.exe default program.

Question

I tried to open a file with win rar but accidentally set my default program for all .exe files to firefox. I am unable to use a system restore because of this and do not know how to fix this. Please help.

Answer 1

Hi,

This may help...

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950505

Don't use the Fixit which is for Vista only.

Tricky

Answer 2

Wow! Thank You Very much for such a detailed and in depth answer. Unfortunately for me all the files available were post problem, I tried one of them in hopes that it might work but no. At this point I'm not to concerned with losing any of my files or downloads I just want a working computer. Knowing that is there any help you can give me. And if not is  this a completely unfix-able problem or would a computer store actually be able to help. Id much rather put money towards a new computer than to pay to fix something that can not be fixed.

Answer 3

Taking your PC to BestBuy is likely to cost you a packet and the outcome might be less than satisfactory. 

You can restore your registry files manually to an earlier point by going through the steps outlined below. The process is involved and requires some careful typing. Ask a computer-savvy friend to assist you if you lack experience in this area. Note that it might reset your password to an earlier value.

1. Keep tapping F8 during the early boot phase.
2. Select Repair from the menu that looks like this one:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Advanced-startup-options-including-safe-mode

3. Log on as Administrator if prompted.
4. Select Repair when prompted.
5. Select the Command Prompt from the menu that looks like this one:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/What-are-the-system-recovery-options-in-Windows-7

6. Identify the correct drive letter for your Windows installation. It could be a drive other than C: but it won't be X:. You do it by typing the commands

dir C:\Win*

dir D:\Win*

dir E:\Win*

until you find the Windows folder.

I will call that drive "Q:".

7. Type these commands:

cd /d Q:\windows\System32\config

xcopy *.* Q:\MyRegBack\

cd  RegBack

dir

8. Examine the dates of the Software, System and SAM files. Were the files created before or after your problem became apparent?
9. If they were made before the problem became apparent then you can type these commands:

copy /y software  ..

copy /y System  ..

copy /y Sam ..

(the two dots are part of each command)

10. Reboot normally. If things do not work out then you can backtrack by copying the original registry files from Q:\MyRegBack to Q:\Windows\System32\config.

Note also that time is of the essence. The registry backup file might get overwritten at any time by a newer version.

Answer 4

Thank you for such a quick response. There is still a problem though, ill explain the full situation. I downloaded a game that came with an installer. I didn't want to use the installer so i tried to open it using winrar. But I accidentally clicked Windows Media Center instead, and i forgot to un-tick the box that said (do the same for all files like this) .So then I had Windows Media Center as my default for everything. I thought maybe if i uninstalled Windows Media Center things might open with their original programs,but I ended up uninstalling only a few pieces of Windows Media Center and that didn't fix anything. So I looked around on my hard drive and opened Firefox and set it to open Firefox, but again i forgot to un-tick the box and that's how everything got set to Firefox. I omitted that because it was a little embarrassing making the same mistake twice but i was in a bit of a panic. However I did just as you said and I was able to open up system restore, but the only dates to restore to are the times that a uninstalled parts of Windows Media Center. No earlier dates. Even when i clicked "show more restore points" nothing else came up. If you could help me with this I would be amazed and really grateful, but if not do you think if i took my computer into best buy or something they would be able to help me? Thanks again so much in advance, and sorry for such a long reply.

Answer 5

Keep tapping F8 at boot time, then boot the machine into Repair Mode. You can now run System Restore from there.