Exe files will not open.

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Lightningcount

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So here is the problem I have. System specs first.

Legit Windows xp sp3
Foxconn M61pmv mobo
Amd Athalon 245
4gb (2x2) ddr2 800
30 GB Solid state. (ocz vertex)
2x 1.5 tb seagate barracuda's (both of these have been taken out of her system and scanned in mine, they are clean.)
GTS 250


I built this system for my girl about 4 months ago, and today she got a virus that was not being detected by her Antivirus. Nod 32 (legit and up to date, have it set to update daily at noon while she is at work.) This virus deleted the exe file type from the file types tab in the Folder options folder in Ctrl pannel.

I have tried readding exe files into the file types tab in the folder options settings window, and readding the necessary registry entries, but it did not seam to work.

I have tried restarting in safe mode and resetting the computer to an earlier date. (As early as 2 days after system build.) No dice. Tried running system restore from the xp disk... nope. Tried doing a parralell install, nope. Right now I am looking at doing a reformat to clean the problem. (I KNOW this will work) The problem is she has MANY programs that need to be reinstalled after the format for school/work and such. I would like to avoid doing a format if at all possible.

Anyone have ANY suggestions for me? I have until friday to get it fixed. Otherwise I will be spending hours reformatting. (Solid states have amazing read times, horrid write times :(
 
Death_Blade said:
move the programs to another hard drive or something, and do a format on whats left
Click to expand...

...I would have to reinstall anyways. There program files will still be there, but the registry entries for them will be gone. There are ways to use registry writing files, but I would rather just reisntall all of her progs.
 
honestly if I got that bad of a virus I would stop wasting time and just reformat now...the damage has been done.

-Blue
 
just reinstall that way your sure nothing got left behind from the virus anyways.

since you have 2 drives and mabay multiple partitions it should be easy to just wipe the operating system and programes and still keep all of personal data intact.
 
NOD32 is prolly the best AV software out there, I agree that if it's definitions didn't find it, then TMicro's won't... I've seen an issue like this, where .exe won't act like they are supposed to, don't remember if I just formatted or something, probably did, sorry.
 
Passerby said:
just reinstall that way your sure nothing got left behind from the virus anyways.

since you have 2 drives and mabay multiple partitions it should be easy to just wipe the operating system and programes and still keep all of personal data intact.
Click to expand...

If a system restore didn't solve the problem then there's a good chance their personal data was infected as well since documents, etc., aren't restored. You should isolate the data and run a battery of scans on it before opening or using any of it on a new build.
 
Lightningcount said:
So here is the problem I have. System specs first.

Legit Windows xp sp3
Foxconn M61pmv mobo
Amd Athalon 245
4gb (2x2) ddr2 800
30 GB Solid state. (ocz vertex)
2x 1.5 tb seagate barracuda's (both of these have been taken out of her system and scanned in mine, they are clean.)
GTS 250


I built this system for my girl about 4 months ago, and today she got a virus that was not being detected by her Antivirus. Nod 32 (legit and up to date, have it set to update daily at noon while she is at work.) This virus deleted the exe file type from the file types tab in the Folder options folder in Ctrl pannel.

I have tried readding exe files into the file types tab in the folder options settings window, and readding the necessary registry entries, but it did not seam to work.

I have tried restarting in safe mode and resetting the computer to an earlier date. (As early as 2 days after system build.) No dice. Tried running system restore from the xp disk... nope. Tried doing a parralell install, nope. Right now I am looking at doing a reformat to clean the problem. (I KNOW this will work) The problem is she has MANY programs that need to be reinstalled after the format for school/work and such. I would like to avoid doing a format if at all possible.

Anyone have ANY suggestions for me? I have until friday to get it fixed. Otherwise I will be spending hours reformatting. (Solid states have amazing read times, horrid write times :(
Click to expand...


So we're clear, you tried adding the EXE file extension with the Associated File Type: Application? And you're not getting any kind of error when you try this? Have you checked the event viewer for application or system logs? (eventvwr.msc)

Honestly it might not be so bad. Check your logs and post the error why you can't add the type again. If you get it to work, run CCleaner and clean registry/temporary files, isolate personal stuff and scan it with something else to be sure.

edit: make sure you're adding just 'EXE' and not '.EXE'
 
Last edited:
ronpaul said:
If a system restore didn't solve the problem then there's a good chance their personal data was infected as well since documents, etc., aren't restored. You should isolate the data and run a battery of scans on it before opening or using any of it on a new build.
Click to expand...


Both of the 1.5 terrabyte drives were scanned using nod 32 and macaffe just to be sure. (Macaffe may be slow but it is pretty powerful) No viruses detected.

I did add EXE into the file types application, and tried to set it up. It did not work even after restart. (In fact it was deleted from file types after restart) Looks like its time for a full format. She will be here tomorrow after work to pick it up so I am out of time.
 
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