Can't Access Control Panel Default File Association Dialog

dw85745 · 17 Jul 2017

Title says it all.
When I click on Control Panel link to access/set "Default File Association", I get an
error box with "Can't Find Explorer", Windows Doing some Checking, and this
error box quickly finishes and nothing corrected.

Where to go from here?

FWIW I was on Source Forge this AM and clicked a link to go somewhere and instead of webpage received text line: "hacked by {don't recall name}". Assumed Web Page link was hacked -- or - was it my system and how do I tell?

Also had an NTFS file system corruption last week, so may be associated with this.
Spent this weekend getting everything back -- at least data - but OS (Win7) may have been impacted without my knowing.

dw85745 · 17 Jul 2017

This link fixed the problem to some degree.
Some Installed Programs are Not Showing.
Thanks to Forum for Link.

Set Program Access and Computer Defaults - Enable or Disable - Windows 7 Help Forums

Layback Bear · 18 Jul 2017

Give this tutorial by Brink a read. It may or may not help.
It can't hurt.

SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker - Windows 7 Help Forums

Jack

dw85745 · 18 Jul 2017

Layback Bear: Had previously ran "SFC" and came back OK, but will review article.
Thanks for link.

shadyz · 18 Jul 2017

Reminds me of my dll hell current issue DLL Hell - Windows 7 Help Forums
i couldnt access control panel as well for a while

Can't Access Control Panel Default File Association Dialog-2017-07-16-21_13_18-microsoft-visual-c-runtime-library.png

i was also getting this

Can't Access Control Panel Default File Association Dialog-2017-07-16-18_52_15-cnext.png

Can't Access Control Panel Default File Association Dialog-2017-07-16-23_12_56-vuze-bittorrent-client.png

i was told to delete all these:

Can't Access Control Panel Default File Association Dialog-2017-07-16-21_27_54-programs-features.png

torchwood · 19 Jul 2017

Hi DW,

Please run chkdsk /r

This will try and repair any NTFS problems.

Then please run Farbar, copy/paste both the logs,
Farbar Recovery Scan Tool Download

Lets see how well the malware clean-up went.

Roy

dw85745 · 19 Jul 2017

torchwood:
Thanks for input.
1) Friday I ran "chkdsk /r" on my primary drive (son), backup #1 (father).
Both had "found" files.
I then cloned backup #2 (grandfather) over father and ran "chkdsk / r" on new father.
Again "found" files, so all drives impacted to some degree.
Made note of some of the directories and file names in the "found" directories.
I then re-cloned grandfather over father - did NOT run chkdsk.
Lastly I looked up those noted directories and file names on the re-cloned grandfather and appeared to be OK.
Spent the weekend manually copy / pasteing all directories and from grandfather to son (primary).

2) SFC /ScanNow says everything OK.

3) However part of registry must be corrupted. As identified so far:

(a) default association was gone UNTIL I ran
"Set Program Access and Computer Defaults". This appeared to correct somewhat.

(b) Still missing file associations list which normally shows up in combobox for selection when using most programs. The two for HK_CURRENT_USER and HK_USERS lists appear to be intact, but their is No hit on HK_CLASSES_ROOT (my reading says should be one for Win7 ??).

4) Will try you program - hopefully OK/

torchwood · 19 Jul 2017

Hi DW,

mines about 150 entries.

Roy

torchwood · 19 Jul 2017

were any Bad blocks found if so and IF the number keeps growing thats NOT good news.

CLONING copies bad blocks
make an image that can ignore them, Macrium free has this option.

Roy

dw85745 · 19 Jul 2017

torchwood:

Ran your suggested program both "before" chkdsk and "after" ckkdsk" so I could
see differences if any -- have NOT compared yet.

Thanks for confirming HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT associations.

Questions:
1) Now that I have the output, How do I use it -or- identify areas of concern from it?
2) Can you put together a reg file for me for HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT ?
Would be good to have available on forum.

Rant:
These kids (assume kids) who copy viruses and put them on the net for a "haha" don't realize they
are only shooting themselves in the foot. Eventually their own copied virus, or someone elses, will come back and bite them. DUMB! Need to go back to old corporal punishment system used in middle east where one loses a finger and hand for misbehaving in this way.