I messed something up big time!!!

For some reason, every program I try to open wants to go through the "Open
With" window? It has a few wonky options in there, but nothing I want.

No clue how I did this, or how to change it back.....help me please!!!!

TIA

Windows Vista System Restore Guide
[url]http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial143.html[/url]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

--------------------------------------------------------------------

"Jenna" wrote:

I messed something up big time!!!

For some reason, every program I try to open wants to go through the "Open
With" window? It has a few wonky options in there, but nothing I want.

No clue how I did this, or how to change it back.....help me please!!!!

TIA

Hi Jenna--

In addition to System Restore, here are some other options. Sometimes
system restore works from one location and not another--i.e. from Win RE off
the Vista DVD if you have one, and although you can boot to Vista, there is
also Last Known Good at the F8 menu. You should try SFC first, and if you
have the Vista DVD you can try Startup Repair as well. Directions for these
other options are below:

***SFC as a Remedy***:

SFC or System File Checker is a bit like the spare tire in your car or a
backup battery I suppose. In Vista of course, they have changed it somewhat
and come up with a new name--Redmond stands for name it something different
twice a year and now it's part of WRP or Windows Resource Protection. It
scans protected resources including thousands of files, libraries, critical
folders, and essential registry keys, and it replaces those that are
corrupted with intact ones. It fixes a lot of problems in Windows XP, OE,
Windows Vista, Win Mail, IE6, and on Vista or if it is installed on XP, IE7.
It protects these things from changes by any source including
administrators, by keeping a spare of most of them.


How to Run SFC:

Type "cmd" into the Search box above the Start Button>and when cmd comes up
at the top of the Start menu>right click cmd and click "run as Admin" and
when the cmd prompt comes up at the cmd prompt type "sfc /scannow" no quotes
and let it run. This may fix things quite a bit. It replaces corrupt files
with intact ones, if you're not familiar with it.

***Startup Repair from the Vista DVD***

How to Use The Vista DVD to Repair Vista (Startup Repair is misnamed by the
Win RE team and it can be used to fix many Vista components even when you
***can boot to Vista):

[url]http://www.windowsvista.windowsreinstall.com/vistaultimate/repairstartup/index.htm[/url]

If you elect to run Startup repair from the Vista DVD (it can fix major
components in Vista--I've verified this many many times; it's good for more
than startup problems, and the Win RE team simply screwed up when they named
it not understanding its full functionality):

Startup Repair will look like this when you put in the Vista DVD:

[url]http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/click-repair-your-computer.png[/url]

You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
also sometimes effective):

[url]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us[/url]

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
[url]http://www.windowsvista.windowsreinstall.com/vistaultimate/repairstartup/index.htm[/url]

It will automatically take you to this on your screen:

[url]http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/click-repair-your-computer.png[/url]

That will allow you to go to the Vista setup that has a Repair link on
thelower left corner>click it and then you'll see a gray backgrounded list
and I want you to click Startup Repair from it and follow the directions.

The gray screen after you click the first link in the above pic will look
like this:

[url]http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winvista/images/repair/staruprepair/Image17.gif[/url]

Click Startup Repair, the link at the top and after it scans>click OK and
let it try to repair Vista. It will tell you if it does, and if it
doesn't, try System Restore from the Recovery Link on the DVD. If these
don't work booting into Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key and using System
Restore from one of the safe modes besides VGA may work. That means you
have the option to try 4 different safe modes to get to system restore, (one
from the Recovery link on the DVD) and sometimes one will work when the
others won't.


You could also try a Repair Install with Vista which is done exactly the
same way as in XP:

***Repair Install Steps*** (can be used for Vista) MVP Doug Knox
[url]http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx[/url]


***Using the F8 Environment***

***Taking Full Advantage of the F8 Options (Windows Advanced Options Menu)
by starting the PC and tapping F8 once per second when the firmware screen
with the pc manufacturer's name shows a few seconds after restarting***:

The F8 options in Vista are the same as XP, and the link for Safe Mode Boot
options is labled XP by MSFT but they are the same for Vista (they haven't
updated to add Vista to the title as they have with several MSKBs that apply
to both).

Again, pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is a
generic way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.

You could also:

Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.
1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
Configuration


Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't
use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you a
choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command
Prompt.

These methods are outlined in

A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
[url]http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/[/url]

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore from MSFT:

[url]http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/plan/faqsrwxp.mspx[/url]

System Restore can be run from the Win RE recovery environment from the same
link as Startup Repair, and sometimes it will work from one F8 safe mode
location or from the Win Recovery Environment when it won't work from other
locations.

How to start the System Restore tool at a command prompt in Windows XP

[url]http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304449[/url]

Good luck,

CH

"Jenna" <Jenna@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:DB410AB6-76A2-42E8-8039-4772F92C35BE@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
>I messed something up big time!!!
>
> For some reason, every program I try to open wants to go through the "Open
> With" window? It has a few wonky options in there, but nothing I want.
>
> No clue how I did this, or how to change it back.....help me please!!!!
>
> TIA[/color]

I've already tried that, the problem is nothing automatically opens anymore,
it's wanting to me to choose a program to open it with.

