Hello everyone. I did not find a match to my problem so I hope it is ok to post here.
I have a Toshiba satelite notebook running Vista Home Premium and I find that just about everything I try to do, WMP ties to "play" the app or file.
IE msconfig--regedit--AV apps--any programs or applications--system restore, all open WMP when I click on the app/program exe file.
Even many Windows system tools and items in Control Panel also try to open with WMP.
The option of Open With is not available on right click on the file and there is no .exe extension shown in the extension list to associate a particular app or program to it. Looking at files associated with WMP under Default Programs does not show .exe files. Only the usual video and sound files.
Looking at the Properties of many of the exe files show the target as being correct but the "Start In" line is always blank.
The Type of File is always shown as Windows Media Player (exe)
I have started the machine in safe mode, but the same thing occurs.
Starting in safe Mode Command Prompt Only allows me to access the registry but I cannot import any registry fixes
I can also access msconfig in this mode, but disabling all in the startup does not resolve anything.
I have done rstrui at the safe mode command prompt and although I was able select a restore point prior to the problem occuring, on restart, WMP ties to open whatever is in the Startup files. So that didn't work.
I have tried to install a AV/spyware program from a thumb drive, but as soon as the drive is placed in a USB port, I am unable to do any task until the PC changes the files association of the apps on the thumb drive--then of course, the app is useless and will not install as WMP opens and tries to "play" it. NB: once the thumb drive is removed--the exe files are ok except each file name is now displayed like_this_on_every_file_name
My only chance I think is to edit the registry, but I was not successful in trying to import a file someone sent me that they thought might do the trick. access denied.
So, I guess it will require manual editing to see if I can fix it , but I only know enough to know that I don't mess about with that.
Before I bite the bullet and format & reload, I thought I would see if any kind soul here could help me solve my problem.
Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.
thank you for reading
buster33
I have a Toshiba satelite notebook running Vista Home Premium and I find that just about everything I try to do, WMP ties to "play" the app or file.
IE msconfig--regedit--AV apps--any programs or applications--system restore, all open WMP when I click on the app/program exe file.
Even many Windows system tools and items in Control Panel also try to open with WMP.
The option of Open With is not available on right click on the file and there is no .exe extension shown in the extension list to associate a particular app or program to it. Looking at files associated with WMP under Default Programs does not show .exe files. Only the usual video and sound files.
Looking at the Properties of many of the exe files show the target as being correct but the "Start In" line is always blank.
The Type of File is always shown as Windows Media Player (exe)
I have started the machine in safe mode, but the same thing occurs.
Starting in safe Mode Command Prompt Only allows me to access the registry but I cannot import any registry fixes
I can also access msconfig in this mode, but disabling all in the startup does not resolve anything.
I have done rstrui at the safe mode command prompt and although I was able select a restore point prior to the problem occuring, on restart, WMP ties to open whatever is in the Startup files. So that didn't work.
I have tried to install a AV/spyware program from a thumb drive, but as soon as the drive is placed in a USB port, I am unable to do any task until the PC changes the files association of the apps on the thumb drive--then of course, the app is useless and will not install as WMP opens and tries to "play" it. NB: once the thumb drive is removed--the exe files are ok except each file name is now displayed like_this_on_every_file_name
My only chance I think is to edit the registry, but I was not successful in trying to import a file someone sent me that they thought might do the trick. access denied.
So, I guess it will require manual editing to see if I can fix it , but I only know enough to know that I don't mess about with that.
Before I bite the bullet and format & reload, I thought I would see if any kind soul here could help me solve my problem.
Any and all help will be greatly appreciated.
thank you for reading
buster33