Question

windows xp shortcuts and programs do not run

Asked by: cataleptic_state

my windows xp pro does not work when I try to run programs and click on shortcuts.

The icons do not come up either.
If I do run it, Spybot comes up to do a scan, does not find anything.

I can see the files in Program files but only firefox and photoshop work at the moment.

I tried to search the net for a solution but I cant even get into msconfig, regedit or HJT

I cant even change the registry with a .reg file.

Is there anything I can do?

Please help, this PC is at work and I have also tried doing a repair install and still nothing.

During the repair install the graphics card drivers ask to be installed and then it said run32.dll not found and gave me an option of what program to run it with.

Thanks in advance

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Asked On
2009-09-10 at 09:25:29ID24721938
Tags

windows xp

Topic

Windows XP Operating System

Participating Experts
3
Points
200
Comments
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Answers

 

by: pablovrPosted on 2009-09-10 at 10:38:36ID: 25302486

Try running System File Checker:

sfc /scannow

http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html

 

by: pablovrPosted on 2009-09-10 at 10:39:22ID: 25302494

 

by: orangutangPosted on 2009-09-10 at 11:41:48ID: 25303037

How did you run Spybot?

 

by: jcimarronPosted on 2009-09-10 at 15:26:09ID: 25305153

cataleptic_state--If all the "programs and shortcuts" are for .exe files, you may have lost the association for .exe files.
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm  Notice the NOTE.
http://filext.com/faq/broken_exe_association.php

 

by: orangutangPosted on 2009-09-10 at 22:07:48ID: 25306807

Also, see if you can run regedit by copying it somewhere and renaming the extension to .cmd or .bat or .scr

 

by: cataleptic_statePosted on 2009-09-11 at 01:52:26ID: 25307626

Ok,
I've tried sfc/ scannow does not work.
Tried http://filext.com/faq/broken_exe_association.php

The folder options -> file types does not allow me to apply the new extention "EXE" just has a close button.

I am not clear on the edit registry manually option.

Also I managed to get CC Cleaner working by renaming it to .cmd AND regedit
But regedit wont allow me to import a backup of the registery I made a month ago.

It says some of the keys are open by the system or other processes.

I've tried this in safe mode and normal. Still the same problem.

I will give manual regedit a try.

 

by: cataleptic_statePosted on 2009-09-11 at 02:52:35ID: 31627162

Brilliant! I did what the manual edit said and it worked. Everything reappeared as normal.

 

by: jcimarronPosted on 2009-09-11 at 11:29:11ID: 25312172

cataleptic_state--Glad to hear the good news.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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