Windows 7: Can't open my downloads folder

Hey all,
First time using these forums and hoping someone can help me out and get back to me quick. When I click on the downloads folder I get this error



"This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Please install a program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Programs control panel"

As far as I can tell, all my other folders open up fine. Please help me. Last thing I did was trying to download some software that would gradually turn my volume down so that I could fall asleep to it. It didn't work (older software, seemed like it wasn't compatible with windows 7) so I deleted the application and the installer which were located in my downloads folder.

Could you open your download folder before you downloaded this application?

If so, my first inclination would be to do a System Restore to a time prior to that download.

Navigate to your user\downloads folder - not your favorites link
can you get there?

Actually I think Ignatz's suggestion is the way to go. I missed the downloaded a program part.

Thank you all for the quick replies. Answers to your inquiries

Yes I could open my download folder before

I try typing the directly into windows explorer and it says "Windows can't find" then the address

I scanned for viruses and it came up clean

Now that I think about it, it seems I may have accidentally deleted the whole dang downloads folder, and just left the shortcut behind. I look at the properties of "Downloads" under the favorites and the target area is blank and the size is only 873 bytes. Downloads is also missing under my user.

Looks like I'll have to do a full system restore. I was hoping to avoid that cause I just added some new music, but that's not the end of the world. Hope this works

A System Restore takes no more than 90 seconds and should not have any effect on your data.

I'm not sure what you mean by "full system restore".

I thought it deleted all files that weren't there previously as well. I'll give it a shot

Just did the restore, I'm still having the same problem. It only gave me one restore point as an option and that was only a few hours ago. I believe the first time I restarted my computer due to having this issue. Even when I check the "show more restore points" box it wouldn't show up with more than one. Now it gives me that option and the option to undo that restore. Do you have any other ideas? Thank you for the help so far

I assume you have no restore point to a time prior to the download.

Have you done a full scan for malware with something like Malwarebytes? Who knows what may have been contained in that download you did.

It's peculiar you have no earlier restore points unless you have configured your System Restore to have very little space. I usually have at least 10 dating back at least 2 weeks.

I think some malware can eliminate restore points.

System Restore doesn't affect your files. Did you look in the Recycle Bin?

Look under your User Name to see if you have a Downloads folder. If not you may be able to restore it from Recycle Bin.

Otherwise you'll need to recreate the shell User Downloads folder using Option Two here: User Folders - Restore Default Location

Nope, no restore point prior to the problem which sucks. I've done restores on other computers and i always had multiple options. I'll run a check for maleware tomorrow.

I checked the recycle bin earlier and there's nothing unusual in there. I was actually hoping to find my whole downloads folder there