Win ME - Can't run EXE files

[Kango]

Hi there, my stepdad messed up his computer pretty bad. Here's the lowdown.

He doesnt know what he did, but now the computer absolutely will not run any file ending in EXE. If you click any EXE file on the desktop, in the start menu, inside "My Computer", or anywhere else, it does nothing. One time it came up with "Select which program you would like to associate with .EXE", and I hit cancel, and that hasn't happened again. I tried to look at the Folder Options list of extensions and associated programs but EXE isnt listed.

If you click WinZIP, WinZIP won't come up. However, if you click a ZIP file, WinZIP will start up with that ZIP readied. Similarly, you can't start Excel by clicking Excel, but if you click an Excel file it'll load that up fine. No Winamp by clicking WInamp, but if you click a .mp3 it'll open Winamp and start playing just fine.

Any advice?

 

[Jalapeno]

Try going to

C:\WINDOWS\Start Menu\Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore

and pick a date before the trouble started. Should take care of it in WIN ME

 

[AC]

Try these suggestions:

You Are Unable to Start a Program with an .exe File

"Cannot Find WINSVRC.EXE" Error Message When You

 

[Souka]

On the lighter side:
"Hi there, my stepdad messed up his computer pretty bad. Here's the lowdown."
Yeah, he messed it up by using WinME!!!

Ugh...just starting to play with WinME cuz it's spreading like a virus at my company....ahhhh!

 

[Zeppy]

Basically what has happened is that your file associations are screwed up. Could be a corruption in the registry, but I doubt it. Do the restore like Jalapeno suggested. If that don't do it, you could re-install Windows, but I'd avoid that if at all possible.

 

[Kango]

Well, the old man went off and reinstalled WinME before trying anything.

BTW, it was impossible to run System Restore with this problem, because it's an EXE! Go figure!

 

[anazoal]

This happened on a friends computer. Actually, it was the shortcuts that weren't working -- this could be similar to your problem. Finding the actual EXE file and clicking on it worked. Anyway, a reboot fixed the problem.