Unable to run programs from shortcuts

Hello All!! :-) i am new to this forum and i seem to be having a problem with windows 2003 server.

It seems that when i double click any icon it no longer runs. It pops up the option box asking with what program i want to run it with and then what it does is runs the initial program in the self same program.

For instance if i double click on lets say windows media player it asks me what program i choose to run it with. If i choose windows media player it tells me it cannot run windows media player in windows media player, or lets say i go to a webpage and i choose to look at the source code of the site. it asks me what program i want to run it in and then if i choose notepad it actually runs the notepad program code inside of another notepad instead of the source. I have been using the "run as" option under right click and the "open with" option under right click in order to initialize programs and files. the file association is there under properties. its just not running when i double click either the shortcut or the actual program. All help is really appreciated.

Looks like your file associations under Windows are hosed.

You can try these fixes, but the reason why this occured may still be present on your system.

I would recommend you run the standard AV, spyware tools and use a good firewall right after you try those.

They are for WinXP, but you never know.

Well That worked great.. it restored the defaults for the exe ext.. and i did run my av and search and destroy thanks alot for ur help i appreciate it