I cant dbl click or anything. I get the same message...."windows cannot open this file. To open, windows needs to know what program created it.

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Can you Right click on it and select merge while in safe mode?

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If this doesn't work, try a system restore: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;Q306084 Pick a date before you had this problem.

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I had the same issues when I was trying to run my pc in safe mode before, I would hate if start in safe mode only to get the same message. I'll give it a try and keep my fingers crossed. For now I'm doing another adaware scan and it appears to be coming up with more malware. I'll keep you posted.

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Maybe check these: You Cannot Start Programs (.exe Files) When Your Computer Is Infected with the SirCam Virus http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;311446 Can't open EXE files http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;555067

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I cant rightclick the file in safe mode either. I knew that was gonna happen. I'm almost out of options..

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bigchase, You're one of many with this problem. If you're lucky and whatever virus/trojan/malware your computer picked up didn't alter the .inf file association go to the link below and follow the instructions in Response Number 19 in the thread. File Association Problems Tufenuf

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If the above response does not work, try the following steps to restore your computer to an earlier date via the command prompt: 1. Restart your computer, and then press F8 during the initial startup to start your computer in Safe Mode with a command prompt. 2. Log on to your computer with an administrator account or with an account that has administrator credentials. 3. Type the following command at a command prompt, and then press ENTER: %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe 4. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to restore your computer to an earlier state.

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I just had this problem. Luckily "My computer" works, and so does the "send to cd" right click function. Burn your data to cd's before you do anything. I'm not sure if you can unzip files as I found the fix after I re installed. Here is the link to reset your file associations. http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm hope it works. I had ad-aware pop up lots of files too. I notice they have "add on's" that you need to actually protect your system. Norton was running too. not sure what caused the problem.

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Hi I am having similar problems. I've tried the exefix, but it will not run. I can't get regedit to run either. Even trid system restore back two weeks and no change. All my desktop icons have lnk extensions asd does everything in programs. The darn thing even changed an exe file that I tried to unzip. Any ideas or help would be greatly appreciated.

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Rick, Try this first: http://www.ukexpert.co.uk/vb/showthread.php?t=861 Then try the exefix.

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Thanks Sorry I don't know how to make that work. What do I do with exefix?

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hiya Rick...try this use ctrl-alt-del to open task manager.click on file,and then hold down ctrl whilst clicking on new task(run).this should open a Dos window in the background.Type regedit at the prompt,this should open regedit for you.Then drag and drop or import the exefix file.you should recieve a message telling you that the exefix file has been added to the registry.reboot and run virus scan,it should find 1 virus.delete the virus if your software doesnt do it automatically.then run all your anti spyware/malware.if adaware flags up a registry change DO NOT delete the registry entry or youll be back to square 1.hope this helps :)

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Thanks. I tried both the exefix and linkfix and neither changed anything. They were imparted to the registry and I rebooted several times. Thought that adwatch prevented the changes, but they were there. Adaware show nothing. Any furhter ideas would be greatly appreceiated. This is a real pain. Rick

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See if this helps: http://www.computing.net/windowsxp/wwwboard/forum/132017.html

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