Vista - Help - everything opens with winrar

I have a windows vistas computer and i was downloading a online game when it asked me what to open it with. i selected winrar from the list but right after i did this all my icons changed into winrars and i cant run them because it says its changed or damaged. I cant run anything which inludes internet (im lucky i used steam to acces it), firefox, task manager, system restore and a bunch of other stuff. Please help me im feeling really sick right now because this is a brand new computer and its like $600

I think you welcomed a virus...try scanning your computer from antiviruses.

What was the file extension you tried to open with .rar?

Winrar will only change all the "zip" and "rar" files to that by default. Now it is possible, If you tried to associate a non-.rar, or .zip file for the file It will then make all those file extensions default to .rar file types (which will not work). this can still be resolved with a restore.

Dinesh is right, you may be infected hard to tell what happened without further info. here is what to do.

use system restore to restore to a point before you downloaded. Install and run the following to undo the file association change.
note-(If viral) after restore you must delete restore points.

will post steps...do restore while waiting. One other thing, NEVER turn off UAC! It will prevent most malware .exe programs from installing and running (without your authorization).This is critical.

System Restore from DVD or restore partition
System Recovery Options


For suspected Malware-

The Best antivirus/Antimalware Program currently Available

I suggest IE8 with has built in antimalware/antiphishing and smartscreen (as it will notify you if the download contains dangerous programs (i.e., malware)

Try these:
ESET SysInspector

Download and Install NOD32 4
Free Antivirus Download from ESET

Run Windows Defender (full scan)
Start> in search bar type defender>click program

run Malwarebytes (this will detect polymorphic malware)
Malwarebytes.org

note-Malwarebytes
This is a On demand Scanner only (real time detection mode disabled in free version)
This is a specialized tool specifically targeted at polymorphic Malware, and as such is not very effective against other malware threats. It is also meant to be run in conjuction with installed Antivirus- not as a standalone app

thx for the quick help but i cant download anything either because if i try it automatically downloads it as a wrar file

and when i try to run anything at all (by anything i mean EVERYTHING it says the same thing over and over again) by the way i forgot to mention i use Firefox. Im starting to think i just lost $600

as of now im trying to find a way to restore my comp to its factory default but its not working because i cant use any of my icons

no
your ok. This is an easy fix.

You are gonna have to perform the restore (I think) outside of Windows.
Do you use a DVD Vista disk or recovery partition? what system and model # is it?

ps- firefox is not as good as IE8 (it would have warned you had there been a viral download risk)

i dont think i have a recovery disk as i dont remember seeing one (IM DOOOMMMEEDDD) but i know i use a vistas comp (displays logo at start) and the model is aspire X1700

i cant download IE anyway cause it wont work