start an application

Hello everyone.
I have this problem,
When I'm double click on an *.exe file, istead of opening the application, a widow apears asking: "Which user account do you want to run this program?" and I have some options below, to choose the user.
When I right click on the *.exe file the first option in the pop-up menu is run as....
Do you know how to fix this?
The problem appeared when I tried to install a software. The installation process was OK untill 99% and it stucked on registering. Then I canceled the installation and this happened.
Thanks.

 

There's so many hits to this I'm having a bit of trouble pinning it down to just one thing that would be considered a permanent fix. I know it's in here somewhere but time and patience is required. You may wish to look through some of these to get a better feel or understanding for what you may dealing with and if you find the fix before I do, please let me know by sharing it.

http://groups.google.com/groups?num...rom+unauthorized+program+activity&btnG=Search

This looks like a winner. I should have known Kelly would have a fix...

Easy fix. Run the edit on line 111
111. Restore Run As - Which user account issue
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

While the above regpatch is relatively safe and Kelly's site is a trusted site frequently referenced by members of this help.net it is still a good practice and habit to get into to take precautions. So, that being said....
Important:The above link is a regpatch that will correct or merge keys and values into your registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure you back it up either "in total, meaning the whole thing" or export the hkeys envolved prior to the change. Also make sure you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986

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Note

Since this seems to be registry related and just happened, Tony's suggestion will also fix your problem. I am however curious if you found yourself plagued with this current problem by making a similar mistake as many of the posters by running or clicking on an either a shortcut or exe file and using the "Run as" option and changeing any of the options that appear from the popup?

Since a few posters had a previous virus or are currently infected and it was a virus, rather than a user (your) mistake, that had caused the original problem. Are you sure you are clean? Have you virus scanned lately? Just being cautious...

 

Thanks gyus.
I ran system restore and I've checked at kelly's -corner before I post this but both didn't help.
Anyway I've fixed the problem by downloading the exe file assosiation fix from here:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm
Thanks again for answering.

 

Hi Vangelis,
That's funny because I was going to give Doug's fix a link at first but later changed my mind in favor of Kelly's. While I had opened Doug's, to see what it did, I Just assumed Kelly's would do the same thing. I guess I will have to download it and check it out to satisfy my own curiosity on the difference. In any case I'm glad the problem is fixed. It is still registry related and a restore should have taken care of this but it is possible that you didn't go back far enough, best guessitimate.

Did you do that virus scan as suggested?

Thanks for the update and your most welcome.

 

I'm arriving a little late here but since it's a slow night on the Board, I'll put in my 2¢ here anyway.

Did you know that you can run a command session and type assoc.exe press enter and you'll see the association assigned for that extension? You can likewise change the association for it by entering assoc.exe=txt or whatever you would like to assign to it. Or enter assoc.exe= and it'll have no association at all. To set it back correctly enter assoc.exe=exefile That works on all other extensions as well of course.

To check all your assigned associations enter assoc|more and you'll get them all.

You could even send the list to a text file and print it out for reference by entering assoc > "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\assoc.txt " But change the name "owner" to match your own I.D.

I hope you find that to be useful. Perhaps it would have fixed vangelis' problem.

 

Thanks for the tip surferdude2. I will have it mind.
goddez1 I did scan my computer but I didn't find any viruses.