicking on ...\regedit.exe opens "choose the
program you want this file to be opened with", searcing and selecting
regedit doesn't let me finish the dialog (clicking ok doesn't cause a
reaction) and therefore I wanted to install a program with similar
functions.

Now I created a new user as administrator. Under tis haccount all
programs work as expected...except windows explorer, which can be opened
only from the startmenue/computer, not with win-e.

The shellexe/open registry entries you gave me are present if viewed
with regedit from the new account. Is there a way to check/fix the
registry from there?

Alexander

Alexander wrote:
>> Not sure what you mean by " restore/replace regedit" ?
>> Is it missing?
>> Maybe you have a virus or some sort of malware.
>
> I can't open regedit (clicking on ...\regedit.exe opens "choose the
> program you want this file to be opened with", searcing and selecting
> regedit doesn't let me finish the dialog (clicking ok doesn't cause a
> reaction) and therefore I wanted to install a program with similar
> functions.
>
> Now I created a new user as administrator. Under tis haccount all
> programs work as expected...except windows explorer, which can be
> opened only from the startmenue/computer, not with win-e.
>
> The shellexe/open registry entries you gave me are present if viewed
> with regedit from the new account. Is there a way to check/fix the
> registry from there?
>
> Alexander

I don't understand why only regedit.exe won't open.
If other exe files open by double-clicking them then
there is something wrong with the file's extension.
But as it's in the Windows folder I don't see how it could have been corrupted.

However, I have built a BartPE boot disk image with a registry editor included.
It is a 70 meg iso image. If you want to work on the registry without starting Vista this will do it.

The image is here.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IM9EOCD3

You can burn to disk with ImageBurn, it's free.
http://www.imgburn.com/


Some notes on using the Bart boot cd.

Boot from cd
Network support=no
Click on Go button
Select Programs

[ A4 File manager ]
Just like the usual explorer

[ Registry editor ]
Select Registry Editor
Select location of Windows [normally C:\windows]
Accept default Sam file
Accept default Security file
Accept default Software file
Accept default System file
Do you want a remote user profile hive y/n [yes if you want to edit HKCU hive]
The registry keys will be loaded and labelled as _Remote.
E.g. HKLM\_Remote_Software or HKLM\_Remote_System etc.
You should now be able to edit with no restrictions.

HTH.

> I don't understand why only regedit.exe won't open.
It's not only regedit, but some other programs from the control center too.

> If other exe files open by double-clicking them then
> tahere is something wrong with the file's extension.

There are groups of exe files behave differently
A. those with their icon intact:
"cannot find c:\correct_path\correct_program.exe" while the program is
visible with windows explorer
B. those who lost their icon:
"choose the program you want this file to open with", which opens a
selection. There, I can eg. locate some .exe file and try to run the
..exe with the (now defunct) program file i clicked on. This works for
most of the programs except C. below
C. some, like regedit, mouse control center and some more:
after selecting them like in B, I cannot finish the "chose program with
wich you want to open this file"-dialog, it appears simply not to accept
my choice

> However, I have built a BartPE boot disk image with a registry editor included.
> It is a 70 meg iso image. If you want to work on the registry without starting Vista this will do it.

Thanks a lot. Is there a difference between looking at and editing the
registry from a second administrator account like I do it now and doing
it from the bart-CD?

First of all, I need to understand which key to modify.
Here are the results of a regedit search for "exefile".ch would make
sense to copy from one user to another.

Thanks for the support!

Alexander


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"
"IsolatedCommand"="\"%1\" %*"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.exe\OpenWithProgids]
"exefile"=hex(0):

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.exe]
@="exefile"
"Content Type"="application/x-msdownload"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.exe\Persisten tHandler]
@="{098f2470-bae0-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\exefile\shell\ open]
"EditFlags"=hex:00,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\exefile\shell\ open\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"
"IsolatedCommand"="\"%1\" %*"

[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-thats_my_original_corrupted_admin_user-1000\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Exp lorer\FileExts\.exe\OpenWithProgids]
"exefile"=hex(0):


[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-thats_my_new_barely_corrupted_admin_user-1004\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Exp lorer\FileExts\.exe\OpenWithProgids]
"exefile"=hex(0):

Alexander wrote:

> Thanks a lot. Is there a difference between looking at and editing the
> registry from a second administrator account like I do it now and
> doing it from the bart-CD?

Sorry, haven't got a clue about that. I only ever run one account.

> First of all, I need to understand which key to modify.
> Here are the results of a regedit search for "exefile".ch would make
> sense to copy from one user to another.
>


If you are not sure of the registry keys you want to alter you could totally wreck the system.
It may be quicker to re-install Vista if you cannot do a restore, unless anyone else has any ideas.

Seems you've scrambled your .exe file association. Maybe this site will help
you sort it out before you scramble it any further. A note: run regedit from
a command.com window since cmd.exe won't open (right?) to merge and apply
the exe file fix.

http://www.winhelponline.com/article...ows-Vista.html

"Alexander" <> wrote in message
news:47ef73cd$0$4851$...
> Good morning!
> "All of a sudden" (that is, I am not aware of any specific action that
> caused this - probably after shutting down due to low battery while
> running winamp and 7zip),
>
> Vista business replaced program icons at the desktop and in the
> taskbar/Systray (the place where you put program icons) with icons of
> 7zip, a free packer.
>
> Klicking on these icons opened their folder with 7zip.
> After deinstalling 7zip, Vista now asks "which program to use to open this
> file" when i click on these icons. There are no programs to choose from,
> but you can search for these programs (lower right button) so that you can
> repopulate this window by hand one by one with some programs.
>
> This does not work for some programs (eg regedit, which initiates the
> childproof "continue" dialog but doesn't show up. System recovery doesn't
> work either, i get access only by booting to F8/repair computer). Some
> Control center (?, "Systemsteuerung" in German) programs don't react
> neither.
>
> Those programs which kept their proper icon, result in "program not found"
> while the dialog box shows the correct path to the still existing
> exe-file.
>
> My path variable:
> C:\Windows\system32>path
> PATH=C:\Program Files\PC
> ConnectivitySolution\;C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windo ws;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem;C:\Program
> Files\NTRU Cryptosystems\NTRU TCG Software Stack\bin\;C:\ProgramFiles\Wave
> Systems Corp\Dell Preboot Manager\Access Client\v5\;C:\Program
> Files\Common Files\RoxioShared\DLLShared\;C:\Program Files\QuickT
> ime\QTSystem\
>
> System recovery desn't help as there are no "recovery data"
> ("Wiederherstellungspunkte") available. Did I turn this feature off
> initially? Stupid me.
>
> I read something about a registry entry enabling "open" for exe files
> missing in a similar situation - but I first need a replacement for
> regedit...
>
> Thanks for reading so far. Any help is greatly appreciated.
>
> Regards
> Alexander

Dave schrieb:
> If you are not sure of the registry keys you want to alter you could totally wreck the system.
> It may be quicker to re-install Vista if you cannot do a restore, unless anyone else has any ideas.

Thank you for the warning. I learned a lot today: Are 'recovery points'
operational? Do I have a registry backup? Do I have a system partition
backup of any kind? It is my fault that I started working with the new
vista machine instead of doing all this in the first place.

<offtopic>
I use different Windows for the plethora of mostly very good and
sometimes even unique programs.
However, since I saw how one can transfer 80-90% of programs and user
customizations from one mac to another by simply transferring three(!)
folders, I got melancholic.
I'd like to use the computer to get work done without having to struggle
with the infrastructure.

Unfortunately, OSX doesn't run on my laptop.
</offtopic>

Alexander