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
    2011-09-24T22:11:26+00:00

    I don't get it where do I find regedit?

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-09-18T07:33:34+00:00

    Thanks very much.

    It works for me.

    I had created a .exe for my own need through Visual Basic Studio 2008 and during debugging time, I associated a .nmea to my .exe located in the Visual Studio Project Library.

    Once, debugged, I put a copy of the .exe in my own specific library and tried unsuccessfully to re-associate the .nmea to this .exe copy.

    Same .exe name but different path...no way: the .nmea remained linked to the one in the Visual Studio Library...until I regedit as described...

    Thks again

    alain

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-09-13T15:41:08+00:00

    Awesome! Thanks so much for posting your fix. This is exactly what went wrong with mine as well.

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-09-08T23:14:38+00:00

    for example remove default association accidentally set notepad to open for .dll file extension.

    HKey_Users\YourIdNumber\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts.dll delete the UserChoice key looks like a folder....

    You could delete a few values from the OpenWithList key also... for example I remove Notepad.exe from the list.

    Now reboot... OR... kill / restart explorer.exe process as below...

    ctrl-alt-delete, start task manager, in task manager... show all processes, rt-click explorer.exe end process... file, new task (run), explorer.exe, press enter. There you go. Now if you look in control panel, default programs, "assocaite a file type of protocal with a program" you will see it is no longer associated. And if you look at a file its icon is no longer set, and also if you double click the file it ask to associate a default program.

    Why no one can answer this, who knows.... but there you go.

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