OPEN ANY EXECUTABLE - SAME PROGRAM OPENS

  • Thread starter Thread starter Don Cossitt
  • Start date Start date
D

Don Cossitt

I have a small open source query editor I downloaded to my desktop and have
been using for over a year. I got tired of having to clear my desktop to
access the icon to open this program. So, I drag and drop the desktop Icon
to the Start icon on the task bar and dropped it in the menu like I have
many times with other programs.

Now no matter what executable ( exe, bat, com, etc ) I attempt to run either
from Programs or Windows Explorer, the query editor opens. I removed the
icon from the Start menu but didn't change anything. I have rebooted, etc -
no change

Running Windows v 5.1 build 2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254 : Service Pack 2

Additional note: This is on a Toshiba Satellite laptop that came with VISTA
:( OS which was removed and replaced with XP PRO :)

Any ideas?

TIA
 
Trying to access the Help and Support opens the query editor as well...

I guess its Nuke and Pave time...
 
Roll back the machine to an earlier state. To start System Restore
enter the following in the Start Menu Run box:

%SystemRoot%\System32\restore\rstrui.exe

John
 
Thanks John.

I really am beginning to think I am screwed cause the Run command opens the
query tool as well. As does RegEdit. Anyway as I have studied system restore
it requires a restore point which in this case would be when XP was
installed - probably.

:(

I really would like to have an opinion on what happened to cause the problem
to begin with?
 
Try uninstalling that query tool program and see what happens. Unless
you changed default options System Restore would have regularly made
restore points. I think the the query tool may have taken the .exe or
all the file associations, see if Doug Knox's EXE File Association Fix
can fix the .exe for you. http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

John
 
I will try the tool. I did unload the query tool. Now 'Application Not
Found' error comes when trying to instance executables.

Thanks
 
Tried the reg updates but nothing has changed - still persistently opening
the query tool exclusively :(
 
Can you get to the Commmand Prompt? What does the following command return?

assoc .exe

John
 
I can hack my way to cmd. But ALL instances of *.exe opens the query tool
even from cmd.
 
But when what does the command: ASSOC .exe return?

It should return: .exe=exefile

If it returns the above run the following:

ftype exefile

Ftype should return: exefile="%1" %*

Did you try uninstalling the query tool?

John
 
I got the results you show as well. exefile="%1" %*"

I did remove the query tool and now get 'Appliction Not Found' error. :(
 
Interestingly, I log off my normal login and logged back on local machine
and everything works fine. So some deep-six issue in the registry somewhere
I haven't been able to find that is 'sharing' the query tool with all
executables - don't know...

Y'all have a good and safe weekend - I gotta catch a plane in two hours.
Too close.
 
How about if you boot to Safe-Mode, does anything work there? I'm
beginning to thing that this is going to be a "wipe & reinstall" job.

John
 
All works in safe mode. It is curious though that a simple drag and drop
process can affect the whole of the system. There has to be a reason. While
I too believe Nuke and Pave is the answer, it only deals with the symptom
not the problem. ARGH!
 
If it works fine in Safe-Mode but not in Normal boot then take a close
look at what is starting and running when you boot normally, there is
probably something there causing this problem, maybe you have a virus or
other malware, I find it strange that the problem remains even after you
uninstall the utility. You can post the list of running processes &
services and maybe someone will see something amiss in the lists. To
obtain the running processes see if you can successfully run the
following commands:

tasklist /svc >c:\Tlist.txt

net start >c:\Services.txt

Copy and paste the contents of the Tlist.txt & Services.txt here so we
can have a look at what is running.

Also, if things run fine in Safe-Mode you may be able to do a System
Restore to a point before the problem started, unless you disabled or
changed the SR options you should have restore points available.

John
 
Sorry for the long delay on this. I have been on vacation for about 10 days.
I have turned the laptop over to our IT guys and are currently working
feverishly to no avail. It's beginning to look more and more like Nuke and
Pave. :(

Thanks
 
Back
Top