I need help with windows xp home, I'm having problems opening desktop icons and files.?

Question

When I double click a desktop icon it's asking me which programe I want to use. I'm unable to access most help and support sections like system restore within my laptop. It says "This file does not have a programme associated with it". My firewall/antivirus etc is not available. I'm using windows xp home . Word/Excel are working fine? Please help.

Answer 1

For some reason, the shortcuts have been corrupted.



Have you tried opening a program using "Windows Explorer"?



Expand your program files and click on a program folder. Look for the EXE file (like iexplore.exe) and double click on it. If the program works, Right-click on the exe file and select "send to" and "desktop".



Close the program and double-click on the new short-cut. If this works, start doing the same for your other programs.



Worst case, you may have to reinstall "Windows".

Answer 2

Run an online Antivirus scan from one of these sites



Trend - http://housecall.trendmicro.com/

Panda - http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/ActiveScan.htm

Norton - http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym



Afterwards try running SFC. Instructions below:



If you computer comes up clean after running your resident security products, you may want to consider running a System File Checker (SFC). This can be run in Safe Mode should you prefer. To get into Safe Mode either hold down or tap the F8 key repeatedly while the computer is starting up. To run SFC, close all applications such as Office, Messenger, Email, etc, and go to:



- Start

- Run

- Type in sfc /scannow (include the space before the " / ")



What SFC does is that it attempts to fix or replace critical operating system files. Sometimes this can be done without the installation disk, however it may prompt you for the appropriate operating system installation disk. If that is the case, then you know that you definitely have file corruption or something missing. Insert the disk if prompted. Also you should run SFC using the Administrator account.



Don't surf, play games or do anything while SFC runs. After it is completed, reboot your computer.



One of the major culprits in missing or corrupt operating system files is running a registry cleaner or optimizer. They can flag important shared files for deletion or cleanup. Another cause is malware.



NOTE: Before running any registry cleaner or editing the registry, always ensure you back it up first. If the registry cleaner you are using doesn't have that function, you can do it manually. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756

Answer 3

Right click on the icon and select (left click) on "open with". Then you'll see a new menu which gives you some choices of programs with which to open the file. You should select "choose program".

Once that dialog window opens up, you'll see a list of programs in it. Near the bottom-left, you'll see a check box which says "always use this program to open this type of file". Then highlight the program you want to use to open it, and click on the "OK" button. From then on, every time you double-click on that type of file, the same program will be associated with it, and will open it. If you want to change that program-file association, just repeat the process and select a different program.

Answer 4

It could be virus that deletes certain system files automatically. And it doesn't allow you to see the system files. So you have to empty the Recycle Bin every time you startup. Or else you can change the Recycle Bin icon by right-click on the desktop PROPERTIES->DESKTOP (tab) click CUSTOMIZE DESKTOP button. Under the GENERAL tab click on the appropriate icon and click RESTORE DEFAULT button.

Answer 5

I had all kinds of problems with my windows XP from Dell. I would open the Internet explorer and several windows would pop up and freeze. I will tell you what a computer sales person told me. I went into CONTROL PANEL, in control panel go under ADD OR DELETE PROGRAMS. Find INTERNET EXPLORE in the list. and then DELETE IT OUT. explorer used to be a good program but they have not kept up with it and now it is a nightmare. it caused my computer several problems, but since I did the delete computer works like new. good luck hope this helps

Answer 6

my guess is, you moved the file that works with the short cut. Do a search, and see if the file is on the computer.

once you find it, make a new shortcut, put it on the desktop, and file the one that does not work in a hold folder.

Answer 7

you need to set the programs that different file types should open with

one way to do this is to open my computer hit the tools tab and then folder options then click the file type tab and set each file with wich program you want to open it with

Answer 8

Here is the site you need.