Default File Association options grey-ed out

Hope its understood I am unable to make or change file associations. (Win 7 UL x64). Option are completely grey-ed or I get the "file unrecognized...go to and set file association..." Don't recall when this first happened but I'm sure it has to do with me d/l some mischievous file, being I do a bit of torrent downloads...

I've seen on the net solutions for using the reg to fix individual extensions, but nothing for a single key which would reset the global associations options as a whole.

I used sfc /scannow, restore point, malwarebytes, UAC off and on, virus cleanser, reg cleanser, etc., all to no avail.

Again, short of a total system re-install, is there a single or global fix for this malady?

I appreciate your time.

As long as you have a set of disks you could try a repair install, but if as you suspect its a malware infection, you would be better of with a clean install.

Roy

Well, that's only an assumption on my part, tho its more probably the cause than not. So I take it you know of no reg fix, that is no key pertaining to file association, huh? I find it a bit puzzling that sfc /scannow would find nothing wrong in that the file association code is somehow screwed with, is corrupted. But before I do a complete re-install which is a huge headache, I'll continue to search. Thought that if there were some way to fix this within the OS I'd be able to find it here. Oh well. thanks anyhow. I'll hold on a bit here, see if anyone else can come up with something. Meanwhile, if I here of anything, i'll report back here.
Again, thanks.


Oh. My OS was pre-installed on a previously used comp I bought from the renta store, so I have no disks..