{"id":3838,"date":"2019-11-29T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-11-29T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=3838"},"modified":"2019-11-20T14:05:50","modified_gmt":"2019-11-20T19:05:50","slug":"pc-sidelined-by-weird-exe-file-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/11\/29\/pc-sidelined-by-weird-exe-file-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"PC sidelined by weird EXE file problem"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Executable program files (EXEs) are the beating heart of Windows and most applications. So when Windows 7, 8.1, or 10 can no longer properly run files with the\u00a0<strong>.exe<\/strong>\u00a0extension, it\u2019s serious trouble!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.askwoody.com\/newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"AskWoody (opens in a new tab)\">AskWoody<\/a> subscriber Colm Brangan\u2019s PC somehow ran into those deep weeds \u2014 and now he can\u2019t find his way out. (Colm\u2019s PC is running Win7, but Windows 10 and Win8.1 can suffer the same fate.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>\u201cMy Windows 7 Home Premium system has stopped working properly. None of the EXE files will run. (I can still get to the Internet via links.) Launched apps stop with a&nbsp;<strong>ShellExecuteEx has failed Error Code 1155.<\/strong>&nbsp;I can\u2019t reboot with a USB-based rescue drive because&nbsp;<strong>setup.exe<\/strong>&nbsp;will not run, and right-clicking an application doesn\u2019t show a&nbsp;<strong>Run<\/strong>&nbsp;command.\u201cAs my laptop is old, I don\u2019t have the option to choose UEFI boot; it needs the&nbsp;<strong>Legacy<\/strong>&nbsp;bios. I have the original re-installation disk and your excellent article on \u2018Win 7\u2019s no-reformat, non-destructive reinstall.\u2019 [Langa.com copy&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/04\/16\/reprint-win7s-no-reformat-nondestructive-reinstall\/\">here<\/a>]. Your help, please! All other avenues, including Microsoft and Dell, have failed.\u201d<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s a frustrating problem, to be sure. But it might be easier to correct than you think. In fact, I cover four fixes that can help in <strong>What to do when Windows can\u2019t run EXEs<\/strong>, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"AskWoody Plus 2019-09-02 (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.askwoody.com\/newsletter\/what-to-do-when-windows-cant-run-exes\/#langalist-0\" target=\"_blank\">AskWoody Plus 2019-09-02<\/a>. Check it out!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"3840\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/11\/29\/pc-sidelined-by-weird-exe-file-problem\/furious\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/pc-frustration.jpg?fit=799%2C599&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"799,599\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Furious frustated businessman hitting the computer&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Furious&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Furious\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Furious frustated businessman hitting the computer&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/pc-frustration.jpg?fit=799%2C599&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/pc-frustration.jpg?resize=400%2C300\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3840\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/pc-frustration.jpg?w=799&amp;ssl=1 799w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/pc-frustration.jpg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/pc-frustration.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><figcaption><em>(Not the recommended repair method!)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"104\" height=\"6\" data-attachment-id=\"1999\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/02\/10\/around-boston-the-nearly-snowless-winter-continues\/seperator-short-grey\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/SEPERATOR-short-grey.png?fit=104%2C6&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"104,6\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"SEPERATOR short grey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/SEPERATOR-short-grey.png?fit=104%2C6&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/SEPERATOR-short-grey.png?resize=104%2C6\" alt=\"[seperator]\" class=\"wp-image-1999\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>NOTE:<\/strong>\u00a0The article referenced above was released to AskWoody subscribers fully two months ago: Early access is just one of the benefits of being an\u00a0<strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.askwoody.com\/plus-membership\/\" target=\"_blank\">AskWoody Plus subscriber<\/a><\/strong>. Please consider joining! It\u2019s\u00a0<strong>1-2-3 easy<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>If you don\u2019t already have one, register for a&nbsp;<em><strong>free<\/strong><\/em>&nbsp;AskWoody basic account over&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.askwoody.com\/register\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">on the AskWoody site<\/a>.<br><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.askwoody.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Log in at AskWoody.com<\/a>&nbsp;using your AskWoody basic account credentials.<br><\/li><li>Upgrade to an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/askwoody.com\/plus-membership\/\">AskWoody Plus Membership<\/a>.&nbsp;<strong>There\u2019s no set cost; you decide how much to pay<\/strong>. Really!<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.askwoody.com\/plus-membership\/\" target=\"_blank\">Click on over<\/a>&nbsp;and take a look!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right has-small-font-size\"><em><strong>Permalink: <a href=\"https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=3838\">https:\/\/langa.com\/?p=3838<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"104\" height=\"6\" data-attachment-id=\"1999\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/02\/10\/around-boston-the-nearly-snowless-winter-continues\/seperator-short-grey\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/SEPERATOR-short-grey.png?fit=104%2C6&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"104,6\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"SEPERATOR short grey\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/SEPERATOR-short-grey.png?fit=104%2C6&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/SEPERATOR-short-grey.png?resize=104%2C6\" alt=\"[seperator]\" class=\"wp-image-1999\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align:left\"><strong>COMMENT \/ QUESTION<\/strong>  on <strong>THIS ITEM?<\/strong> <em>See the<\/em> <strong>Comment box<\/strong> <em>at bottom of this page!