Thats what my whole problem is and I can't seem to get around that???

Is there a way to reset just that default, or get around it for a full
restore??

Try the fix for the .EXE file association, found here:

[url]http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/[/url]


"Jenna" <Jenna@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A1413180-D494-46C7-ACD8-D6F20716C1EA@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> I've already tried that, the problem is nothing automatically opens
> anymore,
> it's wanting to me to choose a program to open it with.
>
> Thats what my whole problem is and I can't seem to get around that???
>
> Is there a way to reset just that default, or get around it for a full
> restore??[/color]

Thank you so much Chad!!!!

Unfortunately I only have the upgrade disks (the laptop came with Vista) and
the "cmd" option doesn't seem to work?

I followed all your steps, but "run as admin" isn't an option?

Any other ideas????

Yeah!!!!!

Thanks Dean...it worked!!!!! I owe you a case of beer for that one, I was
ready to throw the laptop in the pool!!!!!



"dean-dean" wrote:
[color=blue]
> Try the fix for the .EXE file association, found here:
>
> [url]http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/[/url]
>
>
> "Jenna" <Jenna@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:A1413180-D494-46C7-ACD8-D6F20716C1EA@microsoft.com...[color=green]
> > I've already tried that, the problem is nothing automatically opens
> > anymore,
> > it's wanting to me to choose a program to open it with.
> >
> > Thats what my whole problem is and I can't seem to get around that???
> >
> > Is there a way to reset just that default, or get around it for a full
> > restore??[/color]
>[/color]

Yeah!!!!!

Thanks so much Dean....it worked!!!!

I owe you a case of beer for that one, the laptop almost went in the pool!!!

Thanks for all the help guys :)

Glad to hear things are working! Now if I only had a pool to go with the
beer...

"Jenna" <Jenna@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5AF4715C-380F-4747-A682-8E6ED9760F83@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> Yeah!!!!!
>
> Thanks Dean...it worked!!!!! I owe you a case of beer for that one, I was
> ready to throw the laptop in the pool!!!!!
>
>
>
> "dean-dean" wrote:
>[color=green]
>> Try the fix for the .EXE file association, found here:
>>
>> [url]http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/[/url]
>>
>>
>> "Jenna" <Jenna@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:A1413180-D494-46C7-ACD8-D6F20716C1EA@microsoft.com...[color=darkred]
>> > I've already tried that, the problem is nothing automatically opens
>> > anymore,
>> > it's wanting to me to choose a program to open it with.
>> >
>> > Thats what my whole problem is and I can't seem to get around that???
>> >
>> > Is there a way to reset just that default, or get around it for a full
>> > restore??[/color]
>>[/color][/color]

Jenna--

Here are your options. Run as admin will work--I'll show you where it is.
Because of Vista security, it won't let you run some commands unless you run
as admin.

Run Cmd as Admin Screen Shot
[url]http://www.geekstogo.com/misc/tutorials/command.png[/url]

1) To run SFC or sytem file checker which is kind of like chaning a tire
with thousands of files, .dlls, and reg keys as the spares, what you do is
type cmd in the search box above the Start button. It will pop up the cmd
small icon at the top of your start menu in about 3 seconds. Then right
click that small cmd icon and on the menu that will spring up click Run as
administrator. Then in 3 more seconds your cmd prompt will pop up. At the
prompt where the colon is type "sfc /scannow" without quotes and with a
space between the C and the slash.

2) You don't have a Vista DVD, but maybe you can borrow one from someone and
run Startup repair as shown in my links.

3) How did you make out with trying system restore to a point before it
happened per the link that Carey gave you?

4) Also althought it statistically doesn't work as often as other fixes, if
you restart your computer and then tap F8 when you see the screen that shows
your pc maker logo, about once per second like the tick of a clock, when you
get to that menu, use the down arrow to select Last Known Good configuration
and hit the enter key. If it works, it can fix you in seconds.

Last Known Good Configuration at the F8 Windows Advanced Options Menu Screen
Shot
[url]http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/safemode%20002.jpg[/url]

Good luck,

CH




"Jenna" <Jenna@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:268DB1B2-0936-4EAD-9B85-2AC6C72DC7D6@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> Thank you so much Chad!!!!
>
> Unfortunately I only have the upgrade disks (the laptop came with Vista)
> and
> the "cmd" option doesn't seem to work?
>
> I followed all your steps, but "run as admin" isn't an option?
>
> Any other ideas????[/color]

Thanks Chad!

It came up for me before, the admin option just wasn't there. Now that I've
done the exe thing Dean suggested, it's there, so all set to o if any other
issues come up!

Thanks again for all the help!!!

Yup I forgot Ramesh's site. Save the link for his site and check out his
other tweaks and fixes. He was able to fix just about anything on the XP
groups for years and is very good. Glad you got it fixed.

CH

"Jenna" <Jenna@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:470CD281-B549-4081-A11B-EC45824B691B@microsoft.com...[color=blue]
> Thanks Chad!
>
> It came up for me before, the admin option just wasn't there. Now that
> I've
> done the exe thing Dean suggested, it's there, so all set to o if any
> other
> issues come up!
>
> Thanks again for all the help!!![/color]