cant open .exe files

hmm, an interesting problem I have.
XP Pro SP3 machine, infected with virus, and cleaned yesterday with malwarebytes.
After the restart required, I now cannot open any .exe files, looking on the net so far only leads me to edit the registry, guess what, I cant open regedit.exe

when a .exe is opened, I get the "Open With" box, nothing else.

help...

The box in question is my file/print server so I am trying to sort it over remote desktop, to pull the unit out to connect a keyboard etc would be a pia, but will be done if neccessary.

And yes, all data on the unit it backed up elsewhere.

infected with virus!!, only way you can truly recover from a virus is to re-install windows

the time you could spend cleaning any system is quite different to the time to do a whole new install

hope that helps

hmmm, was hoping to recover it without a re-install, if only for the challenge, if its the only option I will, its no biggie, I have an image, was just going for the experiance/challange side first.

Cheers.

after a change of search terms found this page.

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/exefile.htm

theres a small util to fix the registry entry affected, sorted, now to restore my previous registy entries.