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Can't Edit Registry/EXE files open

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ohnohelpme

Junior Member
I think the problem is that I had two anti-virus/spyware programs, installed Ad-Aware and ran it while I had AVG running I think. Registry got messed up, oops. Can't open any exe files.

Seems to be at least semi-common that I can see from google, I downloaded the registry fix, but I get the In use by system or other processes and I can't change it. I've done safe mode, tried to close all processes/application/services, but it always gives me the same error.

Using Windows 7, by the way. Can anyone help me with this?

System restore only has one checkpoint, I guess I set it up that way awhile ago, and it's not helpful. So that's out of the picture if it even was in it in the first place.
 
You could try uninstalling whatever AV program(s) are still on the machine, but the last time I encountered this problem on a friend's machine, the only way I could fix it was to save all criticalfiles and do a fresh installation of Windows.

The object lesson from this is to back up your system. The best backup is to clone your working drive to another drive... AFTER doing a deep scan for viruses, anti-spyware, etc. One program that will do it is Acronis True Image, which the company sells for $50. Frys.com has it on sale for $10 after a $30 mail-in rebate.

Buy a second drive the same size as your current drive, and mount it in a mobile rack like this Kingwin KF-92-BK, which Frys sells for $20.

If your drive gets infected or otherwise thrashed, you can clone it back to life from your backup drive. If your main drive fails, the cloned drive runs like the original, and the most you'll lose is any new files since your last backup that you can't otherwise recover.

Drives are cheap, far less than the value of your time to re-install Windows, not to mention your files.
 
Yes thats what I figured. Tried already but the cd seems to be scratched or my drive is broken since it doens't want to boot from CD. Guess I'll go out and get a fresh copy. Thanks for the help.
 
I had that happen to a few customer machines. Try this. create a new account then reboot to the new one and see if everything works in there. If it does, just transfer your docs, pics and stuff to the new account and delete the old one.
 
ohnohelpme said:
Yes thats what I figured. Tried already but the cd seems to be scratched or my drive is broken since it doens't want to boot from CD. Guess I'll go out and get a fresh copy. Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

Borrow a friend's copy of the same version of Windows you own, and install it using your serial number.

Once you've re-installed Windows, use your favorite burning program to burn your own copy and to burn an image copy of the installation disk.

The COA and serial number on your original disk are proof that you own a valid license. The fact that your original installation media is damaged doesn't change that, and burning another copy for your own use is perfectly legal. 😎
 
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