File Associations

[Gina Stevenson]

Wrote in another thread (but under "registry," since they're related), but decided to mention more specifically the file association function, since we may be getting closer to resolution?

Since I couldn't figure how to add back .EXE and then tell it what "actions" to take, I checked another file type:

Under MIDI re type, it says, "MIDI sequence.".
In box denoting "Action," it says: "Open, Play."

So, am wondering if I should, to fix .EXEs, call it: "Application," and then under "Action" just say: "Open" ... ?? [or, would there be something else after open to add, tho' it would not be "play" like the above example.

Thanks much!

[Gina Stevenson]

... what it says in their "Folders"/"File Associations"/etc area [found in CTRL panel] to see what all it says in the various boxes re .EXE suffix files?

Thank you!

[Jon Twitchell]

... what it says in their "Folders"/"File Associations"/etc area [found in CTRL panel] to see what all it says in the various boxes re .EXE suffix files?

Thank you!

I don't think .exe files GET a file association. My computer (Windows 7) doesn't list .exe in the list of extensions in the file associations area.

[Gina Stevenson]

OK, so then if they don't appear in the file association list (is it the same in XP, which I have, I wonder?), what else do I do now?

Thank you.

[Gina Stevenson]

I don't think .exe files GET a file association. My computer (Windows 7) doesn't list .exe in the list of extensions in the file associations area.

OK, looks like there is a place to specify a file association for .exe's. Just had a box pop up telling me that the Adobe Reader (.exe ending) does not have anything associated with it, and I am to "create a file association in the File Folders in Control Panel." (may not be exact words, since it's gone now while I'm tying this, but you get the idea)

So, anyone? Help! I tried to type into the description area "Application." Is that not what .exe files are normally called? OK. And then in the "Action" area, I tried to add "Open," and it did not like it. Maybe it has to be "Open," and then "Run"? What? Not having success trying to google such questions!

Again, thank you!

[Randy Wise]

This may or may not be your fix. But its from a trustworthy source.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310585

[Gina Stevenson]

Know what, Randy? Got so frustrated, I got to that point of trying just about anything ... and learned a bit more about the Folder Options in Control Panel. Decided to try again adding .EXE suffix to the mix, as it wasn't there. Then, clicking on "Advance," instead of just "OK," learned there was a miles long list of things to pick from re file types. At first couldn't decide if I wanted to choose "Application" or "Setup" something or other, since when you DL a program, it has an .EXE ending when you still have to install it/set it up. Yet, when you search for something in a list, the one to use after it's been installed is the one called "Application." So, anyway, we went with that one. NOW, I've opened a couple of things I couldn't open before.

However, all the silly .EXEs have this icon that looks like WordPad, so would like to just be able to wipe that out universally and tell them to go back to their original icons. BUT don't think -- unless there's something else I don't know -- that's possible. If it is, that would be nice.

Thank you.

ETA, think the reason I just had to keep trying even without finding where/how to do it/fix it is because I just couldn't stand the tho't of having to do another recovery deal where you lose sooooooooo much!

[Gina Stevenson]

Still can't get to some files to use them [due to this "association" problem that accidentally got messed up]. 'Twas mentioned to do a "restore." Well, finally did try that, and each and every date I tried, going back as far as it would let me [about 90 days, I think it was], it would look like it was doing it, but then pop up a message when it stopped saying that the "restore was not able to be completed."

Looks like, rather than a "restore" fixing the register/file associations back to that time, it wants the register fixed so that it can actually "restore" in other ways. Ugh!

Is this how it works, or am I missing sometihng yet? Thanks!

[Randy Wise]

Its a easy fix. Do you own a hammer?

R.

[Gina Stevenson]

Hey! I own a hammer, but not tons of $$$ to replace this thing after a hammer trick.

Anyone have a better-than-a-hammer idea yet? Would be nice to use some of these programs that seem messed up b/c .exe got messed up accidentally when one of those "Open with ..." options popped up.

