Code Exp

Recently, I encountered a strange issue on my Windows 10 PC. After uninstalling Photoshop Beta while still having Photoshop 2024 installed, all .exe files started opening with Photoshop. If you’re facing a similar issue, here’s a step-by-step guide on how I fixed it.

The Issue

Uninstalling Photoshop Beta caused all executable files (.exe) to be associated with Photoshop. Every time I tried to open any program, it would launch Photoshop instead.

Symptoms

• All .exe files attempt to open with Photoshop.
• Unable to open necessary tools like Command Prompt or Registry Editor.

Solution

Here’s how I resolved the issue:

Method Using Notepad

First try to navigate to photoshop.exe folder and rename it to photoshop.exex so it won’t be used as a default software.

Create a registry fix file using Notepad:

When being asked to select an app to open .exe, select notepad.

1. Open Notepad:
   • Press Win + R, type notepad, and press Enter.
2. Copy and Paste the Following Text code
   Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe] @="exefile" "Content Type"="application/x-msdownload" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile] @="Application" "EditFlags"=dword:00000000 "FriendlyTypeName"="@%SystemRoot%\\System32\\shell32.dll,-10150" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell] @="" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open] "EditFlags"=dword:00000000 [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command] @="\"%1\" %*" "IsolatedCommand"="\"%1\" %*" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex] [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\DropHandler] @="{86C86720-42A0-1069-A2E8-08002B30309D}" [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers] [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\ShimLayer Property Page] @="{c9943761-1b91-11d1-9eaa-00c04fd7081f}"
3. Save the File:
   • Go to File > Save As.
   • Name the file fix_exe_association.reg.
   • Change the Save as type to All Files.
   • Save the file to your desktop or another accessible location.
4. Merge the Registry Fix:
   • Locate the fix_exe_association.reg file and double-click on it to merge it into your registry.
   • Confirm any prompts that appear.
5. Restart Your Computer:
   • Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Step 4: Verify and Finalize

After performing these steps, I was able to open Command Prompt and other .exe files normally. To ensure everything was correctly set, I also ran the following commands in Command Prompt as an administrator:

shellCopy codeassoc .exe=exefile
ftype exefile="%1" %*

After another restart, my computer was back to normal, and the .exe files were no longer associated with Photoshop.

Conclusion

This issue was quite frustrating, but with a bit of persistence and the right steps, it can be resolved. I hope this guide helps anyone else who might run into the same problem. Feel free to share your experiences or additional tips in the comments!