There is no script engine for file extension “.vbs”
Challenge:
If you received an error saying There is no script engine for file extension “.vbs” then you are on right post 🙂
Solution:
I tried doing this : regsvr32 %systemroot%\system32\vbscript.dll
But like you — for me too no luck 😦
But finally following trick worked for me 🙂
1. Locate the file %windir%\inf\wsh.inf (inf is a hidden
folder)
2.right click and select “Install”.
Happy Coding!!
A Place for C Sharpers/.Netters 
Thanks alot, exactly what I was searching for! 🙂
thanks this is what worked for me . I was working on it for last 12 hrs and finally got it
wonderfull step thanks, keep go a head
Thanks!
doesnt work for me, that file does not exist in my win directory ;(
can anyone please upload that file, so i can try it 🙂
After much messing around, kiranpatils’ suggestion [%windir%\inf\wsh.inf] on this site finally finished the problem (it actually worked well).
…However, it was only part of the solution. It included much other info too (and I’ve only included the most relevant references here):
1. “Restoring .vbs (VBScript Script File) File Associations”
Info here: http://www.nilpo.com/2009/07/windows-xp/restoring-vbs-vbscript-script-file-file-associations/
2. “regsvr32 %systemroot%\system32\vbscript.dll”
Info here: http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/error-there-is-no-script-engine-for-file-extension-when-running-vbs-files/
3. “Windows Script 5.7 for Windows XP”
Info here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=47809025-D896-482E-A0D6-524E7E844D81&displayLang=en
4. Various VBS stuff at http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm
5. Doug Knox File assocoation info: http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm (especially “VBS file association fix”).
This was one big messy problem and I could not have fixed it easily without the help of this site and all these other sites too.
Presumably, the problem was initially caused by some security program nuking all the VBS scripting.
Hey Hilbert, one of your links may have had the answer for me! I’ll have to wait a few days to know for sure, but a poster (Asa) @ http://www.nilpo.com/2009/07/windows-xp/restoring-vbs-vbscript-script-file-file-associations/ uses the same program I do, and I think setting the file association in the program may be what is throwing Windows off…
“Asa Says:
May 29th, 2011 at 1:26 am
Pretty sure setting Notepad++ to associate with VBS files caused the problem for me (from the NP++ interface). I should probably let them know…”
But I’m not complaining! Other than this, (if turns out to truly be the problem), Notepad++ is an AWESOME, free, small, portable (no install/admin rights needed), powerful, intuitive script and programming app. Check it out if you haven’t already.
initially the trick from kiran didn’t work for me… because I couldn’t find the file wsh.inf in my system (windows 7)
so I tried the link given by Hilbert above “Restoring .vbs (VBScript Script File) File Associations” … downloaded the file FixVBSFileAssociationsVista.reg.. applied it.. and its work…
(fyi.. my “.vbs” association is replaced by notepad++)
thanks kiran and hilbert…
good work
works very well…Thank You.
Awesome, tried this 100% working. Thank you heaps.
Did this happen to anyone after a particular hotfix or service pack? I have the same issue on a Windows Server 2003 SP2 box. The .inf re-install will work but the file association is lost shortly thereafter. I don’t know how long this has been occurring but have an idea that it started after I last rolled updates to this box one month ago.
I have the same problem. The .inf fix works, but then a few days later the problem is back. I wonder if the antivirus (McAfee) is killing the scripts or scripting host? I don’t know when the problem started, because we just recently started using a vbscript logon script. (They were mapping drives, printers, etc. manually before… hard to convince them this is “better” when this keeps happening! LOL)
This really helped.. I was not able to run backup and after running this, it worked.. thanks a lot..
1. Locate the file %windir%\inf\wsh.inf (inf is a hidden
folder)
2.right click and select “Install”.
Worked like a champ.
Thanks Kiran..!
The solution rele worked..
After searching a lot on the net finally got the solution..
Thanks to your Blog..
You Rock Man..! Cheers..!
Thanks Varun!
You, my friend, are a god-send. This is exactly the fix I needed. I’ve spent a couple days trying to get my vbs files to work and was about to give up and rebuild this XP machine.
Thank you.
Thanks a lot it worked for me… 🙂
Thanks! – Glad to know that it worked for you!
Happy Reading!
Cheers,
Kiran
Thank god there are people like you. And of course all you others that came here as me…
Thnaks
/Ralf
Thanks!
Happy Reading!
Cheers,
Kiran
THANK YOU THANK YOU! Days of Tracking down solution NONE WORKED!!! EXCEPT
YOURS! This is was a great Help. Thank you Very Much. Even Microsofts sight, did not have this solution for this probolem….like that is a surprise!
Thanks Josh!
Happy Reading!
Cheers,
Kiran
no such file exist in my win directory suggest me another solution…..
It works. I can only ask: what was the cause? One moment my script ran fine, the other moment I had the error message. The only thing that happened inbetween was launching Notepad++. Is it possible that Notepad++ is the culprit?
Thanks.
I can’t find %windir%\inf\wsh.inf anywhere in my machine. Win 7 Pro. I am trying to install CorelPDFFusion ang get the There is no script engine for file extension “.vbs” message. Can you help?
Have this problem with W2K machine and stumbled across this “fix”.
Noticed in Explorer\Tools\Folder Options\File Types where you can
define your file associations that there was a .vbe extension that
was associated with vbs. I renamed the .vbs script I wanted to run
to .vbe and it worked.
What didn’t work was then duplicating all the .vbe association paths to
the .vbs, so the problem dosn’t appear to be there.
Yeesssss !
OMG I LOVE YOU!! TRIED TONS OF THINGS AND IT DIDN’T WORK. YAAY
Just spent 1h to find a solution from M$ itself. Your advice let me do it in 5s. Thank you!
Thanks very much… installing wsh.inf worked for me.
Thanks a lots. it works…
Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video
to make your point. You definitely know what youre
talking about, why waste your intelligence on just posting videos to your weblog when you could
be giving us something informative to read?
That was perfect, it works great. I’ve been searching and searching. Thank you!!
Mel — Glad to know that you found it useful!
Thanks for your comment — It stimulates!
Keep sharing, Keep visiting and Keep reading! 🙂
Sincerely,
Kiran Patil
‘There is no script engine for file extension.vbs’
I keep getting this issue when trying to run .vbs files. This started because I downloaded and installed Bluefish, for web development. On setup, I selected to associate .vbs files with Bluefish (which I now realise was rather stupid). I realised that when I tried to run .vbs files, the opened up in the editor. I thought then that it would be a good idea to change the file association back to ‘Windows Based Script Host’ I then tried to run the file and now I keep getting these errors ‘There is no script engine for file extension.vbs’ every time I run .vbs files. I have done several Google searches and tried everything recommended; scripten.exe won’t install as it says ‘Setup has detected that the Service Pack version of this system is newer that the update you are applying. there is no need to install this update.’ I also tried (as suggested)
‘Click Start, Run and type: regsvr32 %systemroot%\system32\vbscript.dll’
And I got the “success” message ‘DllRegisterServer in vbscript.dll succeeded.’ but this made no difference.
I also tried, as I was getting desperate, to download an older version of vbscript.dll from the System32 folder and replace my copy, but this had no effect so I changed it back.
What do you think, any suggestions?
Great Solution………… Thanks a lot…………..