Problem: Choose a program you want to use to open this file?

[ItachiRules]

Choose a program you want to use to open this file... so for all my programs this pops up... I don't remember having a virus.. >.> and now this happens.. and I don't want to do anything unnecessary.. it looks like this at the time o.o

The icons are white and don't have their unique icons D: and whenever I want to open any file is says "Choose a program you want to use to open this file?"

Oh and when I choose the program it doesn't let me click always use this type of program to use always.. >.> it's gray.

I am not sure how to proceed, if you could help me it be greatly appreciated. ^^

[ItachiRules]

I should most likely do that... I've never restored it and when I tried following the instructions on the computer it says *choose a program to open this file with*

So I should maybe try to log off from the user and try it from there? >.>

[ItachiRules]

Important If you have not previously set a restore point in System Restore, you cannot restore your computer to a previous state. If you are not sure, or if you have not previously set a restore point, contact Support.

When I tried doing the restore point it said system could not find the path specified. >.>' so this means I should just reinstall my vista 32? D:

Oh someone told me it has to do with registry I shall try that and see if it works.

[KarumA]

Here is a tip to making screenshots.. cause I don't know much about the rest but the blur makes it hard to see things...

On you keyboard press Prinscreen and with the standard windows program Paint (found under start -> Accessories -> Paint) you can just paste it in and save it. Makes it a lot easier to see things.. I was staring for 2 minutes or so at the first picture trying to figure out what you meant till finally I saw the white blurry icons

Most likely something in your registry is broken..
However is it just the items on your desktop? I can't see all the names so it is hard to see if all of them are just shortcuts or if other important documents are involved...
If they are just short cuts try and make a new shortcut from a program by going into Program Files and for example one of which I saw Opera and make a short cut of the launching program (right click, copy to desktop (shortcut)).
If important programs are involved (such as My Computer) I would suggest taking it to a more technical forum, such as http://forums.techguy.org/

If you have no idea how a registry works then I wouldn't mess with it alone. It is huge and if you cannot locate the missing or damaged section alone then it is pretty much not recommended for you to go there. On the tech support forum people know how to help you better with the registry so you might not have to reinstall to begin with

[ItachiRules]

Here is a tip to making screenshots.. cause I don't know much about the rest but the blur makes it hard to see things...

On you keyboard press Prinscreen and with the standard windows program Paint (found under start -> Accessories -> Paint) you can just paste it in and save it. Makes it a lot easier to see things.. I was staring for 2 minutes or so at the first picture trying to figure out what you meant till finally I saw the white blurry icons

Most likely something in your registry is broken..
However is it just the items on your desktop? I can't see all the names so it is hard to see if all of them are just shortcuts or if other important documents are involved...
If they are just short cuts try and make a new shortcut from a program by going into Program Files and for example one of which I saw Opera and make a short cut of the launching program (right click, copy to desktop (shortcut)).
If important programs are involved (such as My Computer) I would suggest taking it to a more technical forum, such as Tech Support Guy - Free help for Windows 7, Vista, XP, and more!

Thanks well what I did atm is I check the other users in the comp and their part of the comp is working fine so what I will do it make a new user name and delete the other one >.>

If I find a solution nonetheless I shall post ^^ XD

Thanks immensely <3 XD

[KarumA]

I also did some looking around you might want to try this:

Icon Cache - Rebuild - Vista Forums

[Munemasa Katagiri]

Can you tell the files' extensions? Are they .exe, .tmp? Did they just appeared or the icons just became white? If they appeared from nowhere they might be viruses. DO NOT use system restore if you think you have a virus.

[zouzzizou]

I thought you had some program running that changed registry setting, it doesn't allow user to set a defaut program for each file type anymore
So you need to enable this option in registry, but remember to back up your registry before apply any change
This article show you how to enable it, scroll down to the vista part

[natsuhiboshin89]

Thanks well what I did atm is I check the other users in the comp and their part of the comp is working fine so what I will do it make a new user name and delete the other one >.>

If I find a solution nonetheless I shall post ^^ XD

Thanks immensely <3 XD

I normally do that with unknown problems.

How did your antivirus respond to it? Did you do a full system scan?

[ShyParanoiac]

Hello !

If your problem is still unsolved, I would advise a reinstallation of Windows Vista, not just the creation of another user, because file associations are partially managed on a system-wide basis. The creation of a new user might fix the problem, but the fact that file associations disappeared probably means that something else is not working correctly.

If you need help on how to save some settings or files, or with the reinstallation process, feel free to contact me !