Need some computer help, please

[Oh Haha]

I can't get any of my prgrams to open. I get a message that says"Adobe reader cannot open this file. It may be damaged or not a recognized program." WTH?!!

I can get Internet access(AOL) by using a desktop saved picture.
Any ideas?
Thanks,

[Super_Dave_D]

Are you trying to open your programs from the desktop or the start menu?

[Oh Haha]

Both. Neither work. I just get the same message.

[Oh Haha]

My wife(out shopping today) suggested running our AdAware scan but it gets stopped as well. It says the Adobe can;t open it because it isn;t a supported file. ARgghhhhh!

[Super_Dave_D]

I seriously doubt Adaware will fix it. I have not seen your issue. Are you running XP? If it worked fine yesterday just do a system resore to the previous day (always my easy way out).

If you use outlook and get alot of junk mail. A lot of aware and spyware are auto installed on your PC just by opening them. If you use the outlook auto preview function, you are susceptible to anything sent to you. Disable the auto preview function immediately.

[MattKellett]

Are you running Norton antivirus? If you are, I would recommend dumping it !!!!! This program has caused so many computer problems because there are many viruses out there that attack only Norton, which then f's up your computer because Norton looks for viruses attaching your comp, and seems unable to stop viuses attacking itself. I now run Trend Micro PC-illin and have had no problems since.

Good luck!!!

Matt

[Don Plumley]

You could use control panel and remove Acrobat, see if that fixes it.

Otherwise, something looks pretty messed up. Suggest:

Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore

[Oh Haha]

Don,
I tried the system restore as you suggested. It gave me the same message. Thanks anyway, though.
my wife is home now so SHE can fight with it. I have trying to watch the kids and work on this. DOH!!

[HardDrive]

What is the file extension?

Does it say: ourdocument.pdf, ourdocument.doc, ourdocument.exe ??????

[Oh Haha]

the message says" The Adobe Reader could not open".aol.exe. because it is either not a supported file or the file has been damaged in some way.

EDIT: This shortcut here used to be our hookup to AOL-online.

[rick-l]

Have you somehow associated .exe files with Adobe?


Go to windows help and type in assoceate then click on;
Associate a file name extension with a file type

[HardDrive]

As above.

It seems like the adobe program is now the default application for all exe files. Will any programs run on the computer?

Do a search for pinball.exe. When you find it, double click it and try to run the program. Does it work? If you get the same message, then somehow, adobe has become associated with the exe files. An easy fix.

If pinball starts without a problem, then there is a problem with the shortcut on your desktop. (also and easy fix)

[Jim727]

What Dave and Don said.

Also, ms defaults file identification to "turn off file extensions for known file types" or some such phrasing. It's a dangerous thing like so many of the ms defaults. Often malware and viruses will create names like "somefile.pdf.exe"; ms hides the ".exe" part and you think it's "somefile.pdf" then when you click to see what you think is a document you instead run the malware executable.

Dump outhouse express for reasons stated. I use Pegasus for email - it's pretty much malware bulletproof. And Free. http://www.pmail.com/

Your system configuration can be a complete unknown if you use AOL as your provider. They modify the o/s and do so many other things that are, shall we say, unhelpful.

Overall, it sounds to me like you need a full system reinstall or professional diagnosis. Hope your critical data is backed up.

[svandamme]

mesa thinks yousa gotta busted disk

doesn't happen often thesedays ,but it still can occur


having no programs work is a good indicator

virii usually attack other things these days , they go after data ,not executables, or they try to leach on your pc without beeing noticed , for hacker access , or as zombie spam boxes

same for misconfigurations .. internet would be first to go if there was an "aol" style incident...


i'm just first impression diagnosing here, could obviously be wrong as i haven't seen the pc...

[azasadny]

Wayne,
Send me an email if you're still having trouble and I'll assist in any way I can.

[Oh Haha]

Great news, guys!! My wife fixed the problem. Apparently, when I was trying to setup my new Pocket PC I inadvertantly deleted our files. DOH!!!!
She got it restored to the day before we installed the phone software. I was trying to direct my email from AOL to Outlook so it will be consistent with my work systems. Gotta love her!!!
Thanks for all of the assistance today.
I went out and worked on the 911 motor while she worked on this. I think I'll stick to mechanical things for now.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by Jim727
Dump outhouse express for reasons stated. I use Pegasus for email - it's pretty much malware bulletproof. And Free. http://www.pmail.com/

Your system configuration can be a complete unknown if you use AOL as your provider. They modify the o/s and do so many other things that are, shall we say, unhelpful.

One of the best moves I made years ago was to get away from frigging Microsoft! Have used Pegasus for many years and its an excellent email system.

One added benefit is that with Pegasus you can go online and view the headers for your emails before downloading them. All spam and virus emails can be deleted "on the internet" and they never make it to your computer, which is a lot safer. As well Pegasus does not attract all the virus programs that Outlook does.

Joe A

[Jim727]

Joe -

I trust you've seen the new Windows XP Aviation Edition:

[john70t]

If using Windows- make sure java script and activex controls have to be asked for, run internet under a user account (can't mess with the core OS), and turn off Outlook Express preview(or better yet don't use it).
Firewall, adware progs, antivirus, yada yada......