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Solution: .EXE Files Always Open with Notepad or Other Applications




Many times ppl face problems while opening .EXE files.

  • The EXE file opens in Notepad.
  • EXE file opens in some other installed programs.
  • Windows displays “Open With” dialog box to choose the program.
  • Windows shows error message, “Windows cannot find .exe file. Make sure you typed the name correctly”.

Most of the times it happens when you accidentally change .Exe file type settings from Folder Options. Sometimes it might happen due to virus.

Anyway no need to worry. Here is a solution which will fix this annoying problem:

1. Open Command Prompt by typing command in RUN dialog box.

2. Now provide following command:

cd\windows

3. It’ll activate Windows folder. Now provide following command to open Registry Editor:

regedit

4. Now goto following key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe

In right-side pane, change value of Default key to exefile

5. Now goto:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command

In right-side pane, change value of Default key to:

"%1" %*

Please type the above mentioned string manually instead of copying and pasting.

6. Thats it. Now exit Registry Editor and restart your Windows. Now you should be able to open EXE files without any problem.

17 Replies:

  1. It is very good.
    thanks.

  2. hi…..
    i had edit registry as you said but i am still facing problem with .exe file. when i double click on any .exe file it shows “open with “dialouge and also run command,control pannel are not woring properly. :mad:
    if you have any idea or solution plz suggest me.

  3. it is not working plz suggest any other and correct solution :???:

  4. thanx dude….it really works…!!!

  5. Hello, i have problem- all applications open with DOS window, and then shut down in 1 second, brining me back to windows desktop……. WtH, why is it doing that?!

  6. ATTENTION!!! IT WORKS, BUT YOU MUST SET “%1″ %* IN REGEDIT - COMPARE QUOTES

  7. USE NORMAL QUOTES, THIS WEBSITE FORMAT IT WRONG

  8. :smile: Hi guys

    Reall its cool that this is worked fine

    Gud post

    thanks a lot for the poster who given the solution

  9. hii m still facing problem after give command regedit on command window. regedit not open if u have any other solution please help.

  10. hii m still facing problem after give command regedit on command window. regedit not open if u have any other solution please help.

  11. hii m still facing problem after give command regedit on command window. regedit not open if u have any other solution please help.

  12. When I try running regedit, it will open in, you guessed it, notepad. So yeah, I’m still stuck. Has anyone found any other solutions?

  13. ^^ Did you try to open regedit in DOS as suggested? If yes and it doesnt work, then rename regedit.exe to regedit.com by using following command in DOS:

    ren regedit.exe regedit.com

    and then run regedit.com it should work.

  14. Try to open this reg file. It will do changes mentioned above for you:

    Click Here

  15. ^^ Sorry for the inconvenience. Your previous posts were automatically removed by the spam filter. Now I have approved your post. :)

  16. Found a work around solution to this. If all else fails just create a new user account, the problem seems to be gone. You’ll lose all your settings but seems to be much easier overall… Besides that way you dont have to fuck around with the registry.

  17. hehe, nice solution too… :smile: But have you tried my reg file (mentioned above)? I think it should solve this problem coz it write correct shell params to registry…


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