Member Avatar for kimberlylarae

I uninstalled a Microsoft windows office trial and now my shortcuts won't work, I can't start the programs from their file folders either. Control panel is out. I get a message that says this is a file that cannot be opened on everything. I can't install or uninstall anything. I can download, I can get into my computer files and I have the Internet but that's all.

What can I do? I have an emachine and windows xp. emachine has a restore cd, I did a simple restore and it didn't help, should I do a total restore and start from scratch?

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Merlin33069

Dani AI

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Symptoms point to corrupted .exe/.lnk file associations (Windows no longer recognizes executables or shortcuts). That commonly follows a botched uninstall or malware. ’s tip about the Microsoft uninstall cleaner can help with leftover Office traces, and ’s advice to scan for viruses is correct — but a rescue/bootable scanner is safer when executables won’t run. Back up personal files before any factory/total restore.

A non-destructive repair often fixes this: run Registry Editor by copying regedit.exe to regedit.com (Explorer still runs) and import a .reg that restores .exe and .lnk associations. Steps (no factory restore yet):

  • In Explorer, copy C:\Windows\regedit.exe to the Desktop and rename the copy to regedit.com.
  • Create a text file named fix_exe_lnk.reg with this content and save it to Desktop.
  • Double-click regedit.com, then File -> Import and import fix_exe_lnk.reg.
  • Restart.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe]
@="exefile"
"Content Type"="application/x-msdownload"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk]
@="lnkfile"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\IsShortcut]
@=""

If the registry import fails or shortcuts still won’t open, try Safe Mode -> System Restore to a date before the uninstall. If malware is suspected, boot from a rescue CD/USB (Kaspersky, ESET, Bitdefender, etc.) and run a full offline scan. If none of the repairs work, back up all data (use a Linux/WinPE live USB or remove the drive) and perform the eMachines factory restore as last resort.

After recovery, run sfc /scannow (with the XP CD), do a full antivirus sweep, reinstall Office, and apply Windows Update. Editing the registry can break the system — export a registry backup first.

Recommended Answers

All 5 Replies

Member Avatar for chizy2

Is it just the office shortcuts that are not working? How did you do the un-install of Office?

Member Avatar for kimberlylarae

I uninstalled with a uninstall link. None of my shortcuts are working.

Member Avatar for Merlin33069

hmmm, can you right click on the actual program, or text file etc and open it?

Member Avatar for sittas87

if all else fails you should run a virus scan

Member Avatar for Merlin33069

sometimes microsoft uninstalls go bad, if you go to the microsoft site, they have an uninstall cleaner, which may help, i will try to find it and post a link

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