Vista - Help! Restore default program settings???

This Vista is a royal pain. It is like cooking in someone else's kitchen,
you know the recipe but you don't know where anything is. I have a big
problem here, damn programs that aren't compatible and trying to do
workarounds I screwed up a file extension open with. Now all my dll files
want to open with Adobe, that stupid tick "always" is on by default it seems,
and I didn't notice. I didn't pick adobe BTW, I clicked cancel but it still
selected it. Anyway, the tab to change opening files with what on folder
options is missing and I don't know how to set the default back on this. Any
suggestions what to do? Driving me nuts.
Thanks for your help.
Wendie

bg-/Wendie--

How to Make it Like Your Own Kitchen Fast:

Look the topics up you have issues on in Help on your start menu!!!!! Just
as in XP people refuse to use it. They think it's too unsophisticated for
them--and it's not.

There is not a file associations tab when you type control folders into run
or however you choose toge there--here's how you change file associations in
Vista:


You can modify the settings in Windows so that a specific type of file will
open in a specific program.

If you type file associations in Help search, you'll see this or you can use
guided help where it will do it for you or point you where to click.

Follow the steps below:

Click the Start button, and then click Search.

Use the search and navigation tools in this folder to find the file you want
to change. Right-click the file, and then, depending on the type of file,
either click Open With or point to Open With, and then click Choose Default
Program.

Click the program that you want to use to open this type of file.

Select the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file check
box, and then click OK.

When you double-click that type of file in the future, the file will always
open in the program you selected.


I don't know which "damn programs" aren't compatible with Vista, but there
are fewer and fewer these days. If you are specific, we can try to help.

I have not experienced any Adobe associations tick.

Try a restore point to before this occurred. I'm sorry for the glitch that
happened to you if you didn't choose any file association change.

I also would like for you to run SFC, and if for any reason system restore
does not work, I want you to try a startup repair (you don't have to have
problems starting for it to make major repairs in Vista) and if it doesn't
work system restore from the Win Recovery environment in the same place on
the DVD as startup repair:

Try running SFC (System
File Checker) Run SFC (System File Checker) from an elevated command prompt.
It replaces files that are damaged with intact ones:

Start>right click cmd>run as admin>type at the prompt sfc /scannow.

It is run this way--and it fixes more
things than no boot Vista:

You can run Startup Repair by putting your Vista DVD in after the
language screen in setup. You can also run System Restore from the same
location.

You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
also sometimes effective):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm

Note The computer must be configured to start from a CD or from a DVD. For
information about how to configure the computer to start from a CD or from a
DVD, see the information that came with the computer.
2. Restart the computer. To do this, click Start, click the arrow next to
the Lock button, and then click Restart.

This usually means that you enter bios setup by whatever key or keys
(sometimes there is more than one key that will do it for your model--go to
pc manufacturer site) and configure CD to be first in the boot order.

See for ref:
Access/Enter Motherboard BIOS
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm

Note If you cannot restart the computer by using this method, use the power
button to turn off the computer. Then, turn the computer back on.

3. Set your language preference, and then click Next.

Note In most cases, the startup repair process starts automatically, and you
do not have the option to select it in the System Recovery Options menu.

4. Click Repair your computer.

5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click the operating system
that you want to repair, and then click Next.

6. In the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair to start the
repair process.

7. When the repair process is complete, click Finish.

Additional References for Startup Repair With Screenshots:

How to Use Startup Repair:

***Accessing Windows RE (Repair Environment):***

1) Insert Media into PC (the DVD you burned)

2) ***You will see on the Vista logo setup screen after lang. options in the
lower left corner, a link called "System Recovery Options."***

Screenshot: System Recovery Options (Lower Left Link)
http://blogs.itecn.net/photos/liuhui...4/500x375.aspx

Screenshot: (Click first option "Startup Repair"
http://www.leedesmond.com/images/img...SysRecOpt2.bmp

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm

3) Select your OS for repair.

