New
#1
suddenly NO .EXE programs will run
On clicking on the program name or icon, the standard Windows message appears: "Windows cannot open this file... needs to know what program .. to use to open it." The usual long list of extensions is available. But of course. .EXE is not on it. ALL my .exe files will not open.
The cause is that I ran malwarebytes.com. It found a few errors but no heavy ones. It concluded routinely, but with one note on the Avira antivirus program: ".. ipmGui.exe...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."
Presumably foolishly, I hit the Enter key expecting to get another window. But instead it exited. After a reboot, all program icons on the desktop contained that same 'cannot open...' message.
I find no way to reverse this. Including file associations, and Default Programs pages. Meanwhile I can run NO programs, thus am accessing the internet now on a backup machine.
But I suspect the solution is simple, involving the Registry? Please advise!