Force file associations in Vista through registry?

How do you force associations in Vista using the registry? Or more accurately, for Windows Media Player. The annoying problem is that every time I try to play a media file (mp3, avi, mkv, etc.) the "open with" prompt always pop up.

Things I've done:

- I've tried doing this using "default programs". Windows media player has all of it's defaults. Still shows the "open with" prompt.

- I've tried fixing it in the "open with" prompt, checking the "always open with this program" box. Still shows the prompt.

- I've tried resetting the program access to the default Microsoft configuration. Still shows the prompt.

Basically, even though Windows media player is associated with the file extension, the annoying prompt still appears! This only happens with Windows media player 11. If I assign the extension to another program (i.e. Media player classic) it opens fine when I open a media file, no prompt.

If anyone has a fix for this, It has to be the experts here @ nbr!

 

Did you try... not the regular Default Programs... but the "Set Associations" thing in the control panel? See attached images...

EDIT: Just tried... I associated .mp3 with Windows Media Player this way and it worked fine for me.

 

I pretty much tried everything in the Default Programs window. Windows Media Player shows association with the media file, but every I open one of those files the "open with" prompt still pops up.

There must be something in the modifiable in the registry that forces explorer to open said file with said program.

 

Bump~ still looking for some suggestions ;_;