There Was A Problem Sending The Command To The Program Options

[billbruen]

There Was A Problem Sending The Command To The Program.

I'm at my wits end trying to get rid of this Message, so here's hoping somebody has a fix, otherwise I'm looking at reinstalling my OS, which I REALLY don't want to do.

When I use certain shortcuts, say from the Desktop, I usually get this Message. Shortcuts leading to programs on the computer seem to be OK, usually: it seems to just happen if the shortcut leads to the internet. I say usually, because I have some shortcuts to newspaper websites which work OK: however, when I use my Battlefield 3 shortcut, I get the Origin validation screen, then the Battlefield sign in screen, then the Message.

Links to the internet, from within emails, don’t seem to work at all.

I’ve been putting up with this for some time now, but I’ve just installed Battlefield 3 and finding I can’t start the game is the final straw.

My 'workaround' to the problem, was to add IE9 to my right click menu, then send my shortcut there……usually works.

My PC is a home build, running IE9, about 3 years old now......virus free and up to date. It has been largely running fault free since its birthday.

Here's some machine info:
Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) Service Pack 1
Intel Core2 Duo E8400 O/C 3.90 GHz
Asus P5K Premium Mobo
8 Mb Memory
ATI Radeon HD 4870
PSU Corsair HX620W Modular
Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio
3Hard drives (3Tb)
Dell U2311H Monitor

IE9 is set as my default browser and examination of the shortcut properties shows the ‘targets’ are pointing at the correct ‘open folder location’.

So far, I've tried Microsoft Mr. Fixit for broken shortcuts.....no issues found.

I've run a System File Checker scan.....no issues found.

I've tried resetting all IE9 settings to default values......no joy.

I've tried running IE with no addons etc......no difference.

I've tried performing clean boots and stopping services and startup programs following Microsoft diagnostic guidelines......the problem remains even with all services and startup programs disabled.


I’ve run regsvr32 ole32.dll (advice from another Forum)………………no joy.

I've tried 'Doug Knox Registry Fixes' which resets html file associations I believe, (which have helped me in the past), even though really for XP......no joy.

I’ve tried another reg file supplied by another Forum, which, I’m told, sets the ‘proper’ Win 7 defaults for html……….again, no joy.

Of course, I've also Googled my eyes out. The problem is hardly unknown, but I couldn't find a definite fix.

As near as I can tell/remember, this all started some moons ago when I was having problems with links leading to pdf files, just opening blank pages in IE.

I had been experimenting with Foxit and Acrobat and trying alternative browsers, Firefox, Chrome and Opera and (I’m guessing), I ended up fouling up my Registry.

After much midnight oil, I eventually solved the pdf problem......but I'm not really sure how, as I was trying so many ‘fixes’! Maybe it was Doug Knox……

As part of that hectic activity, I reluctantly retired Foxit (which I’d used for years without problems) and switched to Adobe Reader X. I don’t know if I did Foxit a disservice: I had no evidence it was responsible for any wrongdoing…….feel a bit guilty actually.

I have to confess to being a ‘utility’ freak and dread to think of how many ‘useful’ programmes I’ve loaded up/removed over the years.

Gut feel is telling me now that I have a Registry issue, maybe stemming from remnants of many (now) uninstalled programs.......but I've no idea how to deal with that, if my guess is true.

PS: Just discovered I can’t play the video on certain web pages: can play YouTube videos though……..

[paws]

Hi billbruen,
and welcome to the WTT forums, Sorry to hear of the problems with your computer;
Have you tried the fixes listed here?
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows...00-169b8c6ef37a
I would be inclined to start with removing/adding the tick/checkmark to "Run as Administrator" in the Properties box for your shortcuts, if no joy then move on to the next one
Let us know if after trying them all you still have issues and we will advise the next steps.
Regards
paws

[billbruen]

Thanks for the welcome and suggestions.

I'll give them a whirl and let you know how I get on.........

[paws]

[Ztruker]

Do you have a good backup? If not I would strongly urge you to do so ASAP.

The you could try a Repair Install, see if that corrects the problems.

If all else fails, do a Clean Install then restore your data from backup. Painful but with the amount of installing and uninstalling it sounds like you do/have done, this may be the best way to go.

[billbruen]

OK, tried suggestions in the links but no joy.......also some stuff from other Forum.

I seem to have made a little progress, but I'm not fully fixed.

I backed out of IE9, back into IE8 64bit.........bad move?? I now seem to be unable to connect to various websites (randomly?).

I then ran a variety of regsvr commands, based on advice from various Forums: dangerous I know, but I'm a bit desperate.

Now, my Battlefield 3 link works and links to video on the web seems to work. But I still get 'The Message' from time to time.

Unless you have more magic, I'm thinking my next step will be to reinstall Windows over itself.

If that doesn't fix things, it will be backup and clean reinstall time..........

[Ztruker]

Are you using IE8 64bit? If so, use standard, 32 bit and see what happens.

[billbruen]

Oh my aching head!

Wouldn't allow me to do an 'in place' install: said the version I was trying to install was older than the version I already had.........push off!

I did think of trying IE8 32bit, but don't know how to get it. The IE x86on my Windows menu doesn't work.

I'm half tempted to just give up and wait for Win 8.

[Ztruker]

You can slipstream SP3 into your XP Install CD:

[color="#006400"]The simplest way to create a Bootable Windows XP Pro or Home Installation CD Slipstreamed with SP3 is to use Autostreamer. You point to your XP Pro/Home CD, the SP3 Service Pack .exe file, give it a path to write the .iso file to and off it goes. In 5 or 10 minutes you have a .iso file that you can burn to CD with almost any CD burner program you want to use. I used Roxio 7. There is also a good freeware burner called ImgBurn which will do this for you.

Here is the link to Autostreamer: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-...ostreamer.shtml

You can download the SP3 .exe here: Windows XP Service Pack 3 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers

If you have an original XP Install CD with no Service Pack applied, not even SP1a then you will need to do the above in two steps. First you will have to splistream SP2 then repeat for SP3.

You can download SP2 .exe here: Windows XP Service Pack 2 Network Installation Package for IT Professionals and Developers

An excellent alternative is nLite. It allows you to merge SP2/SP3/Windows Updates into a new XP CD image that you can install from. Takes a bit of fiddling with but worth the effort since it also allows you to pre-answer all the questions asked during install so all you have to do is boot the new CD, select where you want to install, format or not and go to lunch. When you come back the install is finished and your are at the latest Service Pack and Update level. See here:
http://www.nliteos.com/

If you have Vista, then give Vlite a try:
http://www.vlite.net/

Use this site to get the MS updates: http://www.softwarepatch.com/windows/

You can also get updates from an MS site but it takes more work: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/saveupdates.htm

This post has been edited by Ztruker: Mar 1 2012, 08:01 PM

[billbruen]

Erm......I'm using Win 7 64bit?

[Ztruker]

I'm sorry, don't know where my head was.

How to Slipstream Windows 7 SP1 to Create a Bootable USB, Installation DVD, or ISO File

[billbruen]

No worries and thanks for the link............

[billbruen]

Well....... couldn't find an answer to the problem, so I bit the bullet: new hard drive and a clean install.

On balance, probably the best solution after 3 years of messing around with my boot drive and Registry.

BTW, I've treated myself to one of the Lindy USB 3.0 Sata Docking Stations..........brilliant.......

Thanks for all suggestions.

[Ztruker]

Definitely the best path. Glad you are all set now.