Solved Cannot open Registry Editor

[dguzzi]

Hello, First post!
I was directed to change a few things in regedit, now I can't open it to change them back. I can't open any .exe files Can you help?

 

[Brink]

Hello, First post!
I was directed to change a few things in regedit, now I can't open it to change them back. I can't open any .exe files Can you help?

Hello, and welcome.

You could try downloading and merging the REG file for the EXE item in the table of the tutorial below to restore the default associations for EXE files to hopefully fix this for you.

Default File Type Associations - Restore

 

[dguzzi]

I did download that stuff but not sure how to "merge"? When I opened the .exe file in that, it told me that the values contained have been added but no changes to my problem (i rebooted after that as well)

 

[Brink]

I did download that stuff but not sure how to "merge"? When I opened the .exe file in that, it told me that the values contained have been added but no changes to my problem (i rebooted after that as well)

You would double click on the REG file and approve to merge it.

Since it didn't help, you could try doing a system restore at boot below using a restore point dated before this happened to undo it.

System Restore

 

[dguzzi]

It seems my restore point isn't back far enough... If I could get regedit.exe to open I could return the values I changed back to original.

 

[Brink]

Are you getting any error messages when trying to open EXE files or regedit?

 

[dguzzi]

It asks what program I want to use to open this type of files.

 

[Brink]

As a test, see if this below to reset Microsoft recommended defaults may help.

1) Open Settings > Default apps.

2) Scroll down, and click/tap on the Reset button under Reset to the Microsoft recommended defaults.

 

[dguzzi]

not sure where settings is for default apps?

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I got it! I had to find the list of file associations, then figured out registry files etc.

Thank you, Brink you sent me in the right direction!!

- - - Updated - - -

WHEW!

 

[Brink]

Great news.