I don't know how this thread got so far off topic, but.. you don't need to edit the
registry directly to fix the .EXE problem.
Scroll down to #12 on this page, left column. Download the EXE-LNK fix registry file
to your desktop. Close all open windows. Double click the .reg file to merge (or
right click merge) the entries into the registry.
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
However, as Martin suggested you should run some malware scans. If the fix doesn't
resolve the issue so you can run executables, you'll need to post for further help
on a malware support forum.
Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts File
