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
    2012-02-03T19:55:51+00:00

    Yes, your solution works for me. Thanks for the post!

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  2. Anonymous
    2012-01-25T15:54:44+00:00

    For those for whom the registry fix didn't help - I suggest you try the 3rd party file association tool below.  No guarantees it will resolve it, but worth a try.  I'd appreciate feedback on the result.

    FileTypesMan

    http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/file\_types\_manager.html

    AWWWH YES!!!

    GTS-NJ you are my hero !

    I've spent a very long time looking for a solution to the problem where the registry fix posted by "Xandragnis" on November 22, 2009 was completely useless.

    The "File Types Manager" tool helped me correct the issue by allowing me to compare all the settings of extensions that did work to the ones that didn't and correcting the differences.

    • I had problems with .XLS files not opening with the Excel 2010 on my Windows 7/64.
    • I also had text files with a .WZF extension where when I tried to change the associated application from Notepad to Notepad++ it would ignore my change request.

    Editing both through File Type Manager solved the problem for me.  It's too bad that I needed a 3rd-party tool to do this and the Microsoft tool (i.e. "Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Default Programs\Set Associations") hasn't been fixed yet.

    Regards,

    Leadfoot

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-01-25T14:09:06+00:00

    That didn't work.  The exe name in that branch was already correct.

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  4. Anonymous
    2012-01-18T16:33:12+00:00

    Thank you, thank you, Thank. You.

    I have no idea why Microsoft decided to add this, because it breaks file associations so often for me. So thank you so much for showing us where to go.

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