Resolved Problems opening programs

My computer is giving me troubles when I try to open programs. Each time I double click on a program, it sets off a downloading process through internet explorer. Also, most all the icons on my desktop have changed to ie html icons. Here's a pic of the left side of my desktop.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a...as2Tli0B7efCQ/cC/f=0/ps=50/r=0/rx=550/ry=400/

I've been in the Malware / virus form all day, but they've concluded that all looks good from a virus standpoint. Broni thought it may be a settings issue, especially because the computer belongs to my 16 year old son. He's pretty good with computers, but he may have changed some settings he shouldn't have gotten into.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

 

Perhaps the file type associations have been changed & that for EXE files.

To reset try Windows 7 - Default File Type Associations - Restore. Note that this resets everything back to default & you may have to manually change the associations for the program that you have installed.

 

Got working. Thanks!