Well, I scrolled through this section in the forums to see if my problem was already seen to. I was so happy to see that I wasn't the only one with this problem. What is the problem you may ask? Well, my younger brother was playing N4S and the computer just crashed, he rebooted and these dialog boxes came up. He didn't understand them, so he clicked the "Decline" button, or whatever it's called (opposite of Accept XD). They were asking him for permission for programs to edit the registry, or something. Though, I have NEVER seen these before in the 2~ years I've been using this program.
Now none of the programs work, except for Mozilla. I tried all the other tutorials like getting those LNK, EXE and COM files, but I can't even access ad-aware itself. Stupidly, I disabled system restore a long time ago since I like to save disk space (small hard drive using laptop). I'm just wondering, is there anyway I can restore my laptop to it's factory settings?
Note: Not even programs like Notepad work.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Full Version: Terrible problem :(
Lavasoft Support Forums > Archived Topics > Archives: Resolved/Inactive Topics > AdWatch Resolved /Inactive Issues
Did you try restoring your file associations as you saw in the other topics?
Did you receive recovery or installation disk swith your PC to restore it? Try contacting your PC manufacturer for specific instructions for your computer.
Did you receive recovery or installation disk swith your PC to restore it? Try contacting your PC manufacturer for specific instructions for your computer.
I had the same problem except I really don't want to restore my whole laptop. Is there a way to undo the registry changes that Ad-Watch did or am i hopeless? 
Hi, openyoureyes and abz. You may want to try my suggestions, re-posted below. It will take some work but has been successful for everyone else to date.
Good luck.
Good luck.
QUOTE(Corrine @ Apr 22 2006, 12:08 PM) 
Hi, Kathy. Looks like you have Ad-Watch set to "Lock executable file associations" and on "automatic". This has been an ongoing problem since Ad-Aware SE was released.
From the Help file:
Thus, Ad-Watch is doing precisely as you have instructed it to do -- it has locked executable file associations. Personally, I want to know what is going on with my PC and have "automatic" turned off with Ad-Watch. When I install software and am prompted by Ad-Watch to accept a change, I know it is safe to allow. However, should something slip past my defenses and try to make changes without my permission, Ad-Watch will let me know and I can have that change blocked.
The following was prepared by Appetiser in 2004 when this problem first appeared. So that it is easier to read, I will copy/paste rather than quote the instructions.
You may also want to review:
Kelly's Korner, HOW TO: Specify the Program Used to Open Certain File Types
Kelly's Korner, Line 146, Retrieve the Class Name for a File Extension
Microsoft KB Article, HOW TO: Specify the Program Used to Open Certain Types of Files in Windows XP
For XP: Windows® XP File Association Fixes (lines 7 and 15)
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm
Restoring file associations
To make things easy to navigate I would suggest creating a new folder called c:\regfixes. Then browse to Doug Knox's web site and download all the file association fixes from http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm for file types you are having problems with to this folder. As a minimum I would download com, lnk, reg then unzip each file you have downloaded.
Right mouse click on the Ad-Watch icon in the system tray and select "Ad-Watch Settings". At the bottom of the Ad-Watch window make sure automatic is not checked i.e. it is a red cross.
First you will need to restore the .exe file association. In Notepad create a new file and enter all the text the the code box below:
In Notepad, select file, select save, under "save in" use the pull down menu and select c:\regfixes and for file name enter xp_exe_fix.vbs and under "Save as type" use the pull down menu and select "All files".
Navigate to c:\regfixes and right mouse click on xp_exe_fix.vbs and select open. This will run the script and restore the registry keys associated with the exe file type. If you are running Ad-Watch if it pops an alert whilst this script is running you will need to accept the update to the registry.
Now the .exe file association is restored you will be able to run regedit.exe.
Work through the file association fixes that you downloaded above from Doug Knox's site.
Press start, select run and enter the text in bold below
cmd
Click OK, this will open a command window
at the prompt in the command window enter the text in bold (please note the spaces in the command text)
regedit /s c:\regfixes\xp_com_fix.reg
adjust the path as appropriate to where you unzipped the reg files to
repeat the regedit command for the other reg files you have e.g.
xp_regfile.reg
linkfile_fix.reg
With Ad-Watch it is vital you accept any changes that may be alerted by Ad-Watch when merging these files.
