INSANE PROBLEM with accidental File association.

This is a big deal, guys. I accidentally set Adobe Reader 9 to open .exe files. I was downloading a program, and it somehow only partially downloaded it. Before I knew it, it was asking me what I should open the .exe with. Somehow I set it to Adobe Reader 9. So whenever I install Adobe Reader 9 it automatically changes all my programs to have Adobe Reader icons, and wont open them with anything different. And since they're .exe's, they don't have a 'Open With' command.

I'm sincerely screwed, because I think I need Adobe Reader on here for other Adobe programs to properly function. And I cant install it without losing all my programs that have .exe in the name. I went to 'default programs' to see if there was a bad association and .EXE isn't even in the list of programs.

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try using system restore to roll back your computer to before you accidentally associated the file type, and/or try uninstalling and then reinstalling acrobat reader.

------------------------------ If fate really does exist, she hates my guys....
Reply to pinaplex

open a folder, goto tools - folder options, select the file types tab, see if there is an entry for exe opening with adobe now, admittedly there usually isnt one for exe but could be worth looking.

Reply to montyuk

I have Vista, so it's not as easy as that, sadly.

I downloaded a tool (File Type Doctor) that helps me change the way a file is opened, but it still didn't work. I tried to restore, but I dont have any restores old enough to get to that point. Seems pretty hopeless.

Message edited by austinx on 12-18-2008 at 03:04:44 AM

Reply to austinx

either go into reader and look in settings for files associated with it or
just delete reader and then reinstall it.
Either will work

Reply to pat mcgroin

start -> run -> "sysedit" -> win.ini -> delete the line that associate the exe to acrobat.

There might be a setting in the registry too but I am not on my Vista machine atm so I cannot confirm.

Reply to antiacid

I tried the win.ini approach, and it wasn't in the win.ini screen.

Reply to austinx

Also, when I re-installed Adobe Reader, not only did all the other programs set to run with it, but sysedit is also an .exe so I couldn't even open THAT.

Reply to austinx

OKAY! I ALMOST GOT IT, GUYS! I found a site where it explained to go into the registry, into the currentuser settings, and I found the area where my .exe's are set to open with AcroRD32.exe. I had to change the values to nothing.

It will work...but, there's a problem getting in my way. In the USERCHOICE entry there's a section called ProgID and in its value there's the link to Applications/AcroRD32.exe.

I can't change the Progid, it won't let me. I've tried giving myself permissions, but it doesn't work. Should I reboot in safe mode and try it then?

All I have left to do is delete the Data in the Progid that tells .exe's to open with Adobe Reader 9. But it's not letting me. This is like, the most major obstacle in my list of major obstacles at the moment for this (brand new) PC.

Message quoted 2 times

Reply to austinx

Hi Austin X.......I have the same problem that you've written about. I googled it and this forum was the only pertinent site I've found. Did you get your problem corrected? Did you find out how to change the Progid?
I'm going nuts trying to figure this out......I really need the adobe program......

austinx wrote :

OKAY! I ALMOST GOT IT, GUYS! I found a site where it explained to go into the registry, into the currentuser settings, and I found the area where my .exe's are set to open with AcroRD32.exe. I had to change the values to nothing.

It will work...but, there's a problem getting in my way. In the USERCHOICE entry there's a section called ProgID and in its value there's the link to Applications/AcroRD32.exe.

I can't change the Progid, it won't let me. I've tried giving myself permissions, but it doesn't work. Should I reboot in safe mode and try it then?

All I have left to do is delete the Data in the Progid that tells .exe's to open with Adobe Reader 9. But it's not letting me. This is like, the most major obstacle in my list of major obstacles at the moment for this (brand new) PC.

Reply to TammyD_55

austinx wrote :

OKAY! I ALMOST GOT IT, GUYS! I found a site where it explained to go into the registry, into the currentuser settings, and I found the area where my .exe's are set to open with AcroRD32.exe. I had to change the values to nothing.

It will work...but, there's a problem getting in my way. In the USERCHOICE entry there's a section called ProgID and in its value there's the link to Applications/AcroRD32.exe.

I can't change the Progid, it won't let me. I've tried giving myself permissions, but it doesn't work. Should I reboot in safe mode and try it then?

All I have left to do is delete the Data in the Progid that tells .exe's to open with Adobe Reader 9. But it's not letting me. This is like, the most major obstacle in my list of major obstacles at the moment for this (brand new) PC.

Hi Austin,

It is not possible to delete or change this key at this position.

I solved the Problem by open the key HKEY_USERS\S-X-X-XX-XXX...XXX-1000\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Filexts\.exe

Delete the Userchoice key
The Complete Key should look like

.exe ------- Standard REG_SZ (No Value set)
|
-OpenWithList - Standard REG_SZ (NO VALUE SET)
|
- OpenWithProgids - Standard REG_SZ (No Value Set)
- exefile REG_NONE (Binary value ZEro)

If you change the keys in this Section the refering Values in the Curent Uer Sections should change in the Same way.

Reply to Anonymous

Focus On

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