4) Its been my experience that you can see some causes of the crash from
theWin RE feature:

You'll have a choice there of using:

1) Startup Repair
2) System Restore
3) Complete PC Restore

Good luck,

CH

I would like to congratulate the West Wing in the US for making sure that
there is not near sufficient body armor for Humvees or soldiers in Iraq.
Very bright.

There is an upgrade to IEDs that are more penetrant, consider it IED SP1 or
IED SP2 and the US refuses to purchase the defense that is effective in the
upper 90 percentile from the Israelis because of a favored contract bribed
by American lobbyists.

http://www.elisra.com/site/index.php

"bg" <bg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:A7A5BC46-E07C-4E9C-8A9F-A0C1F0621F3C@microsoft.com...
> This Vista is a royal pain. It is like cooking in someone else's kitchen,
> you know the recipe but you don't know where anything is. I have a big
> problem here, damn programs that aren't compatible and trying to do
> workarounds I screwed up a file extension open with. Now all my dll files
> want to open with Adobe, that stupid tick "always" is on by default it
> seems,
> and I didn't notice. I didn't pick adobe BTW, I clicked cancel but it
> still
> selected it. Anyway, the tab to change opening files with what on folder
> options is missing and I don't know how to set the default back on this.
> Any
> suggestions what to do? Driving me nuts.
> Thanks for your help.
> Wendie

Hey Chad,
Thanks for the help on this. Believe it or not, I did read the help, tried
a couple of searches for restore defaults. I am a firm believer in RTFM! I
got to the window suggested with open with, but I don't have any option for
choose default program. I found the default settings on the menu and tried
it from there too. That is where I am coming up blank. I don't want all my
..dll files associated with Adobe and I can't find anyway to dissassociate
them. I don't want any program associated with them. It probably doesn't
really matter too much as they are just library files and don't need to be
opened independently but I don't want any issues with any program trying to
read them.

This all started with trying to get my mother's Viking HASP dongle working
with 3D Embroidery system. She just got this machine on Sunday and me and
my big mouth said I would get it working for her. I have been reading all
the help files I can find on just getting this thing on the network and file
and print sharing. I've managed to get all that working, but this program is
defeating me. It has issues acknowledged by the manufacturer and I have been
trying the workaround which hasn't worked. I am soldiering on but this
hiccup has set me back. I don't have a system disk to do a repair, only a
recovery partition. Cheapo computer. So after transferring all my mother's
thousands of files of rubbish she saves and photos and such onto this and
setting it up for her, I am loathe to wipe it and start again!

Thanks for your help anyway, back to this damn dongle.

regards

Wendie

"Chad Harris" wrote:

