Hi,
I cant open any programs except Mozillia Firefox (default browser). For example, on my desktop, the shortcut to iTunes, when double-clicked says...
"Windows cannot open this file : iTune.LNK. To open this file windows needs to know what program created it..."
So I went through Program files, directly to iTunes.EXE and the previous message wont even appear. When I right clicked on the .EXE file, there is no option to open or open with. I have tried to download fixes, these have downloaded fine, and extracted fine, but the .REG files wont open. I cannot run regedit in the RUN option on the start menu.
However, I can open files for programs, for example a song from my desktop opens iTunes and works fine. I can access Command prompt through Ctrl + Alt + Del then Ctrl + "new task". I recently had a virus, from the link http://www.picture2models.info/index.php?pic2038.jpg. I got rid of this by ending the process in task manager, and then deleting the newly downloaded files, followed by a complete scan by Ad-Aware Plus and RegistryFix, which apparently fixed the problem, until today (this was yesturday i had the virus). The Computer I have was bought from a friend who had lost the XP installation disk. The Computer has the full office package (which can be opened when opening a saved document) and I do not have the installation disks to go with them, IS THERE ANY POSSIBLE WAY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM WITH OUT GETTING RID OF THEM?????

What should I do, im a student and rely heavily on my computer, and cant afford to pay expences!

Richard Laverick

Hi Lav_Rich

Welcome to PC Help Forums

Have you tried downloading and re-installing ITunes from here;
Apple - iTunes - Download iTunes

If that doesn't work my thinking is the XP registry's in a mess and without the XP disk, as you have mentioned, you could be in a jam.

iTunes works fine, its the registry im sure. I mean all the programs still work, its just i cant open them unless its through a saved file

so for example:

a letter can still access Word - but word.exe wont open
a song will open in iTunes - but iTunes.exe wont open

its the same for them all

actually, i have an XP disk, but its for another computer, would that be anygood? what if I backed up all the files for office onto an external drive, then rebooted XP and put them back on, would that work?

The MS Office aspect is easy enough, just pop the Office disk in and run a repair.
The problem is though that you would have to use the original XP OS Disk to repair the reg.
The cd keys wouldn't match for one thing.