File Association
eureka125
"Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" checkbox is
grayed out.
How do I change this in RegEdit.
See MS Article ID 555076. This is for Windows Server but it describes my
problem.
I use XP PRO
Thanks
Rick
LFR
"eureka125" wrote:
Is very easy to fix....You need to loging as administrator:
Start- run - regedit - go to the following key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\openas\command
to the rigth you see:
ab (default) REG_EXPAND_SZ "%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe
%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1"
in your case is going to finish in %2 you need to change it back to 1 to do
this right click the ab(default) and select modify....now change only the
number 2 to 1 at the end. close regedit
Now try again to open with, now you will be able to select the check box if
don't restart computer and try again
Wesley Vogel
Uncheck "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" option
by default, for certain file extensions
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/alwaysopen.htm
"Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" checkbox are
grayed out in Windows 2003
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555076
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
In news:2F15EF8A-F25F-4ACB...@microsoft.com,
eureka125 <eure...@discussions.microsoft.com> hunted and pecked:
eureka125
So this won't fix it.
A bit of info: windows opens the file, ie *.xls or *.pdf in the appropriate
ap. But the icon is missing and more importatly the "Always open...." box is
grayed out.
I found the Explorer key in Policies but there was no key like described in
the article 555076.
Rick
LFR
"eureka125" wrote:
try this....
I you encountered a file that windows is not familiar with you need to add
that file;
open folder options: control panel - tools - folder options:
1-on file type tab, click new.
2-In the create New Extension dialog box, type the file extension in the
File Extension field and click ok
4-Locate the new file type at the top of the Registered File types list. In
the open with area, click change to choose the program with wich to open
files of that type.
5-in the windows dialog box, choose Select the program from the list and
click ok
6-in the open with dialog box select the program. (remember that an
installed program must be able to open the file.) exit with ok and close the
folder options
eureka125
"Wesley Vogel" wrote:
The problem does not center on creating the file association. The problem
is that Windows will not allow me to change any file associations.
As I stated originally, the "always use this program.." box is grayed out.
That's the problem.
It's a problem with every file extension.
The knowledge base article that Gordon and I refer to is for Windows server
2003. Looking in the XP registry, at the same location, there is no key with
that name. I search the registry for the name and could not find anything.
Therefore, it doesn't solve my problem.
This all began yesterday when I signed up for Boldchat, a client-based
online chat program. As a prereq to installing their software, I had to
install the.Net framework. Thats when the problem started. After installing
that, my Acrobat and office 2003 files no longer have icons associated with
them. Also, I had to reinstall my office applications because I got a message
saying they would not run for the current user. I am the only user on this
computer. I log in as administrator. After reinstalling the office
applications, they do open. But my problem remains.
Rick
LFR
understand, this may help with your problem:
http://www.informit.com/articles/article.asp?p=415193&rl=1
Wesley Vogel
Try this first.
Automated edit...
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Read the instructions at the top
314. File Associations are Greyed Out
nofileassocundo.reg is the file that you want.
After you merge it into the registry reboot.
-----
Some explanation...
The NoFileAssociate value can exist in either of these keys or both of them.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
and/or
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
HKEY_CURRENT_USER applies only to the current user.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE applies to all users of the computer.
NoFileAssociate
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Data type Range Default value
REG_DWORD 0 | 1 1 (Terminal Services systems)
0 (All other Windows 2000 systems)
Description
Disables the buttons on the File Types tab. As a result, users can view file
type associations, but they cannot add, delete, or change them.
The File Types tab shows which programs open when a type of file is
double-clicked. The file types are represented by their file name extension.
Value Meaning
0 Users can add, delete, and change file type associations.
1 Users cannot add, delete, or change file type associations.
By disabling this tab, you can prevent malicious users from creating an
association that starts a risky or destructive program. Also, users cannot
create less productive associations, such as associating the .doc file type
with Wordpad instead of Microsoft Word. This is a particular risk on
multi-user systems, such as Terminal Services clients.
