unable to open up programs

[shayahakohen]

So I am getting this error whenever i try to open up any executable : Cannot find file <file path> (or one of its components).
Check to ensure the path and filename are correct and that all required libraries are available.

I am guessing it is a virus. At the beginning I was unable to open anything, but i got around it by opening files that are associated with a program. for example a .doc file would allow me to open word, but when i try opening the winword.exe file i would get that error.

Anyone seen this before? This just started happening.

 

[Osiris]

have you tried a system restore or last known good configuration?

 

[shayahakohen]

its windows 2000, is there an option for that there?

 

[shayahakohen]

I tried last known good configuration with no luck. Any other suggestions. I really don't want to go through the pain of reformatting.

Another I tried is making batch files. That will work, and I am able to run programs from command prompt.

 

[shayahakohen]

I found it. Apparently the virus had changed the registry key for the .exe extension and had it set as "winfiles" i changed it back to exefile, but has anyone ever heard of this before?