Oh My God

[Kurt871]

Somehow, yesterday, a virus got on my computer. I had Norton Auto-protect enabled, and it automatically deleted the accused file, "winampw.exe" or something like that. However, in doing so, an error message came up saying something like "Cannot find winampw.exe, Windows cannot find the default application for opening applications.". Some how, that file became the default way to open applications. I had to restart my computer, and when it restarted, everything was fine. Except when I tried to open an application. It says "Windows cannot find the file "PathNameHere", Make sure you typed the name correctly and try again. To search for a file, click the Start button and then click search.". This happens with any file labeled .exe . Please, someone tell me how to fix this. Reinstalling Windows is my absolute last resort. I'd basically try anything before doing that. Thank you so much for your help.

[Lord Prism]

Have you tried reinstalling WinAmp?

[reboot]

What OS?

[grasshopperbe]

I'm not really sure but isnt that a MIME settings fault or so? . in 98 you can change mime settings by start=>settings=>folder options.
in 2000 (and think also xp, only have 2k myself) you can change these at
'my computer' => tools => folder options=> file types.
i looked on my 2kpro and i cant find any mime setting for exe files. so just remove it maybe? (i could have overlooked it as there'sa looong list and not really handy to look trough. )
maybe check if you can find any mime setting for .exe, but wait for some more advice before changing anything (i dont want to mess your pc up even worse :-)

[Kurt871]

1) I have Windows XP Home Edition

2) No, I have not tried installing Winamp, but I cant download it because i cant launch IExplore.exe. Also, even if I could download it, I would'nt be able to open the .exe.

3) I'll look into that, thanks.

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Kurt871]

New problem: I thought I'd try and do a system restore, but when I right-clicked on My Computer and clicked properties, it gave the same error, except that it cant find rundll32.exe. This happens when I click on anything in the Control Panel also. Please help me fix this....

[reboot]

OK, take a deep breath.
Get your Windows CD, and put it in the drive.
Restart the computer.
If it comes up as if a new install, fine, if not, you need to go into BIOS setup, and make sure that CDROM is the first boot device.
You should be prompted to hit "any key" to boot from CDROM.
Start it as if you were doing a new install, do not hit "R" at this time.
Hit F8 to agree to the License/TOS.
At the next screen, the drive with Windows on it should be highlighted, and NOW is when you hit "R" to "Repair a current installation...".
Let it run, and have the CD key handy.
You should now be able to get back into Windows normally.
The first thing I would then do, is a full anti-virus scan.

[Kurt871]

Will this erase any data or modifications to the Windows OS (skins, custon icons, file associations, etc...)?

[reboot]

Nope. It will replace all files corrupted or missing from the OS.
If any of your settings relied on any corrupted file, then they'll be lost, but most stuff will stay the way you remember it.
You will NOT lose any working data from any programs.
You shouldn't lose any file associations, although they're easy enough to restore.

[grasshopperbe]

Good thinking reboot. i totally forgot
xp has a much better restore function than 98)
If that wont help, it ll prolly be a format anyhow.
I think i heard somewhere that i can install a system restore like xp's on 2000 pro too.
would be handy if i ever run into big probs. I use win2000 pro english version 5.00 sp3. anyone any idea ?

[reboot]

Roxio's "GoBack" is the only one I'd trust with Win2k.

[grasshopperbe]

thanks for the info reboot. Im going to look around a little if i can find that.