[WEB4LIB] Associating an .exe file

[Margaret Gross]

Stephanie, 
I can certainly relate to your problem. It happened to me in early
January. I posted to Libnt-l, and received an immediate answer from Bob
Rasmussen. I am including his message. He offers two solutions. I am
more comfortable writing DOS batch files, than I am editing Win 98
registry files, so I chose to write a registry patch file, his second
solution. It worked on my first attempt. Be sure to follow the
instructions to the letter.
Good Luck!

-----oooooooo000000oooooooo-----
Margaret Gross, MLS
Librarian and Information Officer
EMS Technologies Canada, Ltd.
21025 Trans Canada Highway
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Qc
Canada  H9X 3R2

tel. (514)457-2150
fax. (514)425-3048
email corp:  gross.m at ems-t.ca
email home:  mgross at cam.org

Visit the Librarians' Resource Centre 
http://www.sla.org/chapter/ctor/toolbox/resource/index.html
"Success is a state of mind"
"La réussite est un état d'esprit"
-----oooooooo000000oooooooo-----
===================================================================
Bob's message follows:
===================================================================

This is a NASTY one, which I just encountered this morning.

THE PROBLEM
The system ends up with a "file association", associating the "EXE" file
extension with the telnet program (or whatever you've tried to install).
Consequently, whenever you try to run ANY application, Windows runs the
telnet!

HOW IT HAPPENS In newer Netscape (at least 4.04 and 4.06), under
Edit:Preferences:Applications, you can add file handler applications.
You
would normally do this to add a graphics viewer, for instance. This has
the
same effect as manipulating file types in Windows Explorer. HOWEVER,
Netscape
left out an important safegaurd. If you put "EXE" in as the extension,
it pops
up the current value, and then lets you enter (or browse) another
application
there. This creates the problem.

THE NITTY GRITTY
The registry entry 
   HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command
now contains the program name. It should contain
   "%1" %*
exactly, with the quotes.

HOW TO FIX IT
You can't run regedit.exe, because Windows will bring up the telnet
instead. I
initially solved this by copying regedit.exe over the top of the program
that
was named (once I figured out what it was). Then I ran regedit and fixed
the
offending entry.

Another way to fix it is to create a registry patch file. This is
possible
using DOS commands, which fortunately still work. Go to
Start:Programs:MS-DOS
prompt to open a DOS window. Then:

1. Type
      edit fix-exe.reg

2. Make the contents of the file read EXACTLY:
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"

3. Exit, saving the file.

4. Enter:
      start fix-exe.reg

5. Regedit should ask you if you want to change the indicated value.
Answer
"Yes".

This should fix the problem.

DISCLAIMER
I take no responsibility for the success of this, I'm just trying to
help out.
Your registry was messed up to start with, you have little if anything
to
lose.

Regards,
....Bob Rasmussen,   President,   Rasmussen Software, Inc.

personal e-mail: ras at anzio.com
 company e-mail: rsi at anzio.com or sales at anzio.com or support at anzio.com
 ftp://ftp.anzio.com               voice: 503-624-0360
http://www.anzio.com                 fax: 503-624-0760


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Stephanie Kraus wrote:
> 
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> HELP!!!  I just did the stupidest thing and cannot undo it!
> 
>  I accidentally associated all .exe files to open up the EBSCOhost program.
> Now no matter what program you run- EBSCOhost opens.  I have tried to get in
> to Regedit, uninstall and nothing will let me in.  When I go to view file
> type and click on the type I had created it will not let me edit it so I
> cannot change it or delete it.  I am stuck- Is there a way to undo what I
> have done short of reformatting the hard drive????
> 
> Stephanie Kraus  <krauss at uhls.lib.ny.us>
> Head of Outreach and Internet Services
> Wm. K. Sanford Town Library <wkslibry at uhls.lib.ny.us>
> Loudonville, NY 12211
> 518.458.9274
> 
>
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