> bg-/Wendie--
>
> How to Make it Like Your Own Kitchen Fast:
>
> Look the topics up you have issues on in Help on your start menu!!!!! Just
> as in XP people refuse to use it. They think it's too unsophisticated for
> them--and it's not.
>
> There is not a file associations tab when you type control folders into run
> or however you choose toge there--here's how you change file associations in
> Vista:
>
>
> You can modify the settings in Windows so that a specific type of file will
> open in a specific program.
>
> If you type file associations in Help search, you'll see this or you can use
> guided help where it will do it for you or point you where to click.
>
> Follow the steps below:
>
> Click the Start button, and then click Search.
>
> Use the search and navigation tools in this folder to find the file you want
> to change. Right-click the file, and then, depending on the type of file,
> either click Open With or point to Open With, and then click Choose Default
> Program.
>
> Click the program that you want to use to open this type of file.
>
> Select the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file check
> box, and then click OK.
>
> When you double-click that type of file in the future, the file will always
> open in the program you selected.
>
>
> I don't know which "damn programs" aren't compatible with Vista, but there
> are fewer and fewer these days. If you are specific, we can try to help.
>
> I have not experienced any Adobe associations tick.
>
> Try a restore point to before this occurred. I'm sorry for the glitch that
> happened to you if you didn't choose any file association change.
>
> I also would like for you to run SFC, and if for any reason system restore
> does not work, I want you to try a startup repair (you don't have to have
> problems starting for it to make major repairs in Vista) and if it doesn't
> work system restore from the Win Recovery environment in the same place on
> the DVD as startup repair:
>
> Try running SFC (System
> File Checker) Run SFC (System File Checker) from an elevated command prompt.
> It replaces files that are damaged with intact ones:
>
> Start>right click cmd>run as admin>type at the prompt sfc /scannow.
>
> It is run this way--and it fixes more
> things than no boot Vista:
>
> You can run Startup Repair by putting your Vista DVD in after the
> language screen in setup. You can also run System Restore from the same
> location.
>
> You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
> also sometimes effective):
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us
>
> How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
> http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm
>
> Note The computer must be configured to start from a CD or from a DVD. For
> information about how to configure the computer to start from a CD or from a
> DVD, see the information that came with the computer.
> 2. Restart the computer. To do this, click Start, click the arrow next to
> the Lock button, and then click Restart.
>
> This usually means that you enter bios setup by whatever key or keys
> (sometimes there is more than one key that will do it for your model--go to
> pc manufacturer site) and configure CD to be first in the boot order.
>
> See for ref:
> Access/Enter Motherboard BIOS
> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm
>
> Note If you cannot restart the computer by using this method, use the power
> button to turn off the computer. Then, turn the computer back on.
>
> 3. Set your language preference, and then click Next.
>
> Note In most cases, the startup repair process starts automatically, and you
> do not have the option to select it in the System Recovery Options menu.
>
> 4. Click Repair your computer.
>
> 5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click the operating system
> that you want to repair, and then click Next.
>
> 6. In the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair to start the
> repair process.
>
> 7. When the repair process is complete, click Finish.
>
> Additional References for Startup Repair With Screenshots:
>
> How to Use Startup Repair:
>
> ***Accessing Windows RE (Repair Environment):***
>
> 1) Insert Media into PC (the DVD you burned)
>
> 2) ***You will see on the Vista logo setup screen after lang. options in the
> lower left corner, a link called "System Recovery Options."***
>
> Screenshot: System Recovery Options (Lower Left Link)
> http://blogs.itecn.net/photos/liuhui...4/500x375.aspx
>
> Screenshot: (Click first option "Startup Repair"
> http://www.leedesmond.com/images/img...SysRecOpt2.bmp
>
> How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
> http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm
>
> 3) Select your OS for repair.
>
> 4) Its been my experience that you can see some causes of the crash from
> theWin RE feature:
>
> You'll have a choice there of using:
>
> 1) Startup Repair
> 2) System Restore
> 3) Complete PC Restore
>
> Good luck,
>
> CH
>
> I would like to congratulate the West Wing in the US for making sure that
> there is not near sufficient body armor for Humvees or soldiers in Iraq.
> Very bright.
>
> There is an upgrade to IEDs that are more penetrant, consider it IED SP1 or
> IED SP2 and the US refuses to purchase the defense that is effective in the
> upper 90 percentile from the Israelis because of a favored contract bribed
> by American lobbyists.
>
> http://www.elisra.com/site/index.php
>
> "bg" <bg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:A7A5BC46-E07C-4E9C-8A9F-A0C1F0621F3C@microsoft.com...
> > This Vista is a royal pain. It is like cooking in someone else's kitchen,
> > you know the recipe but you don't know where anything is. I have a big
> > problem here, damn programs that aren't compatible and trying to do
> > workarounds I screwed up a file extension open with. Now all my dll files
> > want to open with Adobe, that stupid tick "always" is on by default it
> > seems,
> > and I didn't notice. I didn't pick adobe BTW, I clicked cancel but it
> > still
> > selected it. Anyway, the tab to change opening files with what on folder
> > options is missing and I don't know how to set the default back on this.
> > Any
> > suggestions what to do? Driving me nuts.
> > Thanks for your help.
> > Wendie
>
>

Most likely you ended up with an entry in the registry under:

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.dll

If that key has a subkey named 'UserChoice', delete it. Log off & back on &
dlls should look normal again.


