What Is MSI File And How Is It Different From EXE File?

When I try to open any .exe file in Vista a window opens that asks me to choose what program to open it with.?

• The problems with my computer started when some, I'm assuming malware, found it's way onto my computer. It was called Vista Security Check, or something of that nature, and whenever I tried to open any .exe file it would start to "scan" my computer for trojans, viruses, etc. It was incredibly grating, and would get rid of it every time it opened by ctrl+alt+delete and then going to processes and ending the process. It was under the name vma.exe (that might not have been it, i wasn't really paying a huge amount of attention to the title). Anyway, I was sort of fed up with it coming up constantly, so I right clicked it, when it was open windows task manager under processes, and went to open file location and then I deleted the program and removed it from the recycling bin. After I did that, it quit opening and "scanning" my computer, but now, programs won't open at all. When I open any .exe file it will open with a window that asks me what program I want to choose to open it. It's annoying. I essentially have to navigate to the same place twice to open most of the programs I use on my computer (if I choose the .exe file that I'm trying to open in the window that I want open when the window asks me to choose which file I want to use to open the program it will open the program) , and some programs, like the safely remove hardware feature I'm unaware of where the .exe file for it would be located on the C drive. I'm not new to computers by any means, but I don't know a lot about tech related problems, and I fear I've done something to permanently damage my computer.

• Answer:

  Easy fix > click on the guy with the wrench in his hand in this article from microsoft....it will download the .exe back onto your computer....click Save to Desktop > close browser then open and run.....should be back to normal........ http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950505