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Fix “This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action” in Vista and 7

Posted By Raymond In Category: Computer

Nov
7
2009
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Few days ago there was a newly signed up user in forum requesting for help. Initially his computer had some error messages that pops up during Windows startup and he tried using some third party software to fix it. However it ended up making his computer unable to run any exe programs at all including the icons on desktop. He was very sure that he only changed the ProgramFilesDir value from C: to D: in registry. From what I know, this only changes the default location of Program Files where software are installed but no matter what, we all tried to help him undo the changes he made. I showed him how to run registry editor but he wasn’t able to as he kept on getting the error message “This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action“.

This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action

After spending a few hours trying to help and without any success, then I started thinking maybe this problem is caused by another factor which I’ve encountered before in Windows XP. Somehow a virus managed to corrupt the .exe association in registry causing the user unable to run any programs. I used TeamViewer to remotely connect to his computer and tried running this command “assoc.exe=exefile” in command prompt which should fix the problem but don’t know why this command has been denied. I checked his user account and he is an administrator. I then tried to use DougKnox‘s EXE registry fix but that failed too because I wasn’t able to import the .reg file since it requires regedit.exe. I also converted the .reg file into .exe file which can imported into registry without using regedit and that too didn’t work.

After 2 days, I am glad that I finally managed to fix the problem.


It turns out to be a corrupted .exe association and the reason those steps I taken didn’t work is because the Windows Vista registry location for exe association is different from XP. Obviously using the XP fix cannot work on Vista!

When you have a corrupted exe association, you definitely cannot use any registry editor to fix it because it is impossible to run it in the first place. So here are a few methods you can try:

1. Run command prompt and type assoc.exe=exefile (If you get access denied error, try step 2)

2. Download this .reg file and run it. Make sure you right click and select Save As. (If you cannot import the .reg file because Windows cannot find the registry editor, then try step 3)

3. Open command prompt and type the following command REG IMPORT vista-7-fixexe.reg. Make sure you’ve already CD to the directory where the .reg file is. (If you have problems getting this to work, try step 4)

4. Download the EXE compiled version of the registry file above and run it. Although it doesn’t make sense to run this exe file since most of the exe files are blocked, but this is the one that fixed the user’s computer. (If this couldn’t fix it, try step 5)

5. Microsoft Fix It has an automated way to fixing the exe association problem. Simply download this MicrosoftFixit50194.msi file and run it.

If done correctly, it should fix the problem instantly and no reboot is required. Now I will always remember that whatever works in XP doesn’t necessarily works on Vista and 7.


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    • ding-dong

      thanks for great tip ray :D

    • minnetonka

      Just want to tell you that after a year, your newsletter is still very first thing I look for in a.m. and most get tagged “important.” Your efforts are so very much appreciated!

    • haisam samman

      thanks ray

    • AtOdds

      I just want to say that on my system (XP) running a registry cleaner – a thing I’ve learned to do only with kid gloves and a crash helmet – has caused .exe associations to be lost. Not all of them, Microsoft apps always manage to stay afloat, but many of them. Then I had to spend days manually fixing them.

    • Merlin_Magii

      Very many thanks Raymond ! Another of those excellent pieces of diagnostic and resolution tips that we so admire you for. 5-star service.

    • B

      it’s really nice of you to spends days solving the problem. Thx~

    • ahmad maher

      thanks for the info and how to fix it

    • sammy

      where can i find the reg file?

    • john

      thnx for nice tips..but i still cannot solve my problem..
      do you have another tips?please help me..

    • elliot

      Hey, I too am having an issue that is apparently identical. My computer just today came down with the XP Internet Security malware. So, I went into my registry to remove it. It seems to have taken care of the malware, but now I cant run .exe files. Not even registry editor.

      I should note now that I’m still using XP, so the link to the registry file you provided and the Microsoft Fix It did not work. Nor did the command prompt command you gave. I would greatly any help you could give me.

    • Cory

      Hi, I got a virus not too long ago that caused all of my programs to say “This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Set Associations panel.”…

      I had to right click on Mozilla Firefox and choose “Run as Administrator”, im sure you all know this.

