Windows Cannot Open This File

I JUST fixed this exact problem on my computer. I had done the same thing the original asker of the question did, denied a registry change with Ad-Aware's ad-watch. The computer worked normally until I restarted it, then I got the "windows cannot open this file" error with all .exe, .lnk, .reg, ect. files. I started with a check disk (chkdsk/r in command prompt) since starting safe mode with command prompt only DID give me the command prompt. It found a few errors, but they weren't related to this problem (I'm just documenting all I did here). I rebooted after in normal mode and found problem unchanged. Strangely Firefox still worked (as did my internet) and thats how I found this site. I followed the link posted by rojmiller:
http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/that-EXE-and-LNK-files-t47277.html
And there tried downloading the .exe file association fix. Winrar still worked, so I was able to extract the .reg file, but there was not merge option when I right clicked it and .reg file association was broken too, so double clicking it produced the cannot open error, BUT i got around it by choosing select the program manually and picking "Registry Editor" which was at the top of the list. It then prompted for permission to add it to the registry, and when I allowed it it fixed the .reg file association so that I could then merge the .exe file association fix normally. Once I fixed the .exe file association, I ran msconfig from run in the start menu, and was there able to use system restore (of which I had a restore point this morning, before the ad-watch incident. When it rebooted after the system restore, EVERYTHING worked again!

THERE IS NO NEED TO FORMAT TO FIX THIS ISSUE, just follow the steps I used starting with the link and getting the .reg file association fix and selecting "Registry Editor" to run it.

OK, this problem is easily fixed. The problem arises when the registry entry in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT for ".exe" extension gets accidentally deleted or otherwise corrupted.

Two way to fix this.

Method A:

1. Open My Computer -> Tools -> Folder Options -> File Types.

2. Scroll down the list to find the entry for "EXE" and delete this entry. (If it's not there don't worry because we are goung to create a new entry"

3. Click "New" button and type in "NEW" (without quotes) in the "File Extension:" edit box.

4. Click "Advanced" button and scroll down the "Associated File Type" drop-down list and select "Application"

5. Done! Your .exe files should now launch.

A better way is to create a text file with the extension ".reg" containg the following text:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe]
@="exefile"
"Content Type"="application/x-msdownload"

Save the file as "exe.reg" or some such and then double-click it. This will enter the information into the registry.

Trouble with the second method is that you need another computer to create the .reg file.

Best thing to do is method 1 first and then again with method 2. The reason for this is Method 1. just gets your exes working again. Method 2 enters a little more info to the registry which enables you to also download files from within Internet Explorer with a single click.

Hope you've found this post useful

recently, i cannot open my hard drivers (C,D). although i double click or right click open, i stil cannot open it. i just can enter from address part at top of window. what i should do? any virus infected?

EDITOR'S NOTE: You could have a messed up registry entry. System Restore might help if you can remember when the problem happened.

i am printing this page of suggestions the program ad-aware did the same to me. my registry is not right. i cannot open files. i have access to internet ill try to fix problem again.

hey Bodragon, u forgot an important step in your solution there.U forgot to tell them to change that "New" to "EXE" in #3 or your explanation,otherwise producing no results but a useless entry.

Thanks to Bodragon and Wayne for helping me clear up my identical problem!

PLEASE, SOMEONE...HELP ME! :-) Tonight I did an update to Office 2003 Service Pack 3. Since doing so, I have been experiencing what looks like the same problems as you all:

The icons on my desktop (or Start Menu program list) are not coorectly displayed - they're all that "generic" icon.

Trying to open any program or function only gets me this error message:

Windows cannot open this file.
File: Digital Line Detect (for example).lnk
To open this file, Windows needs to know what program created it.

And, yes, I do have Lavasoft's Ad-Aware program on my computer. Would really appreciate someone's help in getting this problem fixed. Thanks.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Sounds like a job for System Restore.

Oh my goodness. Thank you so much Bodragon and Wayne. I thought I had lost all of my applications, which included school notes and papers! But your directions fixed it all! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Bodragon and Wayne this helped. Now I have to figure out how to change the defaults for open with.

I'm still running Windows 98 on my pc at home. Recently, a "Registry Editor" box popped up, indicating an error (C\WINDOWS\ sp.dll.) For a few days, I was still able to open windows. Now, however, I am totally locked out. Nothing will open, and the pc freezes up when I try to get things started. Any way to fix this????

EDITOR'S NOTE: SP.DLL is adware which changes your browser's home page. Hopefully you can start in Safe Mode. If so, run a good spyware scanner and it should take care of it.