Howdy from Key West, As I was messing around with CCleaner I came to a part where it said I could get rid of unused and left over file exts. or program exts so I did. I found out I had deleted all my programs. I can't open anything, EXE. DOC. LIT. and all the rest. All I see is the blue panel that says"....windows cannot find a program to open this file would you like to go on line or..........." I'd been fighting with vista since day one and hour one and was trying anything to get straightened out when I deleted all my programs. I even backed my files up but cannot open them. Is there any hope for this noob canidate for the Darwinian Awards? any help will enormusly appreciated, I'd even gladly pay to get straightened out.........Thanx in advance, BikerBill

It looks as if you've lost (OK, removed) some or all file associations. There are threads where this has been sorted, if you have a look. Can you right click on say a .doc file and get an Open With? If so select that and select Choose Program and (it might say choose from a list of pgms) select Word, and tick the Always use this pgm box. This might even work!

Here is a list of vista file association fixes with instructions on how to use them

http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/...dows-Vista.html

Also read here first

http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/06/22/r...k-folder-drive/

sorry to say there is no open with......the only strange choice that appears under open is take ownership of. I even tried to upgrade my vista to ultimate hoping all the programs would return with it but this poota won't take a downloat. I can save it but not run it. Can't even download data to external stash without no program available in windows.......fools rush in ...what a screw up

thanx alot bro, looks like I got homework to do. I know just enough to be dangerous.........don't think i can make it any worse......famos last words

Are you able to do a system restore perhaps?

i WISH.........i can't even adjust mouse speed or defrag and can barely open the control panel. Been reading up on the homework u sent me to and i might really be screwed. I might not even be able to bring her back to factory defaults, safe data or not.

Are you able to get into safe mode and try doing the restore from there?

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-Vis...ore-47381.shtml