windows doesnt know what an exe is?!?!

[Jobbl]

suddenly i cannot open exe files, when i click on shortcuts to programs i
have installed, windows asks me to choose which program opens *.exe, and i
have to chooses from the list. when i browse to and select the program that
the shortcut points to, it works, for most things. i also cannot create new
shortcuts. when i try to i get 2 error messages:
1: rundll32.exe
Application not found

2: Unable to create the file 'New Shortcut'
File system error (16389)

what the hell is causing this? it makes everyday computing nigh on
impossible, and very, very time consuming.
please help, as i couldnt find anything when i searched the KB

 

[Detlev Dreyer]

"Jobbl" <Jobbl@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> suddenly i cannot open exe files, when i click on shortcuts to programs i
> have installed, windows asks me to choose which program opens *.exe, and i
> have to chooses from the list. when i browse to and select the program that
> the shortcut points to, it works, for most things.

See if this helps: http://dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

> i also cannot create new
> shortcuts. when i try to i get 2 error messages:
> 1: rundll32.exe
> Application not found

Make sure that the file "rundll32.exe" is present in the
%windir%\System32 folder.

> what the hell is causing this?

Malware, most likely. Scan your system ASAP!

--
d-d

 

[TaurArian [MS-MVP]]

You receive an error message when you try to start a program that has an .exe file name
extension
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=837334

You Cannot Start Programs (.exe Files) When Your Computer Is Infected with the SirCam
Virus
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=311446


--
====================================
TaurArian [MS-MVP] 2005-2007 - Australia
====================================
How to make a good post: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
Defending your machine: http://defendingyourmachine2.blogspot.com/
http://taurarian.mvps.org/index.htm

Emails will not be acknowledged - please post to the newsgroup so all may benefit.


"Jobbl" <Jobbl@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:823D77BF-B507-4199-9C90-86B5D7CD1B83@microsoft.com...
| suddenly i cannot open exe files, when i click on shortcuts to programs i
| have installed, windows asks me to choose which program opens *.exe, and i
| have to chooses from the list. when i browse to and select the program that
| the shortcut points to, it works, for most things. i also cannot create new
| shortcuts. when i try to i get 2 error messages:
| 1: rundll32.exe
| Application not found
|
| 2: Unable to create the file 'New Shortcut'
| File system error (16389)
|
| what the hell is causing this? it makes everyday computing nigh on
| impossible, and very, very time consuming.
| please help, as i couldnt find anything when i searched the KB

 

[Plato]

=?Utf-8?B?Sm9iYmw=?= wrote:
>
> suddenly i cannot open exe files, when i click on shortcuts to programs i
> have installed, windows asks me to choose which program opens *.exe, and i
> have to chooses from the list. when i browse to and select the program that

http://www.bootdisk.com/housecall/016.htm#4