Original From: http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?s...st&p=367004 (no longer available)
Good luck.
From the Help file:
Thus, Ad-Watch is doing precisely as you have instructed it to do -- it has locked executable file associations. Personally, I want to know what is going on with my PC and have "automatic" turned off with Ad-Watch. When I install software and am prompted by Ad-Watch to accept a change, I know it is safe to allow. However, should something slip past my defenses and try to make changes without my permission, Ad-Watch will let me know and I can have that change blocked.
The following was prepared by Appetiser in 2004 when this problem first appeared. So that it is easier to read, I will copy/paste rather than quote the instructions.
You may also want to review:
Kelly's Korner, HOW TO: Specify the Program Used to Open Certain File Types
Kelly's Korner, Line 146, Retrieve the Class Name for a File Extension
Microsoft KB Article, HOW TO: Specify the Program Used to Open Certain Types of Files in Windows XP
For XP: Windows® XP File Association Fixes (lines 7 and 15)
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm
Restoring file associations
To make things easy to navigate I would suggest creating a new folder called c:\regfixes. Then browse to Doug Knox's web site and download all the file association fixes from http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm for file types you are having problems with to this folder. As a minimum I would download com, lnk, reg then unzip each file you have downloaded.
Right mouse click on the Ad-Watch icon in the system tray and select "Ad-Watch Settings". At the bottom of the Ad-Watch window make sure automatic is not checked i.e. it is a red cross.
First you will need to restore the .exe file association. In Notepad create a new file and enter all the text the the code box below:
CODE
' VBScript to restore .exe file association with Windows XP
Option Explicit
Dim strComputer
Dim objRegistry,objDictionary
strComputer = "."
Set objRegistry=GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" &_
strComputer & "\root\default:StdRegProv")
Set objDictionary = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
objDictionary.Add "HKCR",&h80000000
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", ".exe", "", "exefile")
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", ".exe", "Content Type",_
"application/x-msdownload" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", ".exe\PersistentHandler", "",_
"{098f2470-bae0-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile", "", "Application" )
Call RegAddBinary( "HKCR", "exefile", "EditFlags", "38,07,00,00" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile", "TileInfo",_
"prop:FileDescription;Company;FileVersion" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile", "InfoTip",_
"prop:FileDescription;Company;FileVersion;Create;Size" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\DefaultIcon", "", "%1" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shell", "", "" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shell\open", "", "" )
Call RegAddBinary( "HKCR", "exefile\shell\open",_
"EditFlags", "00,00,00,00" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shell\open\command", "",_
Chr(34) & "%1" & Chr(34) & Space(1) & "%*" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shell\runas", "", "" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shell\runas\command", "",_
Chr(34) & "%1" & Chr(34) & Space(1) & "%*" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shellex", "", "" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shellex\DropHandler",_
"", "{86C86720-42A0-1069-A2E8-08002B30309D}" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers", "", "" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\PifProps",_
"", "{86F19A00-42A0-1069-A2E9-08002B30309D}" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\ShimLayer Property Page",_
"", "{513D916F-2A8E-4F51-AEAB-0CBC76FB1AF8}" )
Function RegKeyExists(rootkey, keypath)
Dim arrValueNames, arrValueTypes
If objRegistry.EnumValues(objDictionary(rootkey), keypath, arrValueNames, arrValueTypes) = 0 Then
RegKeyExists = True
Else
RegKeyExists = False
End If
End Function
Sub RegAddKey(rootkey, keypath)
objRegistry.CreateKey objDictionary(rootkey),keypath
End Sub
Sub RegAddString(rootkey, keypath, valuename, valuedata)
If Not RegKeyExists(rootkey, keypath) Then
Call RegAddKey( rootkey, keypath )
End If
objRegistry.SetStringValue objDictionary(rootkey),keypath,valuename,valuedata
End Sub
Sub RegAddBinary(rootkey, keypath, valuename, valuearray)
Dim arrValue(),arrHexValue,i,HexVal
arrHexValue = Split(Trim(valuearray),",")
i=0
For Each HexVal in arrHexValue
Redim Preserve arrValue(i)
arrValue(i) = "&h" & HexVal
i=i + 1
Next
objRegistry.SetBinaryValue objDictionary(rootKey),keypath,valuename,arrValue
Redim arrValue(0)
End Sub
Option Explicit
Dim strComputer
Dim objRegistry,objDictionary
strComputer = "."