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

"bg" <bg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B3592777-E6EB-4EEB-85C5-059F1C735A16@microsoft.com...
>
> Hey Chad,
> Thanks for the help on this. Believe it or not, I did read the help,
> tried
> a couple of searches for restore defaults. I am a firm believer in RTFM!
> I
> got to the window suggested with open with, but I don't have any option
> for
> choose default program. I found the default settings on the menu and
> tried
> it from there too. That is where I am coming up blank. I don't want all
> my
> .dll files associated with Adobe and I can't find anyway to dissassociate
> them. I don't want any program associated with them. It probably doesn't
> really matter too much as they are just library files and don't need to be
> opened independently but I don't want any issues with any program trying
> to
> read them.
>
> This all started with trying to get my mother's Viking HASP dongle working
> with 3D Embroidery system. She just got this machine on Sunday and me
> and
> my big mouth said I would get it working for her. I have been reading all
> the help files I can find on just getting this thing on the network and
> file
> and print sharing. I've managed to get all that working, but this program
> is
> defeating me. It has issues acknowledged by the manufacturer and I have
> been
> trying the workaround which hasn't worked. I am soldiering on but this
> hiccup has set me back. I don't have a system disk to do a repair, only
> a
> recovery partition. Cheapo computer. So after transferring all my
> mother's
> thousands of files of rubbish she saves and photos and such onto this and
> setting it up for her, I am loathe to wipe it and start again!
>
> Thanks for your help anyway, back to this damn dongle.
>
> regards
>
> Wendie
>
> "Chad Harris" wrote:
>
>> bg-/Wendie--
>>
>> How to Make it Like Your Own Kitchen Fast:
>>
>> Look the topics up you have issues on in Help on your start menu!!!!!
>> Just
>> as in XP people refuse to use it. They think it's too unsophisticated
>> for
>> them--and it's not.
>>
>> There is not a file associations tab when you type control folders into
>> run
>> or however you choose toge there--here's how you change file associations
>> in
>> Vista:
>>
>>
>> You can modify the settings in Windows so that a specific type of file
>> will
>> open in a specific program.
>>
>> If you type file associations in Help search, you'll see this or you can
>> use
>> guided help where it will do it for you or point you where to click.
>>
>> Follow the steps below:
>>
>> Click the Start button, and then click Search.
>>
>> Use the search and navigation tools in this folder to find the file you
>> want
>> to change. Right-click the file, and then, depending on the type of file,
>> either click Open With or point to Open With, and then click Choose
>> Default
>> Program.
>>
>> Click the program that you want to use to open this type of file.
>>
>> Select the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file
>> check
>> box, and then click OK.
>>
>> When you double-click that type of file in the future, the file will
>> always
>> open in the program you selected.
>>
>>
>> I don't know which "damn programs" aren't compatible with Vista, but
>> there
>> are fewer and fewer these days. If you are specific, we can try to help.
>>
>> I have not experienced any Adobe associations tick.
>>
>> Try a restore point to before this occurred. I'm sorry for the glitch
>> that
>> happened to you if you didn't choose any file association change.
>>
>> I also would like for you to run SFC, and if for any reason system
>> restore
>> does not work, I want you to try a startup repair (you don't have to have
>> problems starting for it to make major repairs in Vista) and if it
>> doesn't
>> work system restore from the Win Recovery environment in the same place
>> on
>> the DVD as startup repair:
>>
>> Try running SFC (System
>> File Checker) Run SFC (System File Checker) from an elevated command
>> prompt.
>> It replaces files that are damaged with intact ones:
>>
>> Start>right click cmd>run as admin>type at the prompt sfc /scannow.
>>
>> It is run this way--and it fixes more
>> things than no boot Vista:
>>
>> You can run Startup Repair by putting your Vista DVD in after the
