"Open with...>Choose Program" defaults to Notepad. Any ideas?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Waldo
  • Start date Start date
W

Waldo

When I right-click on a file and choose "Open With...", I get a few choices
and "Choose Program...", under the seperator. When I click on "Choose
program...", the file will open up in Notepad, no matter what kind of file
it is.It does not offer any other choices, as it is meant to do....
This is bumming me out because I have been wanting to double-click some
registry keys(.reg) to fix a different problem I now have, and the keys do
not get sent to the registry, but will only open in Notepad.
Any help much appreciated,
Waldo
 
For one thing it sounds like your reg file association is screwed up...

Windows® XP File Association Fixes
Copyright 2003 - Doug Knox
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

REG File Association Fix (Restore default associations for REG files)

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\openas\command

Is the Command that is run when choosing Open on a unknown file type or choosing Choose Program on a registered file type. It's default value is
%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1

and it must be Reg_Expand_SZ type.
 
David Candy said:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\openas\command

Is the Command that is run when choosing Open on a unknown file type
or choosing Choose Program on a registered file type. It's default
value is %SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe
%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1

and it must be Reg_Expand_SZ type.
Click to expand...

David,
After Unknown, there are no other folders. Do I have to create a new key
with the above data? if so, how do I make it Reg_Expand_SZ type...?
I'm a novice at this registry stuff (but becoming quite knowledgeable):-)
Ciao,
Waldo
 
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/reg/openas.reg
Click to expand...

Ramesh,
Thanks...That did the trick.
Ramesh, do you think you could help with my other problem of permanently,
and globally, clearing the check box in the "run as..." dialog box which
states: "Protect my computer from unauthorized program activity."
It also seems i can't associate ".exe" extension with applications in the
file types dialog box...
I have a feeling all of these are related....
Thanks,
Waldo
 
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