      So, i found out i can open my Cmd promt by simple clicking the start button, then typing cmd, then waiting for the icon to popup after search and right click ” run as admin”…

      so basically i cant do anything unless i can click “run as admin”.

      is there any program that can put all the associatons back to where they were or am I fucked?

      i really dont know what to do in the reg edit either.

      please help me!
      i have windows vista
      thx

    • Benn Papalia

      Hey i just wanted to say thankyou so much! you saved my life!
      GOD BLESS YOU!
      Thanks
      Benn

    • Trudi

      I have exactly the same problem as Cory. Microsoft Fix it didn’t work. I also don’t have the option to “always use the selected program to open this kind of file” when the “Open with” prompt appears.

      Please Help! Thanks so much!

    • chiffmonkey

      Same as Cory and Trudi

      Was it the Vista Guardian virus by any chance?

    • Mike Deskin

      Great post. Thanks for the download. Worked great for me.

    • Mohan

      Hi, I’m having windows xp and I’m getting same error message, I’m unable to open registry also, can you please help me out.

      Thanks,
      Mohan

    • Garry

      Dowload this file: http://www.dougknox.com/xp/fileassoc/xp_exe_fix.zip.
      Apply the file to registry and you’re done. Although it was designed for xp, it works with vista as well.

      Thanks to Doug

    • chiffmonkey

      Woop woop nevermind thank you! All hail Garry the awesome man of the hour!

    • kerry cox

      I am having the exact same problems

      I am a computer numpty. were do i find the reg file?

      Kerry

    • TC

      Garry’s fix worked for me when the other suggestions above didn’t. I got the Vista Guardian virus, tried to remove it myself by poking around in the registry (following steps I found online). This seems to have killed Vista Guardian, but I was getting this error whenever I tried to run any .exe file. (Same situation as Cory, Trudi, and chiffmonkey.) I am on Vista and Garry’s fix worked perfectly (even though not all of the keys updated because some were in use).

    • fulse

      I recently got the virus called Vista Internet Security 2010, and I was poking around and now I have this “This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action” error. I tried all the steps above and non of them seem to work. But for me instead of all the .exe files it’s only my Internet Explorer that has this error cause my Internet Explorer is .exe can anyone help me thanks.

    • Legend

      Your solution is one of the best on the net. Called my IT admin, couldn’t fix this. So I took the bull by the horn. Can accross your blog and bingo the last MS fix did the trick. It required http://www.raymond.cc/blog/wp-content/themes/illacrimo/images/ButtonTransparent.pngrestarting though. Thanks a million

    • Tracy

      You my friend are a miracle worker. I had a very important pdf. file that I needed desperately and I have been trying to fix it all day. I have searched and searched all over the Internet and found NOTHING to fix it. I even called Dell and they told me in order for them to fix it it would cost me a minimum of $130, you just save me a lot of money. I clicked on the link under #2 and voila, FIXED! I can not thank you enough. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you!

    • Jordan

      I found another work around for this one. I tried all of these fixes after removing the “Vista Internet Security” malware and they did not work for me. I read Cory’s comment about opening everything as an Admin and decided to take it one step further. I started another User (as an Admin) and bingo. Not a full fix, but a good start!

    • Chuck

      I had the Vista Defender virus as well and I think I got rid of it, but then I got the “Open With” command. I tried using a Registry Cleaner and that made it worse.

      How do I apply Garry’s file to the Registry?

    • http://www.darrenanthonyphotography.com Darren

      OMG! My problem was also the same as most on here and Gary’s solution worked perfectly for me as well.

    • http://Helpme,igotexactlywiththismistake Quoc Nguyen

      May tinh em bi loi y nhu vay may hom roi, rat buc minh. nhung em da theo cach huogn dan o tren van khong lam duoc.
      co the giup em cach nao khac hoac cac buoc cu the hon 1 chut.
      Tran trong,
      chuc anh chi luon co nhung bai viet moi giup ich cho cong dong

    • http://Helpme,igotexactlywiththismistake Quoc Nguyen

      Dear Bros,
      My PC got the same problem, after follow the above instruction i can not make it better.
      Hope you can give me an advice. like the 1st step he said:
      1. Run command prompt and type assoc.exe=exefile (If you get access denied error, try step 2)
      I do not now how to type this obey in because my “Run” can not even open to type this obey.
      Anyone can help me a clear instruction for the whole steps i must do.
      I think it caused by a virus
      Best regards,
      Quoc

