Want to start with thanking you for your time.
I installed a icon package software (that had worked nicely before but was uninstalled) and got impatient while it was doing its things, opened one too many other apps and made the mistake, I think, and rebooted. And all I got on desktop was the shortcuts looking like paper and clicking on any program on the desktop or via start/all programs resulted in the message prompting me to choose the program on the web or from the list. I've done some search on MS KB and ran Macfee and did not find any virus. I went to prompt mode and regedit and put "%1" %* in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell. I also F8ed during bootup and chose last known good configuration and that didn't work either .
I am not very PC savy but am good in following directions.
Can someone PLEASE direct me to fix this problem.
BTW--Have run reg cleaner also.

Hi e065688, and welcome to PCHF, can you try running a system restore, to before you had installed the icon package software?

Hi Mad. I cant access system restore through start/programs/accessories. It prompt me with the same message as described befroe. I did however, did system restore using rescue option using Utilities 2006 but am not sure if that's the same but still no luck.
Am wondering where should i point to on my HD to do system restore. Don't know where to find it and XP search is no help.
Thanks

Copy & Paste this into a run dialog

%SystemRoot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe

Well for a brief moment I thought we've fixed the problem. unfortunately restoring to a system check created a week ago only resulted to see the actual icons on the desktop but still dall programs are now showns as wmp icon. so I restarted and everything was turned back as it was beforre. So system check to an earlier date and only got teh desktop icons back with no ability to access any program.
I appologize but I neglected to mention that when all this mess started after I uninstalled the icon package software and rebooting, accessing any programs opened the "advanced uninstaller app". and that's where I'm right now.
Thanks

Do you have any earlier restore points (before the one you just tried)?

I think so. should I try to go even ealier than June?