Many times ppl face problems while opening .EXE files.
The EXE file opens in Notepad.
EXE file opens in some other installed programs.
Windows displays “Open With” dialog box to choose the program.
Windows shows error message, “Windows cannot find .exe file. Make sure you typed the name correctly”.
Most of the times it happens when you accidentally change .Exe file type settings from Folder Options. Sometimes it might happen due to virus.
Anyway no need to worry. Here is a solution which will fix this annoying problem: 1.](http://www.askvg.com/) Open Command Prompt by typing command in RUN dialog box. 2.](http://www.askvg.com/) Now provide following command:
As part of their routine, many worms and Trojans make changes to the registry. Some of them change one or more of the shell\open\command keys. If these keys are changed, the worm or Trojan will run each time that you run certain files.
For example, if the \exefile\shell\open\command key is changed, the threat will run each time that you run any .exe file. This may also stop you from running the Registry Editor to try to fix this.
They may also change a registry value so that you cannot run the Registry Editor at all.
Symantec Security Response has created a tool to reset these registry values to their default settings.
**WARNING: **
Do not use this tool unless:
A Symantec technician or document directs you to do so.
After reading the removal instructions in the writeup, you are sure that the tool is required.
Follow these steps:
Download the file UnHookExec.inf and save it to your Windows desktop.
(If you cannot connect to the Internet from the infected computer, download to an uninfected computer then save it to a floppy disk. Then take the floppy disk and insert it in the floppy disk drive of the infected computer.)
Note: The tool has a .inf file extension.
Locate the download file, either on the Windows desktop or the floppy disk.
Right-click the UnHookExec.inf file and click install. (This is a small file. It does not display any notice or boxes when you run it.)
A person downloads an application which is .exe. They try to run the program, and instead of opening and installing, it asks them 'Choose application…" and so on…as if the file is not associated.
Now, windows doesn’t need manual association for .exe, right?
Registry entries are probably messed up which is why .exe is not being recognized as a program. (Result of personal goof-up, or a viral infection, etc..)
What should be done?
PS: The regedit works fine supposedly. And the person can go into Regedit from the run command line.
^ teggy... your tutorial works just fine in terms of the steps outlined. The only flaw is that you're asking the user to run a program that is itself based on an exe file. Chances are that if Windows doesn't recognize exe file associations, then it'll also not let the user run regedit.
There's gotta be a way to get to regedit without invoking it through the command line or running it through the Run prompt.
hmmmm if the .EXE extension is messed up in registery then many applications and services won't run, THAT also includes IE or FIREFOX or any other internet browser.
I think problem is not in the system registery, the file extension for the downloaded file is invalid. what application is that? and where it was downloaded from?
Sometimes the issue of .exe not opening and asking you to choose application or giving win32 invalid application can be sorted by emptying Temporary folder.
-Type
[quote]
%temp%
[/quote]
in run command. Delete all files/folders possible, some may not delete, it is okay to skip them.
-Erase browsers history, and Cache.
-Empty recycle bin.
-Reboot PC.
-Download the application again (.exe which could not open/install before), but save it in different location.
-When the download completes, double-click and it should run fine now.
These steps helped in resolving a similar issue very recently. I hope they help you as well.
Instead of showing users how to run .EXE files again, I think this forum's focus should be highlighting things that cause these type of issues. Majority of the users visit spammy websites, click on anything they see and download stuff which is ultra infested with malware.
Anyway, you can make a .REG file and run that to RE-enable .exe support in a situation where .exe files like regedit.exe aren't executable. ;)
Reg restore/repair file was imported too, but although it corrected the registry and “restored/repaired” it to enable .exe. The problem still persisted. It was at this point, all the other steps from my last post were done. i.e. Temp folder, change d/l location, and so on…
