Windows 7 File Associations

[mac_shinobi]

Somehow a few users have managed to knacker up the file associations so whenever you try and open an executable ie Internet Explorer instead of opening the exe it launches the exe in notepad / word and some users have managed to make all executables associate themselves with 7 zip and keep getting the error message along the lines of "This win32 application is not valid"

Tried the MS KB here

Tried this --> Restore .EXE File Association in Windows 7/Vista After Incorrectly Associating it With Another Program - The Winhelponline Blog

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command

(Default) should be Code:

"%1" %*

Also tried the below link with regards to the exe reg file but issue is still there.

Default File Type Associations - Restore - Windows 7 Forums

Any other thoughts ?

Only one left I can think of is re create the user profile as other users are not effected so can logon with my domain admin or local admin accounts and no issues.

Think we are trying to run malware scans ( malware bytes / sophos etc ) at the min

[mac_shinobi]

@Arthur , @SYNACK

Forgot to say - this is windows 7 32 bit enterprise

[Michael]

I think there is some malware floating about that does change file assocations.

If it's only affecting certain users I would agree with your solution - update their profile.

[sted]

I think there is some malware floating about that does change file assocations.

If it's only affecting certain users I would agree with your solution - update their profile.

yup ive seen that where any exe file asks wtf you want me to open with? Even after cleanup the pc never worked rigth iirc

[mac_shinobi]

Just to clarify - what steps are needed to re do the profile, is it similar to xp where you delete the relevant registry key whilst logged in as local admin

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

Select the relevant SID values and look in the right pane to find said user account that it is related to and I normally minimize regedit at this point so I can backup all user data and delete the users SID value from the above key

Then reboot and log back on with user credentials and put all users data back etc ???

[Duke5A]

Every time that I've seen this it has always been malware for me as well. I know this is for Windows XP, but these registry exports look similar to that of Windows 7. They've always worked for me in XP in the past. Can't hurt to try, right?

Windows XP File Assocation Fixes

[SYNACK]

How to reset shortcuts (.lnk file) in Windows 7? - Super User might do it, just waste all the profile only associations.

[mac_shinobi]

Will keep the links handy so thanks to everyone who replied and helped. Basically rebooted, logged on as local admin, backed up all the users data and re did the profile as per post #5

It did muck up some things ie VPN forgot the vpn link but that is easy enough to fix by signing back onto the vpn which is only a 5 to 10 min job

[sonofsanta]

Can't you clear local profiles down in Windows 7 from System Properties? Win key + Pause/Break, Advanced System Settings, User Profiles section > Settings, find the profile in the list and click the delete button. Does the registry bit for you, then just empty out the network copy of the profile.