Cannot Open Folders ("Application Not Found" Error)

I hope my post is understandable and it's complicated from my own standpoint and Google searches are not helping me whatsoever.

To begin, I had a nasty virus attack back in November 2018-- Chameleon Explorer and so many other PUPs and trojans so bad that I had my identity stolen as a credit card was later opened up in my name. Anyway, I believe to have gotten rid of them through Malware Bytes and I forgot what else. I might've even done a system restore which didn't do much. Shortly after getting back into control of my laptop (it was a complete mess), I discovered I cannot open any folders normally-- right clicking or double clicking. I get an error message saying, for example:
C:\Users\Megan\Desktop/bb
Application Not Found

However, if I open up File Explorer I can access them, but it's complicated. I have to use the bar where I have to type in each folder that I need to go to. Quick Access can open the folders that are there, but not any further than that normally.

Next, when I created a new user account on my laptop, it doesn't have this problem at all, so it's just located on my User side. Also, for instance, if I'm opening up a folder to upload a file onto Chrome, no problems with this.

I can try to give more information but I don't know a lot of computers as this is out of my breadth of knowledge. For instance, I did the DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth and that failed with the source files not found and error code was 0x800f081f and did run a sfc /scannow and corrupt files were found. Also, a System refresh I believe (where all apps become uninstalled that weren't preinstalled and such) failed also.

So, any help is greatly appreciated. I just want to be able to access my folders without this error that keeps happening. I also don't want to restart this user if it can be fixed. At least I have Carbonite.
Thank you.

Brink said:

Hello moonfal, and welcome to Ten Forums.

Personally, when it comes to being infected, I prefer to do a clean install of Windows at boot, and then scan the system with an AV like MBAM to make sure it's clean.

For now, you could see if downloading and merging the .reg files for Folder and Directory in Option Two of the tutorial below may be able to fix this for you. They will restore the default associations for these items.

Restore Default File Type Associations in Windows 10

Okay, I edited the Folder.reg like you said, and it completely worked. I can open folders like it is nothing. I am so happy right now my laptop hasn't been right for 6 months and now it's working like it should! (Directory.reg doesn't let me, I get an error with that one, but I think the Folder.reg did the trick!)