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.exe won't install - asks what program would you like to use

Got a new HP computer laptop.  When I download any .exe file to install a program I get another window that pops up asking me "What program would you like to open this with"  Then there is a list of programs like Notepad, Wordpad, etc...

Its an executable file!  Why would it do that and how can I fix this so that the .exe file will open to install the program.  This is all in Windows 10
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George Walton
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You can download Superantispyware, run a scan to eliminate anything it finds, then go to the tools tab >> repairs, it has a selection to restore windows logon shell.
Yep, I would guess some Malware, which has been partly removed.

The Malware set itself up to run whenever any executable was run, it then ran its own code and switched to the executable that was supposed to run. This is pretty common virus behaviour, been going on since the days of DOS 3.11. The antimalware app deleted the Malware files, but did not restore the registry.  Executables are left with no way to run.
try a system restore to a date it was ok
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This was a brand new computer.  I'm out of ideas.  I think I will have to do a fresh installation again.