Cant run are open exe files

[Breno99]

I dont seem to able to run any exe files that I download ,I just downloaded ITUNES and tried to run it ,the firefox downlad manager opens and it says to open with some application ? I then opened explorer and tried to open it with that with no luck , I did a full virus can and that came up with nothing ,I am running XP home and SP2 ,any help would be much appreciated
Brendan

[Allan]

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

[Breno99]

Hi Allen
Thanks for that but I still cant open my exe files , any other ideas for me ?

Brendan

[Allan]

Did you download and run the .exe file association fix?

[Breno99]

Sure did but still nothing , should I have rebooted after I ran that ?

[Allan]

yes

[Breno99]

nope still not working ,any other ideas for me ?

[Allan]

Typically only two things cause this problem: either something changed the file association or malware. We've addressed the first likelihood, so let's go after the second. You said you did a full virus scan. Please download and run a scan with MalwareBytes.

If that still doesn't fix it you can insert the XP CD in the drive, go to START - RUN and type: sfc /scannow and press ENTER. All system files will be checked and replaced with their original versions. If that still doesn't do it we can do a repair installation of the OS.

[Breno99]

Cant run the MalwareBytes as I cant run the exe file , I tried to do the second task but I got an error saying my CD was an older version of the OS I am running , so I will try and borrow a newer version and try what you told me ,
Many thanks for all your help
Brendan

[patio]

The XP CD will have to match whatever Service Packs are installed and version...
IE if you have XP Pro w/SP2 installed that's the CD you need...

[Allan]

Can you run MalwareBytes (and other .exe's) from safe mode?

[Breno99]

I tried to run the exe files in safe mode with no luck , I also did the START - RUN and type: sfc /scannow and press ENTER with the XP S/P 3 cd in and still no luck , just wondering if I did a restore might that work do you think ?

[Allan]

If you have an XP CD then a repair install is the next step. Boot to the XP CD and choose the second repair option. Done properly, a repair install does not effect installed programs or user settings.

This will NOT help if your system is infected, but you said you ran a scan with your AV so let's keep our fingers crossed.

[Breno99]

I will give it a go ,its driving me mad thanks for you help ,I will let you know the outcome later

[lostcoast]

A malware expert should have helped you identify and remove this infection before you jumped to a XP repair install as a solution on an infected machine.

There are also precautions to take doing a repair install that were not provided here.

I fear you have already done the repair install and I hope you took steps to immediately scan for malware upon the completion this repair.

With a repair install you also need to check with windows updates upon completion of the removal of the infection to update service packs and such and keeping the computer offline during the repair install and until the infection is removed and then immediately updating afterwords.

I have more information and links if you need my assistance.