Since upgrading Vista Home Premium to Service Pack 2, I have started getting a file association error when I try to click on a wide range of functions. This error occurs in many places, including many Control Panel functions (but not .cpl files). For this reason, I can’t provide full details about my system, because clicking on System also produces the error. However, my computer is an Acer Aspire M3201 with an AMD Phenom X3 chip.
The error message is: This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Set Associations control panel.
The error also occurs when I try to access System Restore so I can’t roll back the upgrade. Some malware experts on another board guided me through all kinds of tests with specialised software and determined that the problem almost certainly is not due to an infection of any kind, but they can’t say what is causing it.
The error does not occur when I click on normal executables. Those run correctly. It does occur if I click on \system32\control.exe. It also occurs if I right-click on Computer and then click Properties. I don’t get it if I right-click the Start Menu and then click Explorer, but I do get it if I click Explore. I also get it in other places.
When the error occurs, different things appear above the error message in the blue section of the message box. When I click on a Control Panel function, it says Explorer.exe. In other places it may say ::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{335A31DD-F04B-4D76-D6B47CF3...
I have tried searching the net but have been unable to find anything like this. Other File Association error issues either affect all executables (not my problem) or really are File Association errors. I don’t think that is what is going on here, but honestly I don’t have a clue and I sure hope someone who knows more than I do can help me with this. The SP2 upgrade I used, by the way, was called Windows6.0-KB948465-X86.exe (my OS version is 32-bit). This came from a technician friend, who swears he downloaded it straight from the Microsoft site.
Any help would be much, much appreciated.
The error message is: This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Set Associations control panel.
The error also occurs when I try to access System Restore so I can’t roll back the upgrade. Some malware experts on another board guided me through all kinds of tests with specialised software and determined that the problem almost certainly is not due to an infection of any kind, but they can’t say what is causing it.
The error does not occur when I click on normal executables. Those run correctly. It does occur if I click on \system32\control.exe. It also occurs if I right-click on Computer and then click Properties. I don’t get it if I right-click the Start Menu and then click Explorer, but I do get it if I click Explore. I also get it in other places.
When the error occurs, different things appear above the error message in the blue section of the message box. When I click on a Control Panel function, it says Explorer.exe. In other places it may say ::{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}\::{335A31DD-F04B-4D76-D6B47CF3...
I have tried searching the net but have been unable to find anything like this. Other File Association error issues either affect all executables (not my problem) or really are File Association errors. I don’t think that is what is going on here, but honestly I don’t have a clue and I sure hope someone who knows more than I do can help me with this. The SP2 upgrade I used, by the way, was called Windows6.0-KB948465-X86.exe (my OS version is 32-bit). This came from a technician friend, who swears he downloaded it straight from the Microsoft site.
Any help would be much, much appreciated.
My Computer
System One
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- Manufacturer/Model
- Acer Aspire M3201