    • Shanna

      I got a virus a while back and have spent literally months talking to HP support, as well as trying to run registry cleaners, performing registry changes, and whatever I could find that I even half way trusted not to make the problem worse, but was always having problems with the exe files not being able to be associated. In addition, all my icons were messed up, start up programs wouldn’t run properly, and the computer asked for permission for EVERYTHING I did. I pretty much just gave up and functioned the best I could, however very limited. I finally ran across your instructions, followed step 2 after step 1 didn’t work, restarted, and everything all of a sudden went back to normal!!!!! I just wanted to sincerely thank you – I was almost to the point of wiping the entire computer. You have honestly made me a very very happy woman today. Thank you for your research and obvious expertise. You are wonderful.

    • Marta

      Thank you so much! I tried to fix some sound problem and ended up really messing up the registry. I tried your Microsoft Fix and my computer can finally boot. You made my day.

    • Rey

      THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU GOD BLESS!

    • dania

      Will this work for Windows 7?

    • mohamed saad

      really i can’t find words to thank u, u r sooooooooooo nice, i have this problem for many days and i make every thing but with no benefit, thank u very much, i tried the step 2 and it succeded with me 100%, many thanks for u

    • phil

      For anyone else who has this nightmare, I had it and none of the other registry fixes or antivirus programs worked. What finally worked for me was removing this key:

      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.exe

    • http://Pleasehelp... Michelle H.

      Same problem but running Windows XP, service pack 3
      Media edition

      Keep getting “This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action.

      This is driving me nuts !!!

      Can you help ?

    • RedXVIII

      THANKYOU.

      my problem was fixed at step 5.

      It was really annoying the hell out of me too.

    • Albert

      Thank you – thank you – thank you

    • maria

      please help me.. all program can’t use

      “This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Please install a program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Program control panel”

    • Romelie

      Download this file: (11 Kb only)

      http://www.winhelponline.com/exefix_xp.com

      solves the prob instantly ! Worked for me like a charm :)

      • Alison

        Thank you so very much, you are my hero. Fixed it instantly.

    • damir

      Hi how to download reg file from step 2?

    • denny

      thnks thnks.,.

    • http://- Hary

      create a txt file on your desktop and paste the below instructions:

      ____________________________________________

      Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

      [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\opennewprocess\command]
      “DelegateExecute”=”{11dbb47c-a525-400b-9e80-a54615a090c0}”

      [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\opennewwindow\command]
      “DelegateExecute”=”{11dbb47c-a525-400b-9e80-a54615a090c0}”

      [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\opensearchfilefolderresult\shell\open\command]
      @=”"
      “DelegateExecute”=”{99969a8f-27e6-4adf-ab9f-b5b5e90d4733}”

      [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\command]
      “DelegateExecute”=”{11dbb47c-a525-400b-9e80-a54615a090c0}”

      [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WMP11.AssocFile.m3u\shell\Enqueue\command]
      “DelegateExecute”=”{45597c98-80f6-4549-84ff-752cf55e2d29}”

      ____________________________________________

      after this step, rename the .txt to .reg and run the file

    • SRT600

      Download the “File association Fixer 1.0″

      http://www.thewindowsclub.com/file-association-fixer-for-windows-7-vista-released

      it works for win 7 and vista..

      it has resolved millions of users problem..TRUST ME..

    • LHL

      Thank you very much for this fix, I just ran the file posted by Romelie above and it has solved the problem.

      http://www.winhelponline.com/exefix_xp.com

    • not fixed but very similar

      I’m on my phone right now, desperately try to even get my machine to open command promt itself!!! it gives the same error on ALL exe files, this means i csnt even open an internet browser let alone cmd or regedit. Very frustrated here to the point where I might reinstall the damn OS.

    • adswells

      Help! The page must be too old and I can’t see the fix. My friends laptop is having the same trouble. What do I do to fix it. Thanks

    • derwelt

      tank you resolving problem windows 7 step 2

      2. Download this .reg file and run it. Make sure you right click and select Save As. (If you cannot import the .reg file because Windows cannot find the registry editor

      used sight-7-fixexe.reg

      Right-click on the file open with registry editor and do everything became as before

      thanks

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