lost .exe files

frodi · Aug 26, 2008

I did a system restore on my vista home premium, now all my .exe files are empty. I undid the restore but the files are still empty. Is there a way to get those files back? Why does a system restore in vista remove files with an .exe extension?

I do not want to know about system restore, I want to know how to get my .exe files back. System restore removed that extension.

marrypoppins · Aug 26, 2008

http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/File-association-fixes-for-Windows-Vista.html

Try this though, it may be your .exe lost there associations. Its the only thing I could find when searching, maybe you want to try running a sfc /scannow

Do you get an error message or can you just not find the files?

Brink · Aug 26, 2008

Hi Frodi, and welcome to Vista Forums.

In addition to MarryPoppins post, you will need to do this link below first then that link.

Restore the .exe file association in Windows Vista, after incorrectly associating it with another application

Hope this helps,
Shawn

frodi · Aug 26, 2008

The problem is that the files are not in the folders. The folders are empty, I cannot open files which aren't there. Would a much earlier system restore work? Or does Vista wipe all files with an .exe extension? The files must be somewhere on this pc.

Brink · Aug 26, 2008

Frodi,

As a test, do the links to fix the EXE files to see if they help. If not, then other than a clean reinstall of Vista, you can try a repair install.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

frodi · Aug 26, 2008

The strange thing is that all the folders were zipped folders. Vista opened and emptied them.

lost .exe files

frodi

My Computer

System One

marrypoppins

My Computer

System One

Brink

My Computers

System One System Two

frodi

My Computer

System One

Brink

My Computers

System One System Two

frodi

My Computer

System One