OK, so if you want to use something ELSE to open something other than to which it defaults, how do you get it to ask you "OPEN WITH" rather than just "OPEN" so you can change the thing "with" which something opens?

[Randy Wise]

Hey! I own a hammer, but not tons of $$$ to replace this thing after a hammer trick.

Anyone have a better-than-a-hammer idea yet? Would be nice to use some of these programs that seem messed up b/c .exe got messed up accidentally when one of those "Open with ..." options popped up.

OK, so if you want to use something ELSE to open something other than to which it defaults, how do you get it to ask you "OPEN WITH" rather than just "OPEN" so you can change the thing "with" which something opens?

You can try this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555067

[Gina Stevenson]

First thing it says is that when you do "command.com" in the "run" box, a DOS box will apear. Well, that does not even work. So, I looked in programs/accessories, and there was a "command prompt." Well, the box will not appear from there, either.

It did from one of those places ask if I wanted to choose it from a list [how to open it/with what], or if I wanted it to find it on the web. BUT, having tried the "find it on the web" thing before .......

Oh, dear!

[Randy Wise]

First thing it says is that when you do "command.com" in the "run" box, a DOS box will apear. Well, that does not even work. So, I looked in programs/accessories, and there was a "command prompt." Well, the box will not appear from there, either.

It did from one of those places ask if I wanted to choose it from a list [how to open it/with what], or if I wanted it to find it on the web. BUT, having tried the "find it on the web" thing before .......

Oh, dear!

If you can get regedit.EXE to open then you don't need to copy and rename the file with>COM. I think the instructions assume you can't run any .exe programs.

Randy

[Gina Stevenson]

OK, it tells me that this is not a valid file, this regedit32, with or without .exe or .com on the end of it. Oh, wait a minute! It does not have an "i" in it in this example, does it? We'll try again.

ANYWAY, before we saw this, Randy, we were trying and trying to get the DOS box up there. Forget now how I did it, but I did manage to have it up there for a couple of seconds before it would disappear. Got it up there a 2nd time, only to disappear quickly, also.

We're getting a bit closer, maybe, having at least gotten the box to appear? Huh?

ETA: We now have "REGISTRY EDITOR" open!! Yea!!

But I'm scared to touch it, lest I really mess it up. Have read various places where it suggests to do this, that or the other to correct this .exe problem. But, since it seems to vary, or is weird enough I'm not sure what they're saying, I've not done so.

Next step, now that it's OPEN!? BTW, now that I see what it looks like, I did have it open before while reading on how to fix it ... didn't dare, and closed it again.

SOME have opened by clicking on the file to open. When it does not open, you go to properties and some [while not all, so not sure why!] give you a "find target" button to click on, and then it pops up highlighted and will open from the "target," while you were already clicking on what was supposed to be the file itself. Whateeeeeverrr ....................

Thank you!

ETA: again to mention that when it won't open, and you can't find something to open it on the list, and do the "search the web" deal, it even comes up "unknown type," rather than Windows recognizing it as an "exe" file. Tho't they should be recognized, in spite of the "open with" being a bit messed up at the moment. Strange ???

[Gina Stevenson]

OK. Did this registry scanner thing ... again. Says there are hundreds of errors(??). Says you can fix 25 for free. If you can pick them, that might be OK. Have to go back and find out if they pick or if you pick.

You can't pick, so rather worthless, I guess. It's just one of those "hooks" ... oh, well.

[Gina Stevenson]

Keep browsing, and not finding quite the place to tell me how to fix the file association/registry so that they'll automatically do what they're supposed to do (files). Did finally get WinUtilities to open last night, again in an unconventional way, and after it was on for 5-6 hours, it's about 80% done, hasn't been defragged in so long!

Anyway, a lot of what I find says it's either for Windows 7 or Vista (on Microsoft's site). They're leaving XP folks behind, it seems. Really need to fix up this XP ... vehicular things prevail now, not computer issues.