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How to NOT always use this program

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9 replies

by jan de ruiter

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When you double-click on a file with an unknown extension, there will be a popup, which allows one to select the program to use for opening the file. There is also a checkbox: always use this program to open files with this extension, which is default marked.
The problem is, that if you are not sure whether you selected the right program for this file type, and forget to uncheck the box then you are stuck with this choice, and have to find out how to undo this connection.
Is there a way to change the default from checked to unchecked?

9 replies

by chrisms

The simplest way is each time you have to use this option, always ensure the box is unchecked. To undo it if you find you have selected the wong type is:
Open My Computer;
Select tools from the toolbar;
Select folder options; Click on the file type tab;
Make any neccessary changes.
Hope this helps
:-)

by jan de ruiter

Usually I uncheck the box, but sometimes I forget. But if you always uncheck the box (like I do), it is just more convenient to have it default unchecked.
Is that possible for instance via some magical register setting, and if so, how?

by jan de ruiter

Unfortunately it is not that simple to reverse a change. Say I inadvertently connect a .xyz file type to the program powerpoint and it does not work. The I try your suggestion:
Open My Computer;
Select tools from the toolbar;
Select folder options;
Click on the file type tab;
there I will not find my .xyz type. It is probably grouped with some other extension, but I cannot find it under the powerpoint entries either. And I see no way to search for extensions there. There ends my attempt in removing the unwanted association. ?!?

by jackzero

Press down on the SHIFT key and right-click on the file at the same time. It will give you an OPEN WITH choice. Then you can select the program to use again.

by jan de ruiter

Thanks, this allows me to modify the wrong choice
to something else. That's a big improvement.
But I still cannot undo the wrong choice if I
have no clue as to which program to use instead...

And I still don't know how to change that silly
default.

by aclopez5

I tried this on both 2000 and XP. On XP, you will find it in the folder options like ChrisMS mentioned. 2000 didn't. To change it in Windows 2000, go to the properties of one of the ".xyz" files. On the General tab there is a 'Change' button that will do the trick.

by Former member

There's an old DOS command called ASSOC. I believe if you type "assoc .txt=", it will delete the association. FTYPE is a similar command, I would get familiar with both in that they are extremely handy. I haven't used it in years, so forgive my cloudy memory.

by tomsal

But yeah, amazing how handy those DOS commands are even with today's "Superior" operating systems.

;)

by jan de ruiter

I didn't know about these commands.
Judgeing from the help they utter after getting /?
they do just the same, but while ftype didn't see my ill planted connection, assoc did.
Ftype would not remove the connection either, probably because it didn't see it in the first place. Using assoc I removed the connection without problem.
I'll add these to my favorite commands.

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