Right click 'Open With' Command missing. Help Please.

Anonymous
2009-09-21T20:08:24+00:00

I realised a few days ago that the right click context menu 'open with' command is missing. However its there at the top of the window on the 'menu bar' or whatever.

Not sure how it happened. Maybe when i installed MS .Net Framework 3 SP1 or maybe when I cleaned registry with CCleaner.

I need to get it back please. Could u tell me how??? thanks.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Accessibility

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Anonymous
2009-09-22T12:20:29+00:00

Hi, scurvy:

By design, the Open With menu option is not available when you right-click executable files (.cmd, .bat, .pif, .scf, .exe, .com, or .scr), or shortcuts to executable files.

If you've lost the Open With menu option for ALL file types, including non-executable files, follow this steps:

  1. Click Start, All Programs, Accesories, Notepad.
  2. Copy and paste this text:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Open With]

@="{09799AFB-AD67-11d1-ABCD-00C04FC30936}"

  1. Click File, Save As, name the file "OpenWith.reg" (WITH THE QUOTATION MARKS) and click OK.
  2. Now double-click OpenWith.reg, click Continue, Yes, OK, and see if the problem is solved.

P.S: My personal advice is not to use ANY registry cleaner on the system.


Microsoft MVP Windows Desktop Experience

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-10-07T06:03:30+00:00

    Thanks So Much, Gary

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-03-03T11:46:48+00:00

    nice, worked!!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-01-31T15:19:11+00:00

    You 'default' assosciation has been set to notepad.

    1.Start the windows task manager, file->New Task, type regedit in the box that comes up and click ok.

    2.Navigate to -> HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\cmdfile\shell\open\command

    3.Compare '(default)' key "%1" %*

    If 1 or 2 dont exist create.

    Start the windows task manager, file->New Task, type cmd

    navigate to correct drive and path

    type name of file to be executed

    bit late but hope this helps

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  4. Anonymous
    2011-01-09T02:14:05+00:00

    Hi,

    When you say the "open with" option isn't available for executable files by default, how do you fix the problem when CMD files are being opened by notepad instead of cmd.exe?

    I have some cmd files that are used by an application, and I can't get them to run because notepad keeps coming up instead.

    Thanks,

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