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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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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
    2011-09-08T23:14:38+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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  2. Anonymous
    2011-09-08T15:21:02+00:00

    Even though your post is almost 2 years old it is the only place that had an answer to my problem that WORKED!

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-09-06T22:28:09+00:00

    I had gone through the control panel "associate a file type or protocol with a program" time after time and I had to repeatedly select the file type every time I openned a particular file type.  I tried the process you described.  It took me about 5 minutes because I bumbled around somewhat to begin with.  But once I got the hang of it it is straight-forward and easy.  And the great thing is it worked!  Thank you

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-08-23T17:13:57+00:00

    I had this problem with my upgrade for Adobe CS 5 - CS 5.1/5.5 - glad to finally have it working again. Thanks Xandragnis

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