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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Amerika
OH MY God it worked, THANK YOU I have been raging with this problem for weeks, tried EVERYTHING downloaded malware protection(thought it was malware or a virus) and everything and THIS worked FINALLY I can't believe it worked and it was SO simple thank you thank you!!!!!
Kris
You just saved my life with that instruction, thanks Man
Soshumaru
This worked amazingly for me! I'm so thankful I even decided to submit a comment.
I used SUPER Antispyware to remove a rouge program that found its way into my computer, "XP Anti-Virus 2011" running the process jhk.exe. Once it was removed though, all my exe's were not working and hence no programs. The virus changed my registry, but this guide worked wonders. Many thanks!
Rajiv Prabhakar
Dear Sir
Thanks sir
RTS
you can make a new user for you go to control panel than user account than add new user than you can save the user disktop and favorates and any thing you have in the x-user and put it in the new user.
regards
Emel
Thank you VERY MUCH. I couldnt open alot of things on there, but thanks to you i noticed the value was set to the BSN.exe which was the 2011 xp antivirus maleware...changed it back and its all good! Thanks!!
trismos
Thanks man, appreciate it.
carrie ann
oh my goodness, you helped me so much. i was so scared.
you guys, if you can find a way into the internet on your computer (because part of my problem was that none of my internet browsers would open correctly) then try what this person says.
if that doesn't work (like it didn't for me, seriously i tried the self-editing stuff) then download the file he states in the beginning. because it is a winRAR file, nothing inside will be screwed up, then just extract the goods and double-click them. it will give you a message, but don't worry - unless you went and did some personal editing to your registry, nothing will be in trouble - click yes and wait a few seconds (or minutes, or hours, depending on how fast your computer is. mine was about a 30 second delay, then bam! like magic everything looked normal again. (man, now i wish i'd screen-capped it...))
thanks so much! i'm really glad i found a way into the internet, i found an old shortcut buried underneath everything that happened to be unaffected. if i hadn't, well... who knows how much money i would have spent getting it repaired!
/enddrabblecommentofthanks
VG
^^ Glad to help you. :)
Sunil
thnks frined its wrking fine if any facing issue first follow tht given link suggssation