Computer problem--help!

[Orrex]

I'm running Windows Vista on a Compaq Presario.

This afternoon I tried to open a program that I've had on my system for ages, and it's never given me trouble before. However, when I tried to open it via a StartMenu shortcut this afternoon, I got an "unable to find application" error message. Then I tried to open it from the desktop with the same result, and the same thing happened when I went to the file's location on the C: drive. I then noticed that the same was true of other programs--even when I went to the actual file location, the system was "unable to find application."

I was running Firefox at the time, so I closed it and was then unable to reopen it (same error message.)

I restarted my system, but then when I tried to run exe programs, the system asked me which application I wanted to use to open them.

I then did a full shutdown and reboot, with the same result.

Honestly, I'm not even sure how I got Firefox to start again, but I think it opened when I tried to use the basic "Contact HP online for help."

I'm really baffled. We had a virus issue the other day, but I thought it was resolved.

Any suggestions?

By the way--what the hell is Ad-Aware, and why does it hog up so much of my system's resources while it's running?


And I will kill any asshole who tells me to get a Mac.



ON EDIT: I can open files into applications even if I can't directly open the applications themselves. For instance, I can open "image.jpg" with Photoshop, even though I can't open Photoshop directly.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

1. Try this

1. Right click on your task bar and select Task Manager
2. Click on the Processes tab
3. Find explorer.exe and select it
4. Click the End Process button (trust me on this now)
5. Click File->New Task(run)
6. In the box that pops up, type "explorer.exe"
7. Close Task Manager

After you do that, are you able to start an executable file?

[Orrex]

2. I'll give it a shot

At the moment, though, I'm getting this:

C:\Windows\system32\taskmgr.exe

Application not found

[EvolveOrConvolve]

3. Oh man, that's not good

Do you know how to boot up in safe mode?

[Orrex]

5. Yes, but what should I do after I've done that?

[EvolveOrConvolve]

6. See if things work better in safe mode

You want to pinpoint if this is a problem with a critical OS component or something else that's loaded into memory with a regular boot-up.

[Orrex]

7. I'll give it a try and report back when I can.

Thanks--and stay tuned!

[Orrex]

4. Got to the Task Manager and did "End Process" on explorer.exe. No apparent change.

:shrug:

[EvolveOrConvolve]

8. Okay, maybe this will help

http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/165/1/Restore-the-exe-file-association-in-Windows-Vista-after-incorrectly-associating-it-with-another-application.html

[kentauros]

9. Here's another site with a similar fix:

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article07-102

This site has helped me many times with Windows products in the past :)

[Orrex]

10. Okay--this one sounds like the problem

I saved the relevant fix to my desktop, and when I try to "merge" as instructed, the system informs me that registry editing has been disabled by my administrator.

Will a "safe mode" reboot get me around this?

[EvolveOrConvolve]

13. You may need to right-click the file and select 'Run as Administrator'

So that it has the correct permissions to update the registry.

[quakerboy]

11. Get a linux...

wannafidabodid?

I generally pull out the system restore disks in situations like that. As Curealls go, its a decent one

[Orrex]

12. Hey, will it help anything to run a System Restore to a week (or so) ago?

[EvolveOrConvolve]

14. That could help

As long as you haven't installed or updated something mission critical in the last week.

[Orrex]

15. I did a standard Vista update on the 1st of the month, but nothing beyond that

I might try that later tonight.


Thanks for all your help, by the way. I was going to save my gratitude for a big, flamboyant post at the end, but at this point I'm not sure when the end will be...

[EvolveOrConvolve]

16. LOL - that's the way it usually is with these damn things

"The only machine that makes you click Start to shut it down" - dunno

[Orrex]

17. I just remembered that I have Spybot on my system

It identified a problem in Windows.FileExe in which the exe suffix had its association changed/removed.

After running Spybot, I appear to be able to open programs directly again!




Thank you for your guidance and insight! I was just about ready to hurl myself over the virtual parapet, but now it appears that any need for my melodramatic display has been over-estimated.

:yourock::yourock::yourock::yourock::yourock: