Many times people 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:
METHOD A: Using Ready-Made Registry Script
Download following ZIP file, extract it and run the extracted REG file. It'll ask for confirmation, accept it. It should solve the problem.
METHOD B: Manually Editing Windows Registry
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
NOTE: If you can't open "regedit", press CTRL+ALT+DEL keys and open "Task Manager". Now click on "File" menu and hold down the "CTRL" key and click on "New Task" menu. It'll open a Command Prompt window. Now provide regedit.exe command and press Enter. It'll open registry editor without any problem.
4. Now goto following key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe
In right-side pane, change value of Default key to exefile
5. Now go to:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command
In right-side pane, change value of Default key to:
"%1" %*
6. That's it. Now exit Registry Editor and restart your Windows. Now you should be able to open EXE files without any problem.
Don't forget to check solutions for other common PC problems in following topic:
[Help & Support] Frequently Asked Problems with Solutions
This article was posted by VG in following section: Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.
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Jt
I cant get regedit to open unless im in safe mode... Nothing seems to fix such a simple problem.
Rajiv Nag
Hey, Thanks man - worked like a dream! I am on an assignment here in Hong Kong and got really stuck this morning. None of my client's IT support guys were able to fix it. I came back to my hotel, found you on the Net and followed your instructions to the "T" Real saver.
Btw, I had to do "cd windows" instead of cd\windows, since windows was a sub directory within my command prompt. My old DOS knowledge helped me out :) :)
Thanks once again to Vicky and Vishal
asd
ohh no my cmd is also opening with notepad
Paras
Thankyou,
This file is very speedly work
and all application is now successful work.
bhanu
thanq very much. it helped me alot in solving the problem
chase
thanksssssssssssssssssssssssss
davis
it doesn't work. it opens regedit.exe with notepad. and it's impossible to change *.exe to *.com or another. help plz??
Coolio
I luv u man ppl just download the file and double click on it it will work, well worked for me thanks VG very helpful. :)
Coolio
Tip: People just right click the Download Link button above and press save link as then the file should be downloaded, after that double click on it and it says to you want to add it to the registry thing and press yes after that a message should come up saying sucesfully added to registry, then just open your files no need to reboot, butt if it doesn't work reboot your computer, (but it worked for me without reboot :) )
GSain
It worked! Everything appears to be back to normal, except for the icons on the shortcuts. That can be fixed, of course, but for the record, in my case: I could not open the registry except through an F8 restart using command prompt, and when I checked the registry, everything was normal, so the registry file fix you give is what had to do it.