<\/em><br><b><em><br><\/em>NEW QUESTION? <\/b><em>Ask<\/em><b> <u><font color=\"#000117\"><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a><\/font><\/u><\/b>!<br><br>(<em>Want free notification of new content? Click<\/em><b><strong> <\/strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2018\/09\/09\/get-free-automatic-notification-of-new-content\/\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a><\/b>!)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Executable program files (EXEs) are the beating heart of Windows and most applications. So when Windows 7, 8.1, or 10 can no longer properly run files with the\u00a0.exe\u00a0extension, it\u2019s serious trouble! AskWoody subscriber Colm Brangan\u2019s PC somehow ran into those deep weeds \u2014 and now he can\u2019t find his way out. (Colm\u2019s PC is running&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[29,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3838","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-askwoody-plus","category-windows"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paaiox-ZU","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3680,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/10\/31\/how-do-i-disable-a-laptops-keyboard-except-for-the-power-button\/","url_meta":{"origin":3838,"position":0},"title":"&#8220;How do I disable a laptop&#8217;s keyboard except for the power button?&#8221;","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-10-31","format":false,"excerpt":"That could be problematic --- how will you control the PC if none of the keys work? A better option is a software-moderated kiosk mode, which severely restricts what users can do with the PC while not preventing the PC from acting normally, outside of kiosk mode. Operating systems and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;A reader asks...&quot;","block_context":{"text":"A reader asks...","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/a-reader-asks\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6048,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2022\/04\/11\/shutdown-exe-f\/","url_meta":{"origin":3838,"position":1},"title":"Shutdown.exe \/f","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2022-04-11","format":false,"excerpt":"As this weekly column reaches the end of its 25-year run, it\u2019s a bittersweet moment for me. But in large part because of you, dear reader, there\u2019s far more sweet than bitter! Thank you! Read the full story in today's free AskWoody (19.15.0, 2022-04-11). Also in this issue: EDITORIAL:\u2003The Last\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;AskWoody Plus&quot;","block_context":{"text":"AskWoody Plus","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/askwoody-plus\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/what-deadline-1.jpg?fit=500%2C616&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3313,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2019\/09\/02\/september-2-newsletter-available\/","url_meta":{"origin":3838,"position":2},"title":"September 2 Newsletter Available","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2019-09-02","format":false,"excerpt":"The newest AskWoody Plus newsletter \u2014 including a new LangaList item \u2014 is now posted on the AskWoody site. You can read it for free, there. LANGALIST:\u00a0What to do when Windows can\u2019t run\u00a0EXEsBEST OF THE LOUNGE:\u00a0AskWoody Plus membership benefits are changingPATCH WATCH:\u00a0August updates still dribbling inDROLL TALES:\u00a0LAB: Upset stomachBEST UTILITIES:\u00a0Freeware\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;AskWoody Plus&quot;","block_context":{"text":"AskWoody Plus","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/askwoody-plus\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4905,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/04\/750mb-of-undeletable-log-files\/","url_meta":{"origin":3838,"position":3},"title":"750MB of *undeletable* log files!","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2020-05-04","format":false,"excerpt":"Sometimes, Windows can't or won't delete old, no-longer-relevant log files. Worse, these files may be locked or still marked as in-use, preventing you from manually deleting them. There are several methods \u2014 including using\u00a0Safe Mode\u00a0\u2014 to rid your PC of old, hard-to-scrub log files, and to reclaim potentially large swathes\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;AskWoody Plus&quot;","block_context":{"text":"AskWoody Plus","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/askwoody-plus\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4140,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2020\/02\/17\/feb-17-newsletter-available\/","url_meta":{"origin":3838,"position":4},"title":"Feb 17 Newsletter Available","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2020-02-17","format":false,"excerpt":"The newest\u00a0AskWoody Plus newsletter\u00a0is now available. In this issue: SMALL BUSINESS:\u00a0RIP FTP: There\u2019s a better way to share filesBEST OF THE LOUNGE:\u00a0Help with upgrading to Windows 10PATCH WATCH:\u00a0The trials and tribulations of Windows 7VIRTUAL PCS:Making an old PC virtually immortalBEST UTILITIES:\u00a0Freeware Spotlight \u2014 eToolz Don\u2019t miss out! Consider joining \u2014\u00a0there\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;AskWoody Plus&quot;","block_context":{"text":"AskWoody Plus","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/askwoody-plus\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5963,"url":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/2022\/01\/31\/a-better-remote-desktop-connection\/","url_meta":{"origin":3838,"position":5},"title":"A better remote desktop connection","author":"Fred Langa","date":"2022-01-31","format":false,"excerpt":"Alas, it\u2019s not the one built into Windows. A remote desktop connection (RDC) lets you access and use a distant PC just as if you were sitting at its keyboard, whether that second device is in the next room or halfway around the world. For yourself, RDC provides a way\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;AskWoody Plus&quot;","block_context":{"text":"AskWoody Plus","link":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/category\/askwoody-plus\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/langa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/NL-2022-01-31-Langa_Fig1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3838","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3838"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3838\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3842,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3838\/revisions\/3842"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3838"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3838"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/langa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}