Problem with command-line switches: Can't open Word by clicking on documents

Hello ShawnVW,

Thank you for visiting the Microsoft Windows Vista Community site.

Try the following:

Method 1: Change File Type Association Directly from the File Properties

1. Right click on a file with the type or extension that want to change its associated application program.
2. Select Properties on right click context menu.
3. In the General tab, click on Change button.
4. An Open With window will appear. Choose a program to open the kind of file from the list of programs available. By default, Recommended Programs is automatically expanded. However, there is more detected programs in the section of Other Programs, which can be expanded to select by clicking on Down Arrow at the end of the separator line.

If the program that want to used as the default program does not found, click Browse to select an executable file manually. 5. Click OK button.

Method 2: Change File Type Association Directly On The Fly

Note that this method works if only several programs have been used to open and run a kind of file type extension previously.

1. Right click on a file with the type or extension that want to change its associated application program.
2. Point to Open With on right click context menu, and then select Choose Default Program.
3. An Open With window will appear. Choose a program to open the kind of file from the list of programs available. By default, Recommended Programs is automatically expanded. However, there is more detected programs in the section of Other Programs, which can be expanded to select by clicking on Down Arrow at the end of the separator line.

If the program that want to used as the default program does not found, click Browse to select an executable file manually. 4. Check and tick the checkbox for Always use the selected program to open this kind of file option. 5. Click OK button. The file association will be set, and the file or document will be opened using the new default program automatically.

Method 3: Assign New File Association via Windows Vista Set Associations

1. Open Control Panel. Then go to Programs and click Make a file type always open in a specific program.

Alternatively, in the Classic View, open Default Programs and then click Associate a file type or protocol with a program. 2. In the Set Associations folder, locate and highlight a file type by extension or protocol, and then click on Change Program button. 3. An Open With window will appear. Choose a program to open the kind of file from the list of programs available. By default, Recommended Programs is automatically expanded. However, there is more detected programs in the section of Other Programs, which can be expanded to select by clicking on Down Arrow at the end of the separator line.

If the program that want to used as the default program does not found, click Browse to select an executable file manually. 4. Click OK button.

I suggest we run a System File Checker which scans for and attempts to fix corrupted System files. - below are the instructions and have Vista Disc ready:

This should resolve your problem.

Let us know if these steps resolve your problem.  I hope the information is useful.

Regards,

Anthony

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

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