Unable to open any programs.

[tealiss]

I just received a new laptop about 2-3 weeks ago, and things have been working great up until yesterday. Usually I am at my mother's house, but I was staying at my dad's for the weekend so I took the computer with me. When I turned it on, I noticed that my facial recognition program hadn't started (the place where it usually is was blank). I didn't think much of it until the computer finished loading everything; I tried to open Google Chrome and it wasn't opening. I tried to open all my desktop icons and that didn't work either. The computer did not give me any error messages. The programs were not in the task manager, not even in the processes list. At first I tried running the system file checker, and it was not able to fix anything. After that, I booted in safe mode and tried to open them and it worked. I logged off and restarted in normal mode and everything was fine. But today, I restarted and I wasn't able to open anything again. So I tried what I did yesterday and it worked. So basically I have to boot in safe mode then in normal mode for anything to work.

Sorry for the long explanation. System specs in next post.

 

[tealiss]

System Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inc. /Studio XPS 1640
OS
Vista Ultimate x64
CPU
Intel Core 2 P8600 @ 2.40 GHz 2401 Mhz
Memory
4GB2 Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1067MHz (2 Dimms)
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Mobility RADEON® HD 3670 - 512MB4
Sound Card
High Definition Audio 2.0
Hard Drives
500GB3 7200 RPM SATA Hard Drive

 

[delphin]

I just received a new laptop about 2-3 weeks ago, and things have been working great up until yesterday. Usually I am at my mother's house, but I was staying at my dad's for the weekend so I took the computer with me. When I turned it on, I noticed that my facial recognition program hadn't started (the place where it usually is was blank). I didn't think much of it until the computer finished loading everything; I tried to open Google Chrome and it wasn't opening. I tried to open all my desktop icons and that didn't work either. The computer did not give me any error messages. The programs were not in the task manager, not even in the processes list. At first I tried running the system file checker, and it was not able to fix anything. After that, I booted in safe mode and tried to open them and it worked. I logged off and restarted in normal mode and everything was fine. But today, I restarted and I wasn't able to open anything again. So I tried what I did yesterday and it worked. So basically I have to boot in safe mode then in normal mode for anything to work.

Sorry for the long explanation. System specs in next post.

Give a try to run as administrator.

 

[tealiss]

I just received a new laptop about 2-3 weeks ago, and things have been working great up until yesterday. Usually I am at my mother's house, but I was staying at my dad's for the weekend so I took the computer with me. When I turned it on, I noticed that my facial recognition program hadn't started (the place where it usually is was blank). I didn't think much of it until the computer finished loading everything; I tried to open Google Chrome and it wasn't opening. I tried to open all my desktop icons and that didn't work either. The computer did not give me any error messages. The programs were not in the task manager, not even in the processes list. At first I tried running the system file checker, and it was not able to fix anything. After that, I booted in safe mode and tried to open them and it worked. I logged off and restarted in normal mode and everything was fine. But today, I restarted and I wasn't able to open anything again. So I tried what I did yesterday and it worked. So basically I have to boot in safe mode then in normal mode for anything to work.

Sorry for the long explanation. System specs in next post.

Give a try to run as administrator.

Oh yeah, I tried that too. Sorry for not mentioning that before. I tried to run as an administrator but when I clicked OK it just sat there again.

 

[delphin]

I just received a new laptop about 2-3 weeks ago, and things have been working great up until yesterday. Usually I am at my mother's house, but I was staying at my dad's for the weekend so I took the computer with me. When I turned it on, I noticed that my facial recognition program hadn't started (the place where it usually is was blank). I didn't think much of it until the computer finished loading everything; I tried to open Google Chrome and it wasn't opening. I tried to open all my desktop icons and that didn't work either. The computer did not give me any error messages. The programs were not in the task manager, not even in the processes list. At first I tried running the system file checker, and it was not able to fix anything. After that, I booted in safe mode and tried to open them and it worked. I logged off and restarted in normal mode and everything was fine. But today, I restarted and I wasn't able to open anything again. So I tried what I did yesterday and it worked. So basically I have to boot in safe mode then in normal mode for anything to work.

Sorry for the long explanation. System specs in next post.

Give a try to run as administrator.

Oh yeah, I tried that too. Sorry for not mentioning that before. I tried to run as an administrator but when I clicked OK it just sat there again.

Download the reg entry View attachment exefix_vista.reg and merge it.
Let us know the result

 

[tealiss]

Give a try to run as administrator.

Oh yeah, I tried that too. Sorry for not mentioning that before. I tried to run as an administrator but when I clicked OK it just sat there again.

Download the reg entry View attachment 11955 and merge it.
Let us know the result

How do I run it? And how do I merge it?

 

[delphin]

Oh yeah, I tried that too. Sorry for not mentioning that before. I tried to run as an administrator but when I clicked OK it just sat there again.

Download the reg entry View attachment 11955 and merge it.
Let us know the result

How do I run it? And how do I merge it?

Just double click that, and give yes. Thats it.

 

[tealiss]

Download the reg entry View attachment 11955 and merge it.
Let us know the result

How do I run it? And how do I merge it?

Just double click that, and give yes. Thats it.

Well I mean I can't even open it. It gives me the option to choose a program from the list or find one online.

 

[delphin]

How do I run it? And how do I merge it?

Just double click that, and give yes. Thats it.

Well I mean I can't even open it. It gives me the option to choose a program from the list or find one online.

I thing somehow u lost exe file association in normal mode.

Boot in safe mode, type regedit in run, in regedit window click file>import browse to the downloaded .reg file click open and give yes.

Otherwise just double click the downloaded .reg file

Restart in normal mode.

 

[PainlessTorture]

I had a problem with opening programs a while back. Turned out my DCOM permissions had been changed to deny access to the programs or something. I cant remember what the exact problem was...

Have you been making any changes to your security settings lately?

 

[tealiss]

I had a problem with opening programs a while back. Turned out my DCOM permissions had been changed to deny access to the programs or something. I cant remember what the exact problem was...

Have you been making any changes to your security settings lately?

Nope. I've been using it the same way I always do. It just randomly happened.

 

[tealiss]

Just double click that, and give yes. Thats it.

Well I mean I can't even open it. It gives me the option to choose a program from the list or find one online.

I thing somehow u lost exe file association in normal mode.

Boot in safe mode, type regedit in run, in regedit window click file>import browse to the downloaded .reg file click open and give yes.

Otherwise just double click the downloaded .reg file

Restart in normal mode.

I tried, but I can't find the file. It saves it as a "DOWNLOAD" file and it won't show up on any lists. I know where it is; it's in my downloads file. But even when I filter to "All Files" it doesn't show up.

 

[tealiss]

Update. I merged the exefix_vista registry key and nothing happened. I still can't open anything.

 

[echrada]

Tealiss, try to do a system restore to before you started having all these problems. That should sort it.

 

[tealiss]

Tealiss, try to do a system restore to before you started having all these problems. That should sort it.

This is what my father suggested, and I set it to the day before things started happening. Still nothing.

 

[echrada]

Your last resort might be to reinstall everything. I know a pain but normally the quickest way to no more problems.:D

 

[tealiss]

Yeah, he said I need to uninstall and reinstall all the programs I've recently installed. If that doesn't help, will I have to reformat?

 

[echrada]

Pretty much!:D

 

[tealiss]

Oh no. Thanks for trying to help though.

 

[stew2]

If you can still install apps then install TUNE UP then go to Solve Problems then Tune Up Repair Wizard and click the Programmes cannot be started directly box.

View attachment 11974