Sometimes you might have faced problem in opening a particular file or any program. You might have clicked on that program but you were unable to view that in the desired file type. This happens when you have chose a wrong type of file to open the program. For example: .txt, .doc, .image are some of the types of associated files . If you select wrong application as default program while saving the file then you will be unable to view the same. That means if you have to save a text file but mistakenly you saved it in as image application then the application for image viewer will be opened and you will be unable to view your file.
Similarly, if you have downloaded a music from the internet and while saving the same file you mistakenly selected wrong mp3 file type, which is not available in your system, then you will be not been able to listen to that music.
Hence, it is important to select the correct file type or application while installing the program. However, Windows 7 has got a special feature due to which one file is saved in different associated applications so that you can open that particular file as per your desire.
If, by mistake, you have selected wrong application for your file to be opened with, then you can change the File Associations in Windows 7 by performing simple steps given below:
Step 1
Go to Start Menu by clicking on the 'Windows' image (at the bottom-left of the taskbar). You will see a search box of rectangle shape at the bottom. Typewrite '*.ext' into that box. Ext stands for File Extension. This will help in the extending the type of association with your file. If you are willing to change the file association for '.xlsx' then typewrite in the same file type followed by the star (*) , in the text box (*xlsx). Then strike on 'Enter' key on your key-board.
Step 2
Now you will be shown few search results in a window. Place the arrow-point on the very first file and hit the right button on your mouse. From the scroll down list, click on 'Open With' option. Now you will be able to see a dialogue box with program options.
Step 3
Choose the desired program suitable for your file and then click on it. If you are unable to view your desired program then you need to browse the computer for that option. To Browse the computer, just click on the tab written 'Browse' on it. A list with more options will be available in front of you.
Step 4
If you want your file to be opened with the same selected program always, then look for the option, 'Always Use the Selected Program to Open this type of File', and hit the cursor on it and then hit the cursor on 'OK' to save this context. Now you can view your file with the new program you have chosen everytime you open that file.
Arun is an expert author of Tech industry and contributes his valuable thoughts for IT industry readers. Free song making website. All above tips must work to how to remove virus from computer, upgrade internet explorer on your Notepad with Check Virus.
Hi,
Basically you need to restore the default File Associations.
When you double-click an .EXE file, the program may not launch, instead it may open in Notepad
(displaying the .exe contents), or may launch in any other application.
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/exeasso.htm
When you run an .exe file on a Windows Vista-based or Windows 7-based computer, the file may
start a different program
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950505
Restore the .exe file association in Windows Vista, after incorrectly associating it with another application
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/165/1/Restore-the-exe-file-association-in-Windows-Vista-after-incorrectly-associating-it-with-another-application.html
Restore Default Windows 7 File Extension Type Associations
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/19449-default-file-type-associations-restore.html
How to Set Default Associations for a Program in Windows 7
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2630-default-programs-set-programs-default-associations.html
How to Unassociate a File Extension Type in Vista and a utility to help (Windows 7 too)
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/91920-unassociate-file-extention-type.html
How to Change the Default Program a File Type Opens With in Windows 7 http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/12196-open-change-default-program.html
How to Associate a File Type or Protocol Default Program in Window 7
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9154-default-programs-associate-file-type-protocol.html
How to Hide or Show Known File Type Extensions in Windows 7
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/10570-file-extensions-hide-show.html#post101629
Hope this helps.
Similar help and support threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
File Association Hello, Recently installed some simple graphic viewer/editor. After installation some image file types open with the program and some not. So opened the 'set associations' tool, selected the file type (extention), some programs were on the default list, only the installed was not. So I clicked on.. | Software | |||
Set file association for a file (dds) to Shell Common that execs it! I accidentally set the default file format for a dds (DirectDraw Surface) to Windows shell common. It tries to execute it but obviously fails giving this error: I've tried everything. Modified registry keys, use slightly different solutions, but I just can't get it working. Does anyone have a fix.. | General Discussion | |||
FLV File Association Since almost every board on the forum is geared for W7, I will ask my question here, even though it is somewhat out of place. I messed up the file association for .flv files XP x64 a while back, and now I can't remember what I did. When I went there a moment ago, it said that I had changed it to.. | Chillout Room | |||
How do I change a file's file type (not only file association)? I need to change a zip file to an epub file. I have heard this can be done, but when I add the .epub after the file name, I notice the file is still actually zip type file when I right click properties. This is causing a problem when I try to open it in in different ebook reader programs. I.. | General Discussion | |||
File association Is there a way to correct file association problems. I've used the 'default programs' feature but it doesn't seem to solve my problem. Also can anyone tell me what 'opendlg' means? | General Discussion |
Possible Duplicate:
How to repair a broken .EXE file association
A system that I'm working on got the Windows 7 Anti-Spyware 2012 virus. Before it was giving to me it had been running a while with it in it. I managed to manual remove it, but before i could terminate it, it managed to mess up all the file associations, including *.com, *.exe.
If you attempt to run anything it comes up with a box asking which program to use. The only to options are Internet Explorer, and Notepad. Now this is messed up for the user only, not the system, Administrator is still intact. It has been a very long time since i have had to mess with the the reg keys for assoc for a user profile..think maybe windows 98. So either i don't remember, location has changed.
Now all this has to be done from the Administrator account to repair. Can anyone help me out with this?
marked as duplicate by Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007, 3498DB, Nifle, ChrisF, studiohack♦Jan 7 '12 at 23:46
This question has been asked before and already has an answer. If those answers do not fully address your question, please ask a new question.
2 Answers
Most programs look up file associations through HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
, which is a merged view of both user and system settings. However, they are stored in two places: HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareClasses
contains user associations, while HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareClasses
contains system-wide associations.
Since your problem only affects one user account, you should be able to fix it by clearing the user's HKCUSoftwareClasses
. This key is kept separately from the rest of HKCU
, in C:UserstonydAppDataLocalMicrosoftWindowsUsrclass.dat
. A quick way of cleaning up user associations would be to find this file and rename it to Usrclass.old
or something like that. (You must do this as an administrator, when the affected user is logged out.)
If you want to browse the associations, you can do so from Registry Editor (regedit
). Select HKEY_USERS, go to File → Load Hive.., select C:UserstonydAppDataLocalMicrosoftWindowsUsrclass.dat
, load it as tonyd_classes
or something like that. (Don't forget to unload it when done editing, otherwise the user won't be able to log in.)
Restore Default File Associations Windows 7
Not sure how to fix them enmass but here is a page you can repair them one at a time
Merge these registry fixes while logged into the user account.