Resolved All application icons not working anymore

I don't know what happened but suddenly none of my applications work. They do work but when I click on the icons on my desktop they pop up the message " "windows cannot open this file ".

Does anybody know how this happened and how to fix it?

 

Hi, stevens. Welcome to Windows BBS.

Although I have never experienced your problem, the first thing I usually try when something strange like you're describing suddenly happens is to shut down the computer. Wait a several seconds after shutdown and then boot the computer again.

Please let us know if the problem persists or not.

If the problem persists, then the following link may help.

• http://windowsxp.mvps.org/exefile.htm

Also, I suggest you check your system for viruses by running at least two online virus scans.

• http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Scanners.htm

 

I have tried shutting down several times. Even in safe mode and tried to restore to a point a week ago too. Nothing worked.

I did notice that it's not really the applications not working..it's all the shortcuts that are broken. Everything on the desktop and start menu which is a shortcut is broken. Maybe that will shed some more light? I did a search on this too but couldn't find any info.

 

Likely your .EXE file extension is damaged.

See:

MS-MVP Ramesh Srinivasan's solution: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/exefile.htm

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=837334


This is almost always due to a virus. Run two on-line AV scans: http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Scanners.htm

 

That fixed it. Thanks so much for your help!

I'm still running the online scanner and hopefully it'll detect something. Thanks again!

 

Glad you got the shortcuts working again!

However, I will hope the online scanners do NOT find something.