Problems with "File Association" in Windows 7 64-bit

Anonymous
2009-11-04T02:38:45+00:00

Although I am able to go through the "regular" process to associate a program with an extension it doesn't work.  After going through the browse process and selecting the program it brings me back to the "open with" window.  The program I've selected does not appear in the "open with" window and it appears that it is simply ignoring me.

I've also tried the "Default Programs" route but wind up at the same "open with" window that still ignores me.

Suggestions?


[EDIT]

  1. I've realized that this is probably not the proper forum for this question so feel free to ignore!
  2. I've also realized that this may be an issue with associating extensions with non-64-bit programs and appears to be a non-issue if trying to associate with a 64-bit program... go figure.
Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2009-11-22T16:57:44+00:00

After playing around a lil I think I've figured it out.. [for me at least..]

The program that you're pointing to isn't registered correctly.

In regedit: Navigate to Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applicationsand find your .exe name.

Navigate under its name to shell>open>command. In the Default change its location to the actual location of the executable, hit okay and then try and reassociate the file type as you normally would.

Let me know if that doesn't seem to work.

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-01-07T21:05:47+00:00

    Thanks a lot. This worked.

    I guess when we upgraded from Office 2007 to Office 2010, the path to Excel was not updated.

    Alberto

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-12-22T14:58:33+00:00

    this worked perfectly for me.

    what happened was that i downloaded notepad2, stored it in my documents folder, and then associated text files with it.  i later moved the EXE to C:\Program Files and lost my associations.  when i went to reassociate it, it would simply not appear in the list after i selected it.  the issue was moving it to a new location after registering it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-12-21T07:47:16+00:00

    I tried Xandragnis' solution and it seems to have fixed the problem I had.  I could make the association, change the default program but when I opened the file I still got the "open with" window.  I'd have to do this time and again and then it would "take" and my file would open with the right program, no problem.  Then, a day or two later I'd go through the same thing.  The file association reversed back to what it was. 

    The directions were fairly easy to follow.  I had a little trouble figuring out the shell>open>command part.  I'll let you know if it doesn't work.

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-12-13T20:21:22+00:00

    In regedit: Navigate to Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applicationsand find your**.exe** name.

    Navigate under its name to shell>open>command. In theDefaultchange its location to the actual location of the executable, hitokayand then try and reassociate the file type as you normally would.

    I'm having the same problem as Jennifer and Christopher, but the above solution doesn't apply since the program I want to associate with the file type is not "installed", it's just a "free-floating" .exe file. The file type used to be associated with a program that has since been uninstalled; perhaps that fact is related to the problem.

    Because the "open with" window silently highlights a DIFFERENT program than you selected, in the hidden "Other Programs" section, I accidentally created a permanent association between my file extension and Internet Explorer!

    Also, in the Control Panel "Default Programs" under "Associate a file type or protocol with a program", my file extension is NOT LISTED despite its association with Internet Explorer.

    I tried deleting the registry keys for the extension (HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/.NaviMap and HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/NaviMap_auto_file) but it did not seem to make a difference. Like Jennifer, I'm trying to run a 32-bit program on a 64-bit system.

    Update: I found an icky workaround. Type shell:sendto in the address bar of an Explorer window, then create a shortcut to the program you want to use in the SendTo list. Now, to open your document in the desired program, right click on the document, choose Send To, and then choose the desired program. It's inconvenient, but better than nothing.

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