After curing a spate of viruses (mo 1

[brittski]

After curing a spate of viruses (mostly i-worm) on a clients previously unprotected machine with the AVG free edition, the only way to start any program now is to 'run as' and uncheck the
"protect my computer and data from unauthorized program activit" box. After closing the program, the box checks itself again and i must return to 'run as' to open it again.
This is the same for every program, even on Cd's.

I've tried a system restore and adding new user accounts in case of corrupted accounts, same problem in every profile, aaargh.

Am i gonna have to rebuild the machine???

 

[linney]

Use Registry Editor to change the (Default) string value in the following registry key to "%1" %* (with quotation marks):

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command\

Windows cannot find PROGRAM.EXE. This program is needed for opening files of type 'Application.'" What to do? Fire up your Registry editor and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ Software \ Classes \ Exefile \ Shell \ Open \ Command. Now, whatever value is in there needs to be replaced with the following: "%1" %* (exactly as shown). You should only have to do this when your EXEs have stopped launching properly.

You are Unable to Start a Program with an .exe File Extension (Q310585)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q310/5/85.asp

311446 - You Cannot Start Programs (.exe Files) When Your Computer Is Infected with the SirCam Virus

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;311446&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Run the System File Checker program from the Run Box by typing.....Sfc /Scannow in it and have your XP CD handy.

If that doesn't work you could try repairing windows itself by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp