Windows – “This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action”

windows xp

I started up my mother in law's Windows XP computer, and she has no Start Menu, no Start button, no icons — nothing. I can access Task Manager and Command Prompt. She thinks she has gotten a virus where it has hidden everything as when you click create a new task under file you can see the file names. However, if you click any of them it says, "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Folder Options Control Panel." However, I do not know how to access the control panel. How can I fix this?

Best Answer

Microsoft KB article(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950505)

  1. Click Start, then click Run.
  2. In the Open box, type explorer and then click OK.
  3. Navigate to the Windows directory (e.g. a typical path may be C:\Windows) and locate regedit.exe.
  4. Right-click on regedit.exe and select Run as. Uncheck "Protect my computer and data from unauthorized program activity" and click OK.
  5. Using Regedit, locate and then click on the following registry key: HKEYCurrentUser\Software\Classes
  6. On the left panel, right-click on the following registry subkey: '.exe'
  7. Select Delete and then click OK.
  8. On the left panel, right-click on the following registry subkey: 'secfile'
  9. Select Delete and then click OK.
  10. Close Registry Editor.

Also get an antivirus and scan and clean the PC.
MalwareBytes and ComboFix are good and free ones.

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