>> language screen in setup. You can also run System Restore from the same
>> location.
>>
>> You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
>> also sometimes effective):
>>
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us
>>
>> How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
>> http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm
>>
>> Note The computer must be configured to start from a CD or from a DVD.
>> For
>> information about how to configure the computer to start from a CD or
>> from a
>> DVD, see the information that came with the computer.
>> 2. Restart the computer. To do this, click Start, click the arrow next to
>> the Lock button, and then click Restart.
>>
>> This usually means that you enter bios setup by whatever key or keys
>> (sometimes there is more than one key that will do it for your model--go
>> to
>> pc manufacturer site) and configure CD to be first in the boot order.
>>
>> See for ref:
>> Access/Enter Motherboard BIOS
>> http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm
>>
>> Note If you cannot restart the computer by using this method, use the
>> power
>> button to turn off the computer. Then, turn the computer back on.
>>
>> 3. Set your language preference, and then click Next.
>>
>> Note In most cases, the startup repair process starts automatically, and
>> you
>> do not have the option to select it in the System Recovery Options menu.
>>
>> 4. Click Repair your computer.
>>
>> 5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click the operating system
>> that you want to repair, and then click Next.
>>
>> 6. In the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair to start the
>> repair process.
>>
>> 7. When the repair process is complete, click Finish.
>>
>> Additional References for Startup Repair With Screenshots:
>>
>> How to Use Startup Repair:
>>
>> ***Accessing Windows RE (Repair Environment):***
>>
>> 1) Insert Media into PC (the DVD you burned)
>>
>> 2) ***You will see on the Vista logo setup screen after lang. options in
>> the
>> lower left corner, a link called "System Recovery Options."***
>>
>> Screenshot: System Recovery Options (Lower Left Link)
>> http://blogs.itecn.net/photos/liuhui...4/500x375.aspx
>>
>> Screenshot: (Click first option "Startup Repair"
>> http://www.leedesmond.com/images/img...SysRecOpt2.bmp
>>
>> How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
>> http://www.windowsvista.windowsreins...rtup/index.htm
>>
>> 3) Select your OS for repair.
>>
>> 4) Its been my experience that you can see some causes of the crash from
>> theWin RE feature:
>>
>> You'll have a choice there of using:
>>
>> 1) Startup Repair
>> 2) System Restore
>> 3) Complete PC Restore
>>
>> Good luck,
>>
>> CH
>>
>> I would like to congratulate the West Wing in the US for making sure that
>> there is not near sufficient body armor for Humvees or soldiers in Iraq.
>> Very bright.
>>
>> There is an upgrade to IEDs that are more penetrant, consider it IED SP1
>> or
>> IED SP2 and the US refuses to purchase the defense that is effective in
>> the
>> upper 90 percentile from the Israelis because of a favored contract
>> bribed
>> by American lobbyists.
>>
>> http://www.elisra.com/site/index.php
>>
>> "bg" <bg@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:A7A5BC46-E07C-4E9C-8A9F-A0C1F0621F3C@microsoft.com...
>> > This Vista is a royal pain. It is like cooking in someone else's
>> > kitchen,
>> > you know the recipe but you don't know where anything is. I have a big
>> > problem here, damn programs that aren't compatible and trying to do
>> > workarounds I screwed up a file extension open with. Now all my dll
>> > files
>> > want to open with Adobe, that stupid tick "always" is on by default it
>> > seems,
>> > and I didn't notice. I didn't pick adobe BTW, I clicked cancel but it
>> > still
>> > selected it. Anyway, the tab to change opening files with what on
>> > folder
>> > options is missing and I don't know how to set the default back on
>> > this.
>> > Any
>> > suggestions what to do? Driving me nuts.
>> > Thanks for your help.
>> > Wendie
>>
>>

Wendie,

Do you have the 3D Embroidery Software working on a Vista machine? I intalled the software, but when I use it, I get the message, no dongle attached, cannot open program. Did work out a solution to the problem?

ma20615