[SmartASH]

I'm running Windows XP on my computer, and I am having the strangest problem. About three days ago it became impossible to open any programs on my computer, such as my anti-virus program, ad-aware and any games, along with everything else. I can't even get into add-remove programs. The only thing I can open is AOL and Internet Explorer. When you try to open something AOL begins to load and then I get a error message saying the file type is not supported by AOL asking if I would like to continue to open it. It seems as if AOL thinks that it is supposed to be opening all of my files or something. I contacted AOL and they were of no help, said it must be a operating system error.

Have you ever heard of anything like this before? I guess I will format Windows..do you think that will help? Thanks in advance guys.

 

[Elvandil]

Sounds like a problem with file associations. The following script will return all file associations to the default that XP ships with. But that will also mean that all htm files will then be associated with IE instead of AOL. But you can then reinstall AOL and get that back to normal.

It is a batch file (that has no file association in XP, so it will still run even if .exe associations are messed up).

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/fileassoc/xp_fileassoc.zip

 

[SmartASH]

Thankyou very much, I will try that and see if it works..

 

[SmartASH]

Program did not work. It ran, as it was running I noticed under every line it listed, it said something like could not find or locate file. I cannot access my registry, or uninstall any programs. Also cannot boot computer into Safe Mode. Should I format Windows? Will that wipe all of my programs clean? or must I format hard drive? Please help, thanks guys.

 

[Dan O]

A System Restore may fix your problem, which only takes a few minutes. To access it select Start, Control Panel, Performance and Maintenance, and click System Restore, which should be listed on the top menu.

 

[SmartASH]

I already have tried that but thankyou, I cannot access my control panel yet alone system restore. Any other ideas? Thanks for all your help

 

[mobo]

can you get to start/ run ?

 

[SmartASH]

I can get to start/run yes but then after that I can't get anything to come up, things keep trying to open through AOL.

 

[Elvandil]

Sounds like a problem of file associations, app paths, or environment variables. And it also sounds like you can't get in to fix it.

Try a repair installation if no one has any better ideas. At least that way you won't lose anything and it is worth a try.

1) Boot from CD.

2) When it prompts to press "R" to repair, don't. Continue with the installation.

3) After pressing F8 to agree to the license, setup will show you the installations of Windows it found. Select yours and press "R" to repair.

 

[pyritechips]

Hello:

You said you couldn't open your anti virus program but you can run IE? If so then try an online virus scan: http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

This could be viral.

 

[SmartASH]

Pyritechips- I did try the online virus scan but it did not find any infected files. Thanks anyways

Elvandil- I will try what you suggested, thankyou

 

[mobo]

Originally posted by SmartASH:
I can get to start/run yes but then after that I can't get anything to come up, things keep trying to open through AOL.

If you haven't already had any success then in the run box type restore. then a menu should appear. Select rstrui.exe.