Thread: Setting the default program for file associations

Accidentally selecting an application as the default program for file types during the installation process gives you a ton of headaches. Set the file associations to their former state in a few easy steps.

Associating file types with default programs to open them in is done in two very different ways in Vista and XP. In Vista, there is no 'File types' tab in the 'Folder Options' window, so users familiar with XP may find themselves lost while trying to set default programs. In order to change the setting, right-click on any file and select 'Properties' from the context menu. Click on 'Change' under the 'General' tab and select the new program in the following dialog box. Confirm with 'Apply' and 'OK'. You will get a list of current associations when you double click on the 'Default Programs' icon in the Control Panel and click 'Associate a file type or protocol with a program'. However, it isn't possible to delete an association. This can be done only by changing the relevant registry entries.



This tweaking can be done effortlessly using the free program ExtMan, To use the program, uncompress the downloadable archive, and simply run the file 'Extman. exe'. It does not require any installation. Confirm the User Account Control prompt to start the program, then find the desired file extension in the list and click on 'Delete extension'. Alternatively, you can click 'Edit Extension' and select the 'Open' command from the subsequent dialog box and click 'Delete'. Once you confirm it with 'Yes', the incorrect association or disassociated entry is removed.

If you do not wish to use Extman, then, changes can be made directly in the registry itself. Type 'regedit' in the search field of the Start menu, right-click on the program icon and select 'Run as administrator'. Navigate to the key 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\ Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\ Explorer\FileExts'. Search for and select the key of the relevant file extension, for instance, '.dat'. This can be removed by clicking 'Edit I Delete'. Only the settings of the active user are lost while doing so, ahd the filetype gets disassociated again.