Reset Registry Issue.

Hello, I have been having issues with my .exe files, as in nothing will open, I get the thinking wheel and then nothing. I've ran through the Read me Run me malware thing already and my pc is all clean now but I was still having the same .exe issue. I was directed to try this link to fix my problem:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2688326/can-t-open-exe-files-in-windows-7-or-windows-vista

I was struggling to follow the instructions and when I tried to minimise the regedit to come back here to ask for advice I accidentally closed it and when I tried to reopen I got a box saying it couldn't be opened, I assume because some data was changed but not complete. I was given the option to open in another 'format' which I didn't actually understand what I was doing so I chose notepad thinking it would be the safest way to access the files, but then my pc decided to reboot itself and now all my files and programs are opening notepad, even my browsers. I thought about system restore even if it meant me having to do run me read me again but that's also opening in a notepad. I really have no idea what to do.

 

I did find this link on how to fix programmes opening as something else:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...a-windows-based-computer-the-file-may-start-a

but I didn't want to make a further mess. I would prefer someone who knows what they're doing advise me first, because I don't want to cause further problems knowing it was me who broke the registry in the first place, even though it was an accident. I can imagine you all 'face palming' right now.

 

You could try to repair your registry using a .reg file with the following content:

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe]
@="exefile"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile]
@="Application"
"EditFlags"=hex:38,07,00,00
"FriendlyTypeName"=hex(2):40,00,25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,\
  00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,\
  32,00,5c,00,73,00,68,00,65,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,\
  00,2c,00,2d,00,31,00,30,00,31,00,35,00,36,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\DefaultIcon]
@="%1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open]
"EditFlags"=hex:00,00,00,00

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

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\runas]
"HasLUAShield"=""

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

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\runasuser]
@="@shell32.dll,-50944"
"Extended"=""
"SuppressionPolicyEx"="{F211AA05-D4DF-4370-A2A0-9F19C09756A7}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\runasuser\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{ea72d00e-4960-42fa-ba92-7792a7944c1d}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers]
@="Compatibility"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Compatibility]
@="{1d27f844-3a1f-4410-85ac-14651078412d}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\DropHandler]
@="{86C86720-42A0-1069-A2E8-08002B30309D}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\PifProps]
@="{86F19A00-42A0-1069-A2E9-08002B30309D}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\ShimLayer Property Page]
@="{513D916F-2A8E-4F51-AEAB-0CBC76FB1AF8}"

A .reg file is an ASCII plain text file with extension .reg instead of .txt. I don't know what opportunities you still have. Attached you'll find two files. Both contain the registry settings as shown above.
If you're able to remove the .txt extension of the first file then you should be already able to import the changes using double clicking.
If you still can unzip the .reg file out of the ZIP archive (second attachment) then double click the extracted exe.reg file.

If that doesn't work out you need access to another computer in order to get the .reg file and save it on a USB drive...

 

I don't know what you mean by 'removing the .txt extension' that is what I do not know how to do..

I tried both files and I can open the zip without it turning into a notepad .txt file however I get another error saying that not all extensions are available so it just closes. I would send screenshots but again I just get notepad when I try to save an image or open something. Also do I need to download the Windows Registry Editor? If so can you provide me a safe site to do so please.

Would this work or make everything worse?

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...a-windows-based-computer-the-file-may-start-a

 

The problem is that I cannot upload a file with extension .reg directly (because it's an executable script and for that reason rejected by the forum software). As you can see in the first attachment it has .reg.txt as a double extension. You need to rename the file in a way that the .txt at the end is removed (but keep the .reg). This renamed file would be executable in order to update your registry.

No you already have the registry editor on your computer. But that doesn't help because it's an .exe file.

I'm not able to answer that question. On the other hand - how much worse could it even get?

 

Excuse the poor quality but I managed to take a photo with my phone, it doesn't like to take pictures of the monitor. This is the error I face when going via a zip.

http://www.mediafire.com/view/oqmcr6ka8c5bdaf/37212717_2036665486646886_332053774308737024_n.jpg

http://www.mediafire.com/view/oqmcr6ka8c5bdaf/37212717_2036665486646886_332053774308737024_n.jpg

The other option if it is allowed and not breaking rules here is I can send you my email privately so you can send me the file?

 

As to your screen shot - the exe.reg file is still in the zip file. Extract it and try again. But actually the error message doesn't look promising. If the registry is really somehow blocked by the system then I'm afraid it will also not work with the extracted file

Sure you can. But I don't want to make you any hope. Usually any kind of executable files are rejected by email providers, too. I know that my provider would have found and rejected it even in the ZIP archive (wich passed the filter here on MG).

 

Thanks for your support Tim. We had some PM conversation yesterday and I was able to send the reg file via email. Didn't help yet, she got the same error message as before. And after that it was already quite late in Europe. Today she'll try to restart and also run in safe mode... However if somone out there still has an idea how to solve this problem I'd also like to know because I'm almost at my wits' end.

 

kimabc3, do you have the Windows 7 disk?

 

Good morning.

Thank you, TimW.

Eldon, nope my pc never came with one.

I did manage to get the file saved correctly in the end, but I'm getting blocked because of user settings now and safe mode is not working either.

After trying many things I have given in and I am going to take it to a computer technician. After a lot of digging around I have found that I cannot access stuff because everything is set as 'read only' and I cannot change the user settings as everything is faded out. trying to access users just opens up the notepad again, I'm going to have nightmares over this notepad.exe.

I have spoken to the tech guy who is highly recommended in my local community and he's going to have to reinstall windows but they'll save my hard drive etc so at least I won't lose anything and it doesn't cost too much either, it's worth the money in my opinion.

Thank you all so much for all of your support and assistance.

 

Yes, definitely the way you should go. Seems there is really too much damaged and even if you would have managed to repair the registry the next issues would have been already waiting for you ...

 

Ask your tech guy to at least try to repair Windows 7.
It's equal to a fresh install with the added advantage all your programs and personal files will be intact.
Only the Windows updates will have to be re-installed.