Acrobat X hijacks my computer and doesn't work

Question

I recently purchased Adobe Acrobat X Pro and installed it using the code on the box.  The first indication of a problem is that about half the program icons on the desktop changed to the Adobe logo.  More on that later.  Anyway, when I launch Acrobat, it gives the following message:
“Acrobat could not open "Acrobat.exe" because it is either not a supported file type or the file has been damaged (for example if it was sent as an email attachment and wasn't decoded correctly).
To create an Adobe PDF document, go to the source application.  Then print the document to Adobe PDF.”
I click OK and Acrobat opens, but is only partly functional.  For example, I cannot check for updates, as I get the message
“Acrobat could not open "AdobeARM.exe" because it is either not a supported file type or the file has been damaged (for example if it was sent as an email attachment and wasn't decoded correctly).
To create an Adobe PDF document, go to the source application.  Then print the document to Adobe PDF.”
While running, Acrobat generates the above message with I with “TVSUVersionDetector.exe” as the referred to file, or with “AdobeARM.exe”, or “mSataDetector.exe”
The worst part is that when I try to open certain other programs, Acrobat automatically launches and tries to open that program.  The same above messages appear, but with the name of the file (ie  googletalk.exe).  Somehow Acrobat appears to be hijacking the laptop.  Then Acrobat opens (but is only partly functional).  I can’t even play solitaire!
I run Windows 7 on a Lenovo Thinkpad.  I’ve tried unstalling and then reinstalling, but with the same result.  When I uninstall, the laptop returns to normal.  .I have run Repair in Control Panel and within Acrobat, no change.
Is there a solution? 

Answer 1

Sometimes Windows will download an application (Adobe) and make the default file extention to every file 'Adobe.exe' instead of just '.exe.' and this will make a large portion of programs want to open with Adobe.
You have to download a corected version of the registry key and save it to your desktop then right-click it and select 'merge'. This will correct the registry malfunction and bring your icons back (after a computer restart).
Please go to this link and under 'Resolution' save the registry key to your desktop.
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/restore-exe-file-asso-windows-7-vista-incorrectly-associ ated/
If you have to uninstall Adobe first to be able to do this- uninstall then reinstall having the registry key saved on the desktop.