Note
Although this entry is located in the Policies\Explorer subkey, it is not
associated with a Group Policy included in Windows 2000. You can create a
policy by adding this entry to an Administrative Templates file.
This entry applies to all users of the computer. To set this entry for
particular users, use NoFileAssociate in the HKCU subtree. If the settings
of these entries conflict, the setting in HKCU takes precedence over the
setting in HKLM.
Windows 2000 does not add this entry to the registry. You can add it by
editing the registry or by using a program that edits the registry.
Tip
To see the File Types tab, in My Computer, from the Tools menu, click Folder
Options, and then click the File Types tab. ]]
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reskit/regentry/94215.mspx
NoFileAssociate
HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reskit/regentry/94218.mspx?mfr=true
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
In news:61E7201D-F4FA-4203...@microsoft.com,
eureka125
I now have the keys in HKLM and HKCU in the location specified and value is
"0"
however, box is still greyed out.
Problem not resolve.
Have searched for registry "NoFileAssociate" and found only those two keys.
Any ideas now?
Rick
Wesley Vogel
First, I do not think that there is a problem, other than the icons.
> A bit of info: windows opens the file, ie *.xls or *.pdf in the
appropriate
> ap. But the icon is missing and more importatly the "Always open...." box
is
> grayed out.
Microsoft Works Spreadsheet (wksss.exe) or Excel.exe probably has .xls files
locked
Adobe probably has .pdf locked.
I dumped that POS a long time ago and use FoxitReader.
If you open Folder Options...
Start | Run | Type: control folders | Click OK |
Click the File Types tab | Hit P on your keyboard |
Scroll down a little more to PDF and click on it to select it |
Do you see a Restore button below the Change button? Or do you see an
Advanced button below the Change button?
The Restore button resets the selected extension to the previous file type
and will only be present if you modified the settings of the selected file
type. The Restore button appears in the place of the Advanced button.
Click on Advanced, if present, click the Change Icon button
Change Icon button:
[[Click to change the icon that is associated with this file type.]]
Select an icon from the list below:
[[Shows which icon you are currently using. If other icons are available,
they appear in the list. To change to another icon, click a different one in
the list or type a new file in File name.]]
Browse button:
[[Click to browse through folders to find the file you want.]]
Look for icons in this file box...
[[Specifies the name of the file that contains the icon for this shortcut.
Some files contain more than one icon, and you can select a different icon
from the Current icon list. To use an icon from a different file, type the
file name here, or click Browse to find and select the file.]]
Type the path to \excel.exe in the box and hit Enter.
Hit X on your keyboard and scroll down to XLS.
Do you see a Restore button below the Change button? Or do you see an
Advanced button below the Change button?
Click on Advanced, if present, click the Change Icon button
Change Icon button:
[[Click to change the icon that is associated with this file type.]]
Select an icon from the list below:
[[Shows which icon you are currently using. If other icons are available,
they appear in the list. To change to another icon, click a different one in
the list or type a new file in File name.]]
Browse button:
[[Click to browse through folders to find the file you want.]]
Look for icons in this file box...
[[Specifies the name of the file that contains the icon for this shortcut.
Some files contain more than one icon, and you can select a different icon
from the Current icon list. To use an icon from a different file, type the
file name here, or click Browse to find and select the file.]]
Type the path to \AcroRd32.exe in the box and hit Enter.
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
In news:27BC0212-5750-40FC...@microsoft.com,
eureka125
Thank you for your reply. I was able to reregister the Excel files and now
the icon appears with the file.
I'm in the graphic arts and so I need to use Acrobat Pro. I must say after
using every version since 3 of it version 7 really sucks.
I had to reinstall the program but that reregistered it the extensions in
the Registry .
The only issue that is unsolved is the inability to change any file
associations. And by any, I mean every file association. The box is always
grayed out. Even with "NO file attribute" set properly in the registry. But
these keys are appropriate only when Windows does not know what the file
association is.
I can delete a file association and reestablish file association but the box
will always be grayed out.
Conceptually, the problem is not that Windows does not recognize a file
association properly -- the problem