Desktop icons messed up

[mike13]

efc---Thanks for the reply. I am going up to her place on Friday and will give it a try. For some reason I think there might be some virus or malware on the computer also, because of that Adobe thing she mentions. I will post back with the results, and if I need any more help. Thanks again, Mike

[Reverend]

She has probably installed something from Adobe and inadvertently associated certain files to open with the program.

I know some people have had that happen when installing Photoshop.

[mike13]

I have the computer. It seems like Adobe has taken over. Most of the icons on the desktop have the Adobe icon overlaid on them. When I try to open
most things, I get a message that Adobe can not open the file for various reasons. I tried to go to Add / Remove programs, and I can't get there. I tried to do a System Restore, and I can't get there. I tried to run sfc /scannow, and I could not. Can't open CCleaner, Malwarebytes, MSE. etc. I always get the same message that Adobe can not open that file etc.
I tried everything in Safe Mode and I still got the same message that Adobe could not open the file or program, whether it was Add/Remove programs, System restore, CCleaner, Malwarebytes etc. Need help here, or should I just wipe the computer and reinstall everything. Running XP Home. Many thanks, Mike

[Reverend]

What Adobe program has she installed?

[mike13]

Hi Reverend. Thanks for getting back. Adobe 9.4.3.231 is installed.
A correction from my prior post. I said I get a message that Adobe can not open the file etc. most of the messages say that "Windows can not open the file etc. and several times it is rundl32.exe, but not always. I tried to get into the registry, and the message said Windows can not open this file regedit.exe It then asks if I want to go online to find a program to open it or something like that. if I say yes, it goes to that Windows File Association File site. but that does not help me, anyway. So, I can get on the internet.
I can not even open Adobe. I get a message that Adobe Reader can not open sc.reader.ico because it is either not supported, or the file has been changed etc. ( for example it was sent as an e-mail and not correctly decoded). Hope this additional info. helps. Mike

[Reverend]

Go here and update Reader to the latest version 10

http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/

[Reverend]

Another option:

Download the exefix_xp.com utility and save it to the desktop.

Run the exefix_xp.com file. This should fix the file association in the registry.

If that one doesn't work, try this one xp_fileassoc.zip.

Unzip it to your desktop. Double click the xp_fileassoc.bat file to run it and follow the instructions.