EXE File Fix

Overview¶

My computer got a virus that caused the following symptoms.

No EXE could be run directly, including CMD.EXE.
Programs could be run via file associations. (For example, double-clicking a DOC file would open Microsoft Word.)
If you try to run CMD.EXE from the Start Menu > Run, you get an error stating that CMD.EXE couldn't be found, even though you can find it in Windows Explorer.

Solution¶

Merging the following REG file into the Registry cured the above symptoms.

{copytext|div1}

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.exe\shell\open\command]

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\secfile\shell\open\command]

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe\shell\open\command]

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

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\secfile]