I have accidentally altered the settings in my computer (AMD Sempron, WIN XP) so that most of the programs in Control Panel open in WordPad, in Code, making them inaccessible. System Restore, which I hoped to use to escape this mess, also opens in WordPad, in code; and if I select RUN AS, I'm told I haven't got security clearance (this is a home PC, no network).
When I reboot, a Wordpad windoe appears superimposed on the desktop, actually a whole stack of them, each showing a different file in code, such as qttask, swdoctor, SOUNDMAN, etc, and each must be deleted by mouse click.

This happened, apparently, as I was deleting some old Compaq Diagnostics files from a floppy; one (DIAG.EXE) would not delete, so I opened it in WordPad to see if a clue could be found -  this led to an MSDOS screen appearing which I exited from, using A for abort. Now, Wordpad is the only device which opens nearly all programs.

How can I return to the normal setup for opening ( and making use of) programs? (In Control Panel, Administrative tools will open normally, but not System which comes up in WP).

Help desperately needed!

                         PCSOFT's List Owner's:
                      Bob Wright<[log in to unmask]>
                       Drew Dunn<[log in to unmask]>