Vista - This is ABSOLUTELY driving me crazy: file type associations/default programs

Hello everyone,

So I had to reformat and reinstall windows vista business x86 because of a corrupt registry and its now a factory fresh install and I spent 2 days installing and customizing everything again. However, I just ran into a very annoying problem that I just can't solve and it is driving me crazy. The problem is this, my default programs/file type associations does NOT work. The problem is multifold.

First, if a file has a strange extension such as .torrent file extension, windows does not recognize it, even after I have installed utorrent and made it my default program to open the files. For some reason, I have to click yes every single time I open utorrent because I don't think it's writing to the registry.

Second, I can't ADD any programs whatsoever to the default programs list. For example, I use firefox as a browser, but when try to open a .html file (I'm a web developer) it opens it with iexplorer.

So I try to change the file type association multiple ways... first I try going to the "Open with" menu and for some reason firefox (or opera, my secondary browser) isn't listed so I click browse to firefox.exe and for some reason it won't let me open it with that program. So then I go into control panel and open the "default programs" and try to change it through that menu but it won't let me open it with firefox or opera.

So the short list of problems:
1. Unable to change file type associations through various methods
2. When a new program is installed, it is SOMETIMES added to the "other programs" list under "open with" menu option. (e.g. adobe photoshop is added, but opera or firefox or utorrent or many other programs aren't added, and can't be manually added)

I have never seen this problem with windows in the 10+ years I've used it. I've installed gladysoft's registry repair to fix it, and no luck with that whatsoever. Can anyone please help me? This is driving me neurotic and I really can't afford to waste more work days reformatting this computer all again and reinstalling every single program i need. Please Help.

Just checking the obvious... You are logged on as an administrator when you
install these programs and change the associations?

"johnation33" wrote:

Same here... it one of the most frustrating things microsoft has served
up in years. There is no handy way to handle your file associations in
vista... they just didn't think about it for some reason.

I had to go through three registry writing processes just to get media
player to open flac and ogg files automatically. I still can't get media
player added to the default player list. The default player list offered
me is completely useless... full of things I would never use.

Hint... look, in the registry, for _auto attached to the extension your
trying to change. I found flac_auto something or other and changing that
seemed to work.

John



johnation33 wrote:

I agree johnation33 - I have the same problem using the "open with" and the
browse in the "open with" menu. In my case it is my Photoshop CS3. What I
finally did was create a shortcut for Photoshop CS3 and put it in my "Send
To". If I have a picture on the desktop, for example, I right click, select
Send To and choose my Photoshop CS3 shortcut.
--
Lynn


"johnation33" wrote:

Registering programs with the "Open With" dialog:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/openwithadd.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com
Winhelponline.com blog http://www.winhelponline.com/blog


"Lynn" <Lynn@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:41E109C6-F913-40E9-A03B-208B185D2433@xxxxxx
I agree johnation33 - I have the same problem using the "open with" and the
browse in the "open with" menu. In my case it is my Photoshop CS3. What I
finally did was create a shortcut for Photoshop CS3 and put it in my "Send
To". If I have a picture on the desktop, for example, I right click, select
Send To and choose my Photoshop CS3 shortcut.
--
Lynn


"johnation33" wrote: