Media Center Has Taken Over

[Pinkladyrose]

Hello, I am new to the site and I need help, I have windows7 and my computer did an update and ever since then I have been having problems with the media center taking control over everything. I tried the programs and features to cut off media center, but cannot open any programs in the control panel, when I do this the media center clicks on whenever I try to open or download anything . I cannot open any files at all.

 

[lehnerus2000]

You may need to reset all of your file associations.

Tutorial
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/19449-default-file-type-associations-restore.html

 

[Arc]

First try the exe and lnk registries from the link provided by lehnerus2000 in post #2. See if the issue still exists or not.

If the issue still exists, you may go for the other ones.
http://www.sevenforums.com/attachme...sociations-restore-default_lnk_-shortcut-.reg

 

[Berton]

Also be aware that the icons in Control Panel are usually .cpl format, located on mine in C:\Windows\SysWOW64. Double-clicking one of those .cpl files should open what it is associated with, e.g. desk.cpl for the Desktop, firewall.cpl for Firewall settings, etc. If they don't open you may have more serious issues with the computer. Another format is the .msc [Microsoft Management Console] for things like Computer Management, Disk Management, etc.

 

[lehnerus2000]

A friend of mine had an issue about a week ago.
He could only set his system time by going to the Control Panel (he could not set the time from the Taskbar).

Somehow the "time and date plugin" had its file association changed to IE.

 

[Pinkladyrose]

Hello. I have pulled up default file extentions and I even tried to put regedit at start up, from the default files I am at a loss to what to do. Still cannot get control panel to work.

 

[andrew129260]

Have you tried sfc?



Please Run sfc /scan now using option 2 in this tutorial: SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

Please post back the results.

 

[Pinkladyrose]

Hello, I did the scan and it shows that my files are not corrupted and now where do I go from here, still having the same problem with media center.

 

[andrew129260]

What happens when you launch control panel?

Can you show a screenshot of the issue?

 

[Pinkladyrose]

I cannot show you a screenshot, when go into control panel it will not open any programs I choose, instead the media center loads or clicks in when I try to do anything in the control panel. I did find a way to disable media center through system management, but my disabling it still did not turn it off.

 

[andrew129260]

? You do not need to go into control panel to take a screenshot......

Click start rb: type snipping tool. Use that to take a screenshot

 

[Slartybart]

Run a quick malware scan on your computer.

There might not be anything related to the issue, but a quick check doesn't hurt.

---

AdwCleaner is a two step process. Scan then Clean

Step 1: Download and Scan

Click here to download AdwCleaner (author: Xplode)
>> save the application to your Desktop.

• Right-click AdwCleaner.exe on your Desktop and select Run As Administrator to run the scanner with full privilege rights.
  >> AdwCleaner is a standalone executable, there is no install.
  
  
• Click on the Scan button.
  >> AdwCleaner begins scanning your system. It might take some time to complete, be patient
  
  
• When the scan has finished, click on the Report button
  >> the AdwCleaner log: AdwCleaner[R#].txt is opened in your default Text editor.
  >> [R#] gets incremented every time you run AdwCleaner - the highest number is the most recent.
  
  
• Look through the log for any recognizable entries - don't worry about other details in the log.
  
  
• Paste the entire AdwCleaner log in your next post.
  >> AdwCleaner logs are located in the C:\AdwCleaner folder if you need to reference them again.

 

[Pinkladyrose]

Thanks Guys, neither solution will work because media player and center clicks on saying cannot open file, still cannot download . so now I am trying to figure out how to disable media player since I was able to disable media center, but still cannot use control panel .

 

[Berton]

One test I do is to put inetcpl.cpl in Search and click on it, see if the Internet Properties item will open. There's a number of .cpl files that are the various items in the Control Panel. If they won't open from Search [or Run if you have it showing (or Windows key + R)] then something is really wrong with the install of Windows.

Here's a list of the items if the Control Panel itself won't open and their associated files:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/149648
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/313808

 

[Slartybart]

Following Berton's information - try entering Appwiz.cpl
in the Start Menu Search box, if you see the same name in the search results (Programs), hit enter

if that doesn't work try the Run box (WinKey+R)
enter Appwiz.cpl in the box and hit enter

This is a refinement on what Berton already posted - it should take you directly to Control Panel > Programs and Features.

If you get there, select Turn Windows features on or off (left hand window pane)
Expand Media Features and unTick Media Center and Media Player.

Click OK
You might have to restart

This probably isn't the best way to solve the issue, but it might allow you to do other work that will correct it.

 

[Pinkladyrose]

Thanks a lot for helping with a solution and I have tried so many ways to get into control panel to do a restore, but I seem to not be able to get in and do a download. I am locked out of control panel and don't know there to go from here, just cannot get media player to open anything, not even music will not play.

 

[Berton]

Are you able to open Control Panel when booted into Safe Mode??

 

[Slartybart]

Follow this tutorial from Step 3 and select Repair Your Computer from the Advanced Boot menu
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/666-advanced-boot-options.html

Then select System Restore from the repair menu.
See: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html
Start at step 6 and pay close attention to step 7 and step 8 - many people miss the importance of those steps and only see the most recent Restore Point

If you see a Restore point from before this began, select that one.
If you don't see one that is early enough, try ticking Show other Restore Points. In either case, press the next button.

This sounds like a reinstall, but it isn't.
See: System Restore: frequently asked questions - Windows Help

 

[Pinkladyrose]

Yes I can go into the control panel, but I cannot open anything in the panel and cannot change anything without media player poping up saying cannot open file.

 

[andrew129260]

You might wish to use a repair install.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html