Locked out!

[Drew]

I'm trying to fix a Win95 box that was hit with a virus (the user conveniently can't remember which one and it's clean now). Anyhow, the problem is: The "Association" for Application is now corrupt. It won't allow any executable to run as it tries to run a non-existant file. I can't change the association in File Types ("Application" seems to be special in this regard), and of course I can't even run Regedit because it too is an application! So, anyone have an idea how to fix the bad association (short of re-installing).
Thx!

[jstolz]

The ONLY way to fix this is to use a .reg file to repair your associations--and of course, you need the correct associations for an .exe file. Here's my reg file that I keep handly in case I get hit with such a virus--but I'm running win98 and that may not mesh with Win95--I'd still try it and see.

Just cut/paste between the ---cut marks to a text file, give the text file a .reg extension, right-click and select merge.

Good Luck--and as a matter of preparedness; does anyone know what the heck to do when these losers take their exe viruses a step further and disassociate .reg files in addition to .exe files???

---cut
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe]
"Content Type"="application/x-msdownload"
@="exefile"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile]
"EditFlags"=hex:d8,07,00,00
@="Application"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell]
@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open]
@=""
"EditFlags"=hex:00,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHan dlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHan dlers\{86F19A00-42A0-1069-A2E9-08002B30309D}]
@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\DefaultIcon]
@="%1"

---cut

[Drew]

Hey, your merge fix worked great!

Thanks very much!

[POBrien]

JS is awesome!!!!!!

[jstolz]

Thanks, but you know, you've got a heck of a lot of good pointers too. For that matter, there's a bunch of you guys/gals out there giving great solutions--makes me wish someone could set us all down and systematically compile all our knowledge--Hint, hint Simon!

Regards...

[POBrien]

Thanks JS! You're right this is a great site with many many contributors. An ultimate thanks to Simon.
JS, great idea about melding together. Simon, how about some airline tickets for a reg meeting in Hawaii. :)

Peace