Absolutely nothing works - all .exe --> .lnk; lost all file associations

Try the system restore.Select some distant restore point....

dainfamusgc,
You can give this .exe file association fix a try...
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/fileassoc/xp_exe_fix.zip

Hope this helps!

sorry if i wasnt clear before but it wont let me open up control panel either so system restore is out there, and i cant run any .exe file or any file for that matter. Just unzipped the file in that link and its a .reg file wont let me run that either

thanks for your help

try this:

put the following into a reg file and import it into your registry:

****Begin Source****

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

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

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\PersistentHandler]
@="{098f2470-bae0-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile]
@="Application"
"EditFlags"=hex:38,07,00,00
"TileInfo"="prop:FileDescription;Company;FileVersion"
"InfoTip"="prop:FileDescription;Company;FileVersion;Create;Size"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\DefaultIcon]
@="%1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open]
"EditFlags"=hex:00,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\runas]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\runas\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\DropHandler]
@="{86C86720-42A0-1069-A2E8-08002B30309D}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\PEAnalyser]
@="{09A63660-16F9-11d0-B1DF-004F56001CA7}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\PifProps]
@="{86F19A00-42A0-1069-A2E9-08002B30309D}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\ShimLayer Property Page]
@="{513D916F-2A8E-4F51-AEAB-0CBC76FB1AF8}"

****End Source****

if you can't import it in windows, put it on a floppy and boot your machine into recovery console. Then use the REG IMPORT command to import his fix.

If this does not work, try these tools:
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.yaha.removal.tool.html
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/w32.sircam.worm@mm.removal.tool.html
http://home.earthlink.net/~rmbox/Reticulated/Only_IE.html (Download EXEfix08.com)

boot into safe mode, and run sfc /scannow

can you provide the name of the virus this may help us to assist you with any known solutions for infections from it.

any chance of slaving the hdd this way you can run more scans for any viruses,check the disk for errors.etc?

if the association for .reg files is gone, you can try importing it from the command prompt.

Type "REGEDIT /S xp_exe_fix.reg"

If you cant run exe's you will need to copy regedit.exe to regedit.com then you will be able to run regedit from the command prompt.

Then follow some of the steps in the other posts

I believe the virus/troja  was healed b/c somehow the only thing that works ironically is AVG anti-virus i did the scan and deleted/healed alot of infected files some were trojans like a0.collected.5 and some others. Just i think the effect of those are the screwed up .exe's.

if it was a malware, issue, i suggest running ALL these in safe mode, sytem restore turned off

     Spybot :        http://www.download.com/3000-8022-10122137.html
     adaware :      http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/                                                                      online scan for trojans
CWshredder     http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4086.html
http://www.spychecker.com/program/hijackthis.html                                            download
http://www.hijackthis.de/index.php?langselect=english                                         check the log

Will try it later when i get home, and let you guys know. Hijackthis was ran like a few hours b4 this problem occurred and is ran almost everyday, my log normally only has like 15 or so entries and all are system related. Will try to do it again later thogh. But 1 problem it wont let me go into safe mode either though?!?!

>>    it wont let me go into safe mode either though  << hit the F8 key during boot rapidly

system restore is not run from the control panel but from
start/programs/accessories/system tools/system restore

ok ricgoalie thx alot you guys are great over here will go try it now

hat sux finally got all that to work and now its saying the same thing as if i was clicking on something from the desktop. :( "this file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the folder options control panel." which is what it has been saying all along, with any other file

ok now i tried it again and now it says access denied and that was logged in as administrator?!?!? what do i do now

dont know you guys know of anything to do with this but in safe mode i can access regedit

UPDATE yet again sorry im seem like im annoying now but i got the permissions changed and everything, ran the .reg file like you said but still didnt work, dont really no what else to do. Cant do the xp disn repair b/c i cant find that disk anywhere

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone who contributed after messing with the registry and the permissions i finally got it to work thanks again everyone