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    This is ABSOLUTELY driving me crazy: file type associations/default programs

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by johnation33, Jan 7, 2008.

  1. johnation33

    johnation33 Notebook Geek

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    Hello everyone,

    So I had to reformat and reinstall windows vista business because of a corrupt registry and its now a factory fresh install and I spent 2 days installing and customizing everything again. However, I just ran into a very annoying problem that I just can't solve and it is driving me crazy. The problem is this, my default programs/file type associations does NOT work. The problem is multifold.

    First, if a file has a strange extension such as .torrent file extension, windows does not recognize it, even after I have installed utorrent and made it my default program to open the files. For some reason, I have to click yes every single time I open utorrent because I don't think it's writing to the registry.

    Second, I can't ADD any programs whatsoever to the default programs list. For example, I use firefox as a browser, but when try to open a .html file (I'm a web developer) it opens it with iexplorer.

    So I try to change the file type association multiple ways... first I try going to the "Open with" menu and for some reason firefox (or opera, my secondary browser) isn't listed so I click browse to firefox.exe and for some reason it won't let me open it with that program. So then I go into control panel and open the "default programs" and try to change it through that menu but it won't let me open it with firefox or opera.

    So the short list of problems:
    1. Unable to change file type associations through various methods
    2. When a new program is installed, it is SOMETIMES added to the "other programs" list under "open with" menu option. (e.g. adobe photoshop is added, but opera or firefox or utorrent or many other programs aren't added, and can't be manually added)

    I have never seen this problem with windows in the 10+ years I've used it. I've installed gladysoft's registry repair to fix it, and no luck with that whatsoever. Can anyone please help me? This is driving me neurotic and I really can't afford to waste more work days reformatting this computer all again and reinstalling every single program i need. Please Help.
     
    johnation33, Jan 7, 2008
    #1
  2. pixelot

    pixelot Notebook Acolyte

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    Hmmmm. I have absolutely no idea if this will help, but you could try making a new account as a test and see if the problem is limited to your account.
     
    pixelot, Jan 7, 2008
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  3. ttupa

    ttupa Tech Elitist NBR Reviewer

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    Have you tried running uTorrent as Administrator. If you do that, it may allow the default program key to write. Give it a shot.
     
    ttupa, Jan 7, 2008
    #3