[FIX] Wrong Program or File Opens with Incorrect Icon and Error Message in Windows

Microsoft has released an automatic Fix it tool to fix a very annoying problem faced by Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 users. This problem occurs if your computer is infected or was infected by malware such as XP Antivirus 2012, XP internet Security 2012 or a variant of the Win32/FakeRean virus.

The problem starts when you try to open a file having extension such as .exe, .com, .bat, .cmd, .reg, .regedit or .secfile in Windows. As soon as you open the file, Windows launches an incorrect program or a completely different file. The icon of the program might be also different and sometimes you might also see error messages from the program as shown in following screenshot:

Windows_Cannot_Find_Explorer_EXE_Error_Message.png

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If you are also facing this problem, you can fix it using following simple steps or by running automatic Fix it utility mentioned at the end:

1. Type %windir% in Run or Start Menu search box and press Enter. It’ll open “Windows” folder in Explorer.

2. Now look for regedit.exe file. Right-click on it and select “Run as Administrator” option.

3. It’ll open Registry Editor. Now go to following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes

4. Under “Classes” key, look for following keys:

  • .bat
  • .cmd
  • .com
  • .exe
  • .reg
  • .regedit
  • secfile

5. Right-click on each of the above mentioned keys one by one and select “Delete” option. It’ll delete the keys.

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6. Close Registry Editor and restart your system. It should fix the problem.

PS: If you don’t want to edit Windows Registry manually, you can download following Fix it tool released by Microsoft which will automatically fix this problem:

Download Fix It to Fix Wrong Program or File Opening Problem in Windows

Also don’t forget to scan your system with a good antivirus and anti-spyware software. Check out following topic to download a free antivirus and anti-spyware software for your system:

[Top 5] Best Free Antivirus and Anti-Spyware Software for Windows

Thanks to our friend Rob Margel for sharing the Fix it tool…

Published in: Troubleshooting Guides, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

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  1. My laptop is affected by an unknown type of virus by which i am unable to open any kind of .exe files. I checked ur site for the solution, downloaded & ran the ms fixit.msi … It still didnot help. U had also stated about using regedit.exe, deleting some file associations but it couldn’t open as the regedit itself was not opening (shows a blank page like icon & double clicking it shows ‘open with’ dialogue screen). Please help me in this regards.

  2. Hi I have the wrong file type on every file on my computer have tried to download MICROSOFTFIXIT but windows installer says “system administrator has set policies to prevent this installation” and I am using it as an administrator. I have also tried to change by associating a file type with a programme and changing default programmes but that doesn’t work either. I cannot download anything to help as that is then opened by Picassa 3 in fact nearly everything is being opened by Picassa 3 which then means unless it is a photograph I cannot use it – My office programmes do not work either Word, Excel etc.

    CAN YOU PLEASE HELP????

    Linda

  3. I have followed all of these steps and there are no keys ending in the ones listed, my computer can not work with this :/ please help soon

  4. I did everything you write, but did not solve anything. I do not give permission to any files from the Open with right click> – Chose deflation agenda … to select proramul that remain for that file format. When you give “Chose default program” I get an error that I write: “This file does not have a program associated with it performing this action. Please install a program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Deflaut Programs control panel”. I installed Microsoft Fix It, but still not resolved the problem

  5. I am facing a problem with my system. Whenever I open a file it shows application error. I am not able to do any work on my system. Please help me to solve this problem,

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