running a pc without being able to open .exe programs

umm.... doesnt that sound weird? every time i click on any program it opens it with wordpad... even wordpad opens with wordpad. so i decided to move it to the trash [not permanently delete, just move] and now anytime i try to open a program it gives me the little 'open with' dialouge that tries to find a program to open that program with. confusing? yeah...

my current work-around is to click on the little 'look for a program to open this online' link which miraculously opens firefox somehow... :\

im running windows media center edition, which i think is essentially xp professional with the 'media center' program

any help would be apreciated, cause system restore wont work [obviously] and im going to have to do a full-factory reset if i cant find anything to fix it >_<

 

never mind... went to folder options then the file types tab.... could someone please delete this thread?