Set objRegistry=GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" &_
strComputer & "\root\default:StdRegProv")
Set objDictionary = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
objDictionary.Add "HKCR",&h80000000
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", ".exe", "", "exefile")
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", ".exe", "Content Type",_
"application/x-msdownload" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", ".exe\PersistentHandler", "",_
"{098f2470-bae0-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile", "", "Application" )
Call RegAddBinary( "HKCR", "exefile", "EditFlags", "38,07,00,00" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile", "TileInfo",_
"prop:FileDescription;Company;FileVersion" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile", "InfoTip",_
"prop:FileDescription;Company;FileVersion;Create;Size" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\DefaultIcon", "", "%1" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shell", "", "" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shell\open", "", "" )
Call RegAddBinary( "HKCR", "exefile\shell\open",_
"EditFlags", "00,00,00,00" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shell\open\command", "",_
Chr(34) & "%1" & Chr(34) & Space(1) & "%*" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shell\runas", "", "" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shell\runas\command", "",_
Chr(34) & "%1" & Chr(34) & Space(1) & "%*" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shellex", "", "" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shellex\DropHandler",_
"", "{86C86720-42A0-1069-A2E8-08002B30309D}" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers", "", "" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\PifProps",_
"", "{86F19A00-42A0-1069-A2E9-08002B30309D}" )
Call RegAddString( "HKCR", "exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\ShimLayer Property Page",_
"", "{513D916F-2A8E-4F51-AEAB-0CBC76FB1AF8}" )
Function RegKeyExists(rootkey, keypath)
Dim arrValueNames, arrValueTypes
If objRegistry.EnumValues(objDictionary(rootkey), keypath, arrValueNames, arrValueTypes) = 0 Then
RegKeyExists = True
Else
RegKeyExists = False
End If
End Function
Sub RegAddKey(rootkey, keypath)
objRegistry.CreateKey objDictionary(rootkey),keypath
End Sub
Sub RegAddString(rootkey, keypath, valuename, valuedata)
If Not RegKeyExists(rootkey, keypath) Then
Call RegAddKey( rootkey, keypath )
End If
objRegistry.SetStringValue objDictionary(rootkey),keypath,valuename,valuedata
End Sub
Sub RegAddBinary(rootkey, keypath, valuename, valuearray)
Dim arrValue(),arrHexValue,i,HexVal
arrHexValue = Split(Trim(valuearray),",")
i=0
For Each HexVal in arrHexValue
Redim Preserve arrValue(i)
arrValue(i) = "&h" & HexVal
i=i + 1
Next
objRegistry.SetBinaryValue objDictionary(rootKey),keypath,valuename,arrValue
Redim arrValue(0)
End Sub
In Notepad, select file, select save, under "save in" use the pull down menu and select c:\regfixes and for file name enter xp_exe_fix.vbs and under "Save as type" use the pull down menu and select "All files".
Navigate to c:\regfixes and right mouse click on xp_exe_fix.vbs and select open. This will run the script and restore the registry keys associated with the exe file type. If you are running Ad-Watch if it pops an alert whilst this script is running you will need to accept the update to the registry.
Now the .exe file association is restored you will be able to run regedit.exe.
Work through the file association fixes that you downloaded above from Doug Knox's site.
Press start, select run and enter the text in bold below
cmd
Click OK, this will open a command window
at the prompt in the command window enter the text in bold (please note the spaces in the command text)
regedit /s c:\regfixes\xp_com_fix.reg
adjust the path as appropriate to where you unzipped the reg files to
repeat the regedit command for the other reg files you have e.g.
xp_regfile.reg
linkfile_fix.reg
With Ad-Watch it is vital you accept any changes that may be alerted by Ad-Watch when merging these files.
Original From: http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/index.php?s...st&p=367004 (no longer available)
Good luck.
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