Unknown file---association problem

[Norm Katuna]

A few days ago, I asked here about getting back my right click "open
with--choose programs box" and I was sent to Kelly's Korner.

Well, I rummaged around the O section and couldn't not find a thing to help me
get it back.

I called Dell, and they could only suggest a repair reinstall of my XP Pro. I
really don't want to do that If I don't have to. They also said to try back
here again.

Well I just found another glitch that I think is directly related to the first
problem, and I think if I can get this fixed, it will take care of the "open
with--choose program" problem.

Everybody has seen this. You double click on a file that's not associated with
anything and the "box" (choose program) comes up. You know the one that is the
same as in Explorer--->Tools--->Folder Options--->File Types and then allows you
to change your associations.

Well, when I now click on any "unknown" file type, instead of getting the file
type association box (choose program), I get an error message that says Windows
cannot find "C:\path etc.

I just tried this in my Agent directory left clicking on several IDX files and
several bak files and not once did the "box" come up. Only an error message
telling me that windows could not find the file I was clicking on.

So, does anybody know of a way to get the left click ability back for my being
able to choose a program association?

Hopefully I explained things a little better this time around.

Thanks for any help.

Norm K

 

[Kelly]

Hi Norm,

The information you needed was there:

Troubleshooting Open With in XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_o.htm#openwith

This setting allows you to control whether the checkbox to save the "Open
With" program is available when an unknown file type is opened.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\openas\command

To enable the checkbox set the (Default) value to "rundll32.exe
shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1". Return to the desktop and press F5 for the
change to take effect.

~~~

Notepad will be used to open the files by default if no association already
exists.

Open your registry and find the key "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell", if it
doesn't already exist then create it.

Under shell create a new key called open, and edit the string
"(Default)" to read "Open With Notepad".

Under open create a new key called command, and edit the string
"(Default)" to read "notepad.exe %1".

Now when you right click on a file you should see "Open with Notepad"
as one of the options.

Open With Notepad for Files With No Extension (Line 25)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

HOW TO: Specify the Program Used to Open Certain File Types
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q306/5/51.asp

/xp_tweaks.htm

Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/top10faqs.htm