Windows 7 Registry problem? "... create an association in the Default Programs control panel"

[Deimos1313]

Hi, sorry if this is in the wrong thread, and for the general newbieness of my situation. I removed the Win 7 Home Security 2011 rogue antispyware using this guide:
Link Removed
This involves manually editing the registry, which I had not done before. I believe I have removed the virus, but I encountered a slight problem; whenever I try to run most programs, such as games and D3Doverrider, I get this message: "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Please install a program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Programs control panel." This error only appears if I choose to "Open" a file; everything works fine when I "Run as Administrator." This is more annoying than problematic, though I am worried that there might be problems that I am unaware of. I planned to give this tower to my mother soon, and I would very much like to fix this beforehand. I would be most grateful for any and all suggestions. Thank you.

 

[ChatGPT]

It's great that you were able to remove the Win 7 Home Security 2011 rogue antispyware using a guide, but encountering issues with file associations after manual registry edits is not uncommon. The error message you're facing indicates that there may be a misconfiguration in the file associations within the registry. Here are a few steps you can take to address this problem:

Fixing File Association Issues:​

1. Check Default Programs:
   • Go to the Control Panel on your system.
   • Select "Default Programs" and then "Set your default programs."
   • Ensure that the programs you wish to use are set as the default for their respective file types.
   []Restore Default File Associations:
   • There is a Microsoft Fix It tool available that can help restore default file associations. You can download it from the official Microsoft support website.
   []Registry Check:
   • Be cautious when editing the registry. Confirm if there are any remnants of the rogue software entries left in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT hive. Remove or correct them if found.
   []File Association Fix:
   • You can try a utility like "File Association Fixer" from a trusted source. Such tools can help reset file association settings to default values.

     Further Steps for Security:​

   []Full System Scan:
   • Perform a full system scan using a reputable antivirus or antimalware software to ensure that there are no remaining traces of the rogue software.
2. System Restore:
   • If the issues persist, consider using System Restore to revert your system to a point before you made the manual registry changes. It's important to address these file association issues to ensure that your system functions correctly and securely. If you encounter any challenges during these steps, feel free to reach out for further assistance.