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All of my pics on my computer have changed to VBscript Script files. How do I change them back

Posted By : Ileen of Katharine Gibbs School - New York on February 7, 2003

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all of my pics on my computer have changed to VBscript Script files. How do I change them back?

This question was answered on February 7, 2003. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.


If you have your file images turned on in Explorer, a vbscript file will look like the picture on the right

As this picture tells you very little about this potentially dangerous file, you firstly need to make sure that file type extensions are shown with all registered programs This generally has to be configured on new computers.

Here is what you need to do Open Explorer by right clicking on the Start Button and choosing Explore Select View and choose Folder options

Now select the View tab and uncheck the box that says Hide file extensions for known file types

From now on, whenever you see a vbscript file, it will have a .vbs extension after the name of the file Only open it if you know what the file does

If you are looking for a vbsript file to try out, the folder c:\windows\samples\wsh\ should have some examples.

The best way to avoid the effects of running vb script files automatically when you click on them is as follows

Once again open Explorer and select View and choose Folder options This time select file types and find the File Type entitled VBScript Files Select it and click on the Edit button

Do the same thing for SHS file types.

Now click on Edit and choose Set Default

Do the same thing for SHS file types.

From now on when you click on a file with a vbs or shs file type, it will automatically go into Edit mode as follows.

Now you can still run the vbscript files by right clicking on them and choosing Open

When a vbscript file arrives in your email as an attachment, you will first have to save the file to disk Now you will have to open Explorer and right click on the file to run the script

An Alternative More Brutal Approach

Is To Follow these steps

Open Control Panel Add/remove Win Setup Accessories

Now Uncheck Windows Scripting Host

This will stop you running vbscripts on this computer again until you reinstall it from Windows This may not really change your life all that much.

Halting VBScript Running In HTML Mail

To turn off vbscripting in HTML email in Outlook Express, follow these steps

Open Outlook Express and select Options from Menu

Select the Security Tab

Select “Restricted sites” zone.

That is it for Outlook Express Now you have to do the following in IE

Open Internet Explorer

Select the Tools Menu and then Internet Options

Select Security and click on the “Restricted Sites Zone”

Now click on “Custom Level”

Down the bottom of the options you will find “Active Scripting”

Set “Active Scripting” To “Prompt” or "Disable"

Now if there is a any vbscript in your html email, you will either be warned about running it or it will be disabled.

About the author

Posted by Ileen of Katharine Gibbs School - New York on February 7, 2003

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