Default program

Cannot select programs to be the default program to open files with.


Right click a .txt file and select open with, I get a choice of wordpad,
notepad or notepad++. If I select 'choose default program...' an error
comes up with 'This file does not have a program associated with it to
perform this action. Please install a program or, if one is already
installed, create an association in the Default Programs control panel'.

Even although three programs are associated with it.

The Default Programs control panel only has certain programs in it to
use as the default (in this case Notepad++ isn't visible, only Wordpad)
and they are either programs that have a default built in to them or
programs I don't want as default.

This happens with other file types, like pdf, mp3, ini, rar, zip....


How do I get Win7 Ultimate to choose the default program without mucking
about editing registry entries all the time?

On Mon, 21 May 2012 19:01:15 +0100, Dex wrote:

> The Default Programs control panel only has certain programs in it to
> use as the default (in this case Notepad++ isn't visible, only Wordpad)
> and they are either programs that have a default built in to them or
> programs I don't want as default.

There is a browse button in the lower right hand corner of the Open with
panel. Use it.

Be careful that that "Always use this program" box is checked or
unchecked the way you want it.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

On 21/05/2012 19:39, Gene E. Bloch wrote:
> On Mon, 21 May 2012 19:01:15 +0100, Dex wrote:
>
>> The Default Programs control panel only has certain programs in it to
>> use as the default (in this case Notepad++ isn't visible, only Wordpad)
>> and they are either programs that have a default built in to them or
>> programs I don't want as default.
>
> There is a browse button in the lower right hand corner of the Open with
> panel. Use it.
>

The open with panel you refer to doesn't appear, just the error.

On Mon, 21 May 2012 19:55:12 +0100, Dex wrote:

> On 21/05/2012 19:39, Gene E. Bloch wrote:
>> On Mon, 21 May 2012 19:01:15 +0100, Dex wrote:
>>
>>> The Default Programs control panel only has certain programs in it to
>>> use as the default (in this case Notepad++ isn't visible, only Wordpad)
>>> and they are either programs that have a default built in to them or
>>> programs I don't want as default.
>>
>> There is a browse button in the lower right hand corner of the Open with
>> panel. Use it.
>>
>
> The open with panel you refer to doesn't appear, just the error.

OK, I see that I didn't properly understand what you said; I apologize
for that.

My only guess is that the related system software is messed up. Running
SFC might help, or even a malware scan might be needed.

*But* your best bet might be to wait for advice from someone else :-)

....Meaning I am not an expert, or even mildly knowledgeable, here.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

"Dex" <> wrote in message news:jpdvta$815$...
> Cannot select programs to be the default program to open files with.
>
>
> Right click a .txt file and select open with, I get a choice of wordpad,
> notepad or notepad++. If I select 'choose default program...' an error
> comes up with 'This file does not have a program associated with it to
> perform this action. Please install a program or, if one is already
> installed, create an association in the Default Programs control panel'.
>
> Even although three programs are associated with it.
>
> The Default Programs control panel only has certain programs in it to
> use as the default (in this case Notepad++ isn't visible, only Wordpad)
> and they are either programs that have a default built in to them or
> programs I don't want as default.
>
> This happens with other file types, like pdf, mp3, ini, rar, zip....
>
>
> How do I get Win7 Ultimate to choose the default program without mucking
> about editing registry entries all the time?
>
>
>

This thread might help:
http://www.vistax64.com/general-disc...ror-vista.html

On 21/05/2012 20:34, Dave-UK wrote:
>
> "Dex" <> wrote in message news:jpdvta$815$...
>> Cannot select programs to be the default program to open files with.
>>
>>
>> Right click a .txt file and select open with, I get a choice of
>> wordpad, notepad or notepad++. If I select 'choose default program...'
>> an error comes up with 'This file does not have a program associated
>> with it to perform this action. Please install a program or, if one is
>> already installed, create an association in the Default Programs
>> control panel'.
>>
>> Even although three programs are associated with it.
>>
>> The Default Programs control panel only has certain programs in it to
>> use as the default (in this case Notepad++ isn't visible, only
>> Wordpad) and they are either programs that have a default built in to
>> them or programs I don't want as default.
>>
>> This happens with other file types, like pdf, mp3, ini, rar, zip....
>>
>>
>> How do I get Win7 Ultimate to choose the default program without
>> mucking about editing registry entries all the time?
>>
>>
>>
>
> This thread might help:
> http://www.vistax64.com/general-disc...ror-vista.html
>
>

I did see that before posting here, but I don't quite understand the
answer given.

He says \DefaultIcon \+shell \+openas \command \+opendlg \command are
subfolders of HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown, but you cant have 2 subfolders
with the same name.

Do all of them have %SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1
in them, or other string values?

In message <jpfb3f$839$>, Dex <> writes:
>On 21/05/2012 20:34, Dave-UK wrote:
>>
>> "Dex" <> wrote in message news:jpdvta$815$...
>>> Cannot select programs to be the default program to open files with.
>>>
>>>
>>> Right click a .txt file and select open with, I get a choice of
>>> wordpad, notepad or notepad++. If I select 'choose default program...'
>>> an error comes up with 'This file does not have a program associated
>>> with it to perform this action. Please install a program or, if one is
>>> already installed, create an association in the Default Programs
>>> control panel'.
>>>
>>> Even although three programs are associated with it.
>>>
>>> The Default Programs control panel only has certain programs in it to
>>> use as the default (in this case Notepad++ isn't visible, only
>>> Wordpad) and they are either programs that have a default built in to
>>> them or programs I don't want as default.
>>>
>>> This happens with other file types, like pdf, mp3, ini, rar, zip....
>>>
As others have said, there should be a browse option at the bottom of
the default list. But another way - though certainly not available with
all software - is to open the software in question, then poke around in
its options to see if there's an "always use this for .pdf files" or
"make this the default for ..." or whatever.
[]
>> This thread might help:
>>
>>http://www.vistax64.com/general-disc...oose-default-p
>>rogram-error-vista.html
[]
>I did see that before posting here, but I don't quite understand the
>answer given.
>
>He says \DefaultIcon \+shell \+openas \command \+opendlg \command are
>subfolders of HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown, but you cant have 2 subfolders
>with the same name.

I suspect the space shouldn't be there, and that that's a registry edit
tip. (It _shouldn't_ be necessary to registry edit to fix this sort of
problem.)
>
>Do all of them have %SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1
>in them, or other string values?
>
>
>
>
>
>
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G.5AL-IS-P--Ch++(p)Ar@T0H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"slowly, I caught the virus of uncertainty." (Fadia Faqir [1998], who came to
Britain from Jordan, with clear views on what she would find - but has stayed.)

"Dex" <> wrote in message news:jpfb3f$839$...
> On 21/05/2012 20:34, Dave-UK wrote:
>>
>> "Dex" <> wrote in message news:jpdvta$815$...
>>> Cannot select programs to be the default program to open files with.
>>>
>>>
>>> Right click a .txt file and select open with, I get a choice of
>>> wordpad, notepad or notepad++. If I select 'choose default program...'
>>> an error comes up with 'This file does not have a program associated
>>> with it to perform this action. Please install a program or, if one is
>>> already installed, create an association in the Default Programs
>>> control panel'.
>>>
>>> Even although three programs are associated with it.
>>>
>>> The Default Programs control panel only has certain programs in it to
>>> use as the default (in this case Notepad++ isn't visible, only
>>> Wordpad) and they are either programs that have a default built in to
>>> them or programs I don't want as default.
>>>
>>> This happens with other file types, like pdf, mp3, ini, rar, zip....
>>>
>>>
>>> How do I get Win7 Ultimate to choose the default program without
>>> mucking about editing registry entries all the time?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> This thread might help:
>> http://www.vistax64.com/general-disc...ror-vista.html
>>
>>
>
> I did see that before posting here, but I don't quite understand the
> answer given.
>
> He says \DefaultIcon \+shell \+openas \command \+opendlg \command are
> subfolders of HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown, but you cant have 2 subfolders
> with the same name.
>
> Do all of them have %SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1
> in them, or other string values?
>


There are two 'command' keys but they are sub-keys of different keys so
they can have the same name.

Here's my HKCR\Unknown tree:
http://www.admin1.myzen.co.uk/Unknown.PNG

And the values are these:

HKCR\Unknown
(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
AlwaysShowExt REG_SZ blank
QueryClassStore REG_SZ blank
TypeOverlay REG_SZ blank

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\DefaultIcon
(Default) REG_Expand_SZ %SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,0

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell
(Default) REG_SZ openas

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\openas
Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
MultiSelectModel REG_SZ Single

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\openas\command
(Default) REG_Expand_SZ
%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1
DelegateExecute REG_SZ {e44e9428-bdbc-4987-a099-40dc8fd255e7}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\opendlg
(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
LegacyDisable REG_SZ blank
MultiSelectModel REG_SZ Single

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\opendlg\command
(Default) REG_Expand_SZ
%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1

On 22/05/2012 11:19, Dave-UK wrote:
>
> "Dex" <> wrote in message news:jpfb3f$839$...
>> On 21/05/2012 20:34, Dave-UK wrote:
>>>
>>> "Dex" <> wrote in message
>>> news:jpdvta$815$...
>>>> Cannot select programs to be the default program to open files with.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Right click a .txt file and select open with, I get a choice of
>>>> wordpad, notepad or notepad++. If I select 'choose default program...'
>>>> an error comes up with 'This file does not have a program associated
>>>> with it to perform this action. Please install a program or, if one is
>>>> already installed, create an association in the Default Programs
>>>> control panel'.
>>>>
>>>> Even although three programs are associated with it.
>>>>
>>>> The Default Programs control panel only has certain programs in it to
>>>> use as the default (in this case Notepad++ isn't visible, only
>>>> Wordpad) and they are either programs that have a default built in to
>>>> them or programs I don't want as default.
>>>>
>>>> This happens with other file types, like pdf, mp3, ini, rar, zip....
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> How do I get Win7 Ultimate to choose the default program without
>>>> mucking about editing registry entries all the time?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> This thread might help:
>>> http://www.vistax64.com/general-disc...ror-vista.html
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> I did see that before posting here, but I don't quite understand the
>> answer given.
>>
>> He says \DefaultIcon \+shell \+openas \command \+opendlg \command are
>> subfolders of HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown, but you cant have 2
>> subfolders with the same name.
>>
>> Do all of them have %SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1
>> in them, or other string values?
>>
>
>
> There are two 'command' keys but they are sub-keys of different keys so
> they can have the same name.
>
> Here's my HKCR\Unknown tree:
> http://www.admin1.myzen.co.uk/Unknown.PNG
>
> And the values are these:
>
> HKCR\Unknown (Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
> AlwaysShowExt REG_SZ blank
> QueryClassStore REG_SZ blank
> TypeOverlay REG_SZ blank
>
> HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\DefaultIcon
> (Default) REG_Expand_SZ %SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,0
>
> HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell
> (Default) REG_SZ openas
>
> HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\openas
> Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
> MultiSelectModel REG_SZ Single
>
> HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\openas\command
> (Default) REG_Expand_SZ %SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe
> %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1
> DelegateExecute REG_SZ {e44e9428-bdbc-4987-a099-40dc8fd255e7}
>
> HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\opendlg
> (Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
> LegacyDisable REG_SZ blank
> MultiSelectModel REG_SZ Single
>
> HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\opendlg\command
> (Default) REG_Expand_SZ
> %SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe
> %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1
>
>

Copied your keys and values, apart from the last one.

When I create HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\opendlg\command it has a
default REG_SZ which I cant delete or rename.

Created another expandable string value REG_EXPAND_SZ with (Default)
name and the rundll32.exe... value

Still getting the error.

I have a 64 bit version of 7 Ultimate if that is any use.

"Dex" <> wrote in message news:jpiuil$p75$...
> Copied your keys and values, apart from the last one.
>
> When I create HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\opendlg\command it has a
> default REG_SZ which I cant delete or rename.
>
> Created another expandable string value REG_EXPAND_SZ with (Default)
> name and the rundll32.exe... value
>
> Still getting the error.
>
> I have a 64 bit version of 7 Ultimate if that is any use.
>

I've checked on a 64 bit box and the keys are the same as 32 bit.
When you say you've copied my reg values that implies something was
missing or different with yours ?

I don't suppose it will make any difference but I've exported the
HKCR\Unknown reg key from a 64 bit Win7 box if you want to try it:
http://www.admin1.myzen.co.uk/Unknown.zip

I'm guessing you've already tried a system restore.
If you create a new temporary account does it still happen there ?