Windows 7: .exe files keep opening in MS Word - please help

Hi, I'm currently running Windows 7 Home Premium and whenever I try to click on a setup exe file, it would open in ms word. I've searched this forum and tried the MS Fix it patch but it didn't work. I can't even upgrade registry optimizer since it opens in word. I would greatly appreciate it if someone can please assist.



Thanks!

Someone else had the same problem, but I don't know if it was ever resolved.


How long have you had this problem? Is it only setup.exe or all executables?

I think it's a virus . One of the symptoms is autoclose of cmd . Try opening cmd , if it doesn't close automatically, maybe it's not a virus . Use system restore before the point it happened .

Yes, and the resolution linked me to download software to fix either the malware or virus that may be causing it. However, it seems like I have to download the full version so I'll have to pay for it so I wanted to see if it will really fix my issue before paying for it. Also, if it requires me
To run a .exe file, it will not help since J can't seem to run any setup exe files. All the exe files I try to run ate setup files. This has probably gone on for a couple weeks and I kept ignoring it until of course now when I really need to run a setup exe file.

Appreciate any assistance any one can provide.

Thanks in advance!

Try opening cmd . If it closes in a snap, It's a virus . If it doesn't, try downloading Windows Defender offline. Download it to your Removable storage and boot from it to scan your system before your system boots . Read descriptions in the link . Hope this helps

What registry optimizer did you use?

I didn't even notice that. Registry optimizers are bad bad bad.

The only thing you can do now is use your restore points.

Maybe uninstalling office can help you .

Highly unlikely.

Your best bet is a system restore. Registry optimizers claim to clean the registry, but they are butchers performing brain surgery. I believe whatever happened is related to whatever your registry cleaner did, and the only thing you can do is to attempt to undo it.

I didn't have a restore point so I had to create one today and ran the system restore. The setup exe still opens in MS Word. Any other ideas?

The registry optimizer I was trying to download is the winzip registry optimizer. I have since uninstalled it based on your comments.

Thanks.