There was a problem sending the command to the program

I'm at my wits end trying to get rid of the title message, so here's hoping somebody has a fix, otherwise I'm looking at reinstalling my OS, which I REALLY don't want to do.

When I use certain shortcuts, say from the Desktop, I usually get this Message. Shortcuts leading to programs on the computer seem to be OK, usually: it seems to just happen if the shortcut leads to the internet. I say usually, because I have some shortcuts to newspaper websites which work OK: however, when I use my Battlefield 3 shortcut, I get the Origin validation screen, then the Battlefield sign in screen, then the Message.

Links to the internet, from within emails, don’t seem to work at all.

I’ve been putting up with this for some time now, but I’ve just installed Battlefield 3 and finding I can’t start the game is the final straw.

My 'workaround' to the problem, was to add IE9 to my right click menu, then send my shortcut there……usually works.

My PC is a home build, running IE9, about 3 years old now......virus free and up to date. It has been largely running fault free since its birthday.

Here's some machine info:
Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) Service Pack 1
Intel Core2 Duo E8400 O/C 3.90 GHz
Asus P5K Premium Mobo
8 Mb Memory
ATI Radeon HD 4870
PSU Corsair HX620W Modular
Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio
3Hard drives (3Tb)
Dell U2311H Monitor

IE9 is set as my default browser and examination of the shortcut properties shows the ‘targets’ are pointing at the correct ‘open folder location’.

So far, I've tried Microsoft Mr.Fixit for broken shortcuts.....no issues found.

I've run System File Checker scan.....no issues found.

I've tried resetting all IE9 settings to default values......no joy.

I've tried running IE with no addons etc......no difference.

I've tried performing clean boots and stopping services and startup programs following Microsoft diagnostic guidelines......the problem remains even with all services and startup programs disabled.


I’ve run regsvr32 ole32.dll (advice from another Forum)………………no joy.

I've tried 'Doug Knox Registry Fixes' which resets html file associations I believe, (which have helped me in the past), even though really for XP......no joy.

I’ve tried another reg file supplied by another Forum, which, I’m told, sets the ‘proper’ Win 7 defaults for html……….again, no joy.

Of course, I've also Googled my eyes out. The problem is hardly unknown, but I couldn't find a definite fix.

As near as I can tell/remember, this all started some moons ago when I was having problems with links leading to pdf files, just opening blank pages in IE.

I had been experimenting with Foxit and Acrobat and trying alternative browsers, Firefox, Chrome and Opera and (I’m guessing), I ended up fouling up my Registry.

After much midnight oil, I eventually solved the pdf problem......but I'm not really sure how, as I was trying so many ‘fixes’! Maybe it was Doug Knox……

As part of that hectic activity, I reluctantly retired Foxit (which I’d used for years without problems) and switched to Adobe Reader X. I don’t know if I did Foxit a disservice: I had no evidence it was responsible for any wrongdoing…….feel a guilty actually.

I have to confess to being a ‘utility’ freak and dread to think of how many ‘useful’ programmes I’ve loaded up/removed over the years.

Gut feel is telling me now that I have a Registry issue, maybe stemming from remnants of many (now) uninstalled programs.......but I've no idea how to deal with that, if my guess is true.

PS: Just discovered I can’t play the video on certain web pages: can play YouTube videos though……..