Programs don't run after running SpyBot- help please!

[HappySnapper]

Have just installed and run SpyBot for the first time. Now when I click on many of the desktop icons I get " This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an assocation in the Folder Options control panel ". The same occurs if I run a program from the Start Menu or even directly by executing the .exe. I am not able to even run SpyBot to find out what I did wrong. The only things still working that I have so far found are Internet Explorer and Outlook from the Start menu and My Computer. I guess I might have deleted files that I should not have when the Tea-timer reported them as questionable entries in the registry. Can I fix this?

[md usa spybot fan]

It sounds like your problem is a file association problem. The following Web page has fixes for problems with file associations:

• Windows® XP File Association Fixes
  http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

The fix for EXE files is:

• EXE File Association Fix (Restore default association for EXE files)

NOTE: If your EXE file associations are corrupted, it can be difficult to open REGEDIT, or to even import REG files. To work around this, press CTRL-ALT-DEL and open Task Manager. Once there, click File, then hold down the CTRL key and click New Task (Run). This will open a Command Prompt window. Enter REGEDIT.EXE and press Enter.
Thanks to Nigel Andrews for this tip.