Windows 7: Help: These files can't be opened. Your Internet...

Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
UAC Disabled
Toshiba Satellite p300

Hi there,

I turned on my computer this morning and suddenly all hell has broken loose. Every time I try and open an exe file I get a Windows Security alert box telling me that:

"These files can't be opened. Your Internet security settings prevented one or more files from being opened."

I've read through every thread I can find on the topic and none of the "answers" have worked for me.

I can start programs (and essentially open exe files) if I open them via an associated file type. For example I managed to start firefox by opening an .html document and I've got thunderbird open through the use of an .eml file.



I can't start cmd, regedit, msconfig etc... unless I boot the computer in safe mode with command prompt. Safe mode by itself still produces the same "Windows Security" dialogue boxes.

I have tried the following common "solutions" with no luck:

1) Right click the exe, click Properties
Click the Unblock button
Click OK

2) Adding exe to Control Pannel > Windows Defender > Tools > Options > Excluded file types

3) Start / Control Panel / Internet Options.
(Internet Options control panel appears)
Click "Security" tab.
Click "Local Intranet"
Drag slider to "Low"
Click "Sites" button.
Click "Advanced" button.
Enter the IP Address of the NAS / SMB/ CIFS / whatever server and click "Add."
Click "Close"

4) Remove the registry key - HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{EF87B4CB-F2CE-4785-8658-4CA6C63E38C6}\TopViews\{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}

5) Creating a completely new admin profile. - This one was interesting, when I logged into the account there was no aero theme - it went right back to basics.

So any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

Rather than suffer with this problem, I would try a system restore, that is what the feature is for.

In lieu of that, what happened last night? Did you install a new program, was there any other incident that could have caused this?

If there is no other answer, it could be a virus. Run your Anti Virus. Download and use Malwarebytes.

You can also try to disable your A/V, see if that helps.

Unfortunately I can't even run a system restore, presumably because it is essentially an exe.

There were several updates that were installed when I shut my computer down last night so I'm now guessing that's where the problem lies (hadn't even thought about that before). Is there a way to revert back from the updates to see if that really is the problem?

EDIT: I'm uninstalling my last night updates now and will report back with the results.

Thanks

If you are not sucessful, try this method. Hope that it works for you.

Using Last Known Good Configuration

Argh, still nothing. I guess I'll try running the last known good configuration. - Thanks

If that does not work, try this.

Run a virus scan.

Download malwarebytes and run a scan. If no success try to


Go to search

Type CMD do not hit enter

Right click on CMD run as adminitrator

In CMD type sfc /scannow.

If it finds errors, run several times.

If you have the Windows 7 install dvd you can gain access to your restore points by using the repair my computer option after boot - may be worth a try.

There is also access to a command prompt where you can run the sfc if you cannot do so in windows

I also think a malware scan may be in order as soon as you can as this sort of total block on exe files has been due to a virus in the past

Solved!

Did lots of scans with malwarebytes etc... and nothing fixed it.

Then I did a system restore back to just before a critical update a couple of days ago and everything's back to normal.

Thanks everyone for all your help!

Figures, first suggestion. Good luck

We had the same problem while attempting to open files from the Internet as well. Setting these for both the Internet and Intranet settings should take care of it. The setting I found that was blocking me from opening files on my LAN is “Launching applications and unsafe files”.

Normal Systems and Personal Computers

This is an error from Internet Explorer security settings found under your “Tools” –> “Internet Options” –> “Security” tab –> “Local intranet” or “Internet”.

These files can't be opened. Your Internet security settings prevented one or more files from being opened | iLERTECH