everything on the desktop and in the start menu opens as a word

Double check association. Also try to returnn to previous restore point. It would be helpful if you give more information what you did before it happened. Rgds Milos

Hi, First, you can try to perform a system restore before this issue occurred. Meanwhile, you can try to restore the default File Associations. When you double-click an .EXE file, the program may not launch, instead it may open in Notepad (displaying the .exe contents), or may launch in any other application. http://windowsxp.mvps.org/exeasso.htm When you run an .exe file on a Windows Vista-based or Windows 7-based computer, the file may start a different program http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950505 Restore the .exe file association in Windows Vista, after incorrectly associating it with another application http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/165/1/Restore-the-exe-file-association-in-Windows-Vista-after-incorrectly-associating-it-with-another-application.html Restore Default Windows 7 File Extension Type Associations http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/19449-default-file-type-associations-restore.html How to Set Default Associations for a Program in Windows 7 http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2630-default-programs-set-programs-default-associations.html How to Unassociate a File Extension Type in Vista and a utility to help (Windows 7 too) http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/91920-unassociate-file-extention-type.html How to Change the Default Program a File Type Opens With in Windows 7 http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/12196-open-change-default-program.html How to Associate a File Type or Protocol Default Program in Window 7 http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9154-default-programs-associate-file-type-protocol.html How to Hide or Show Known File Type Extensions in Windows 7 http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/10570-file-extensions-hide-show.html#post101629 Note: Since the website is not hosted by Microsoft, the link may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this information. Hope this helps.Vincent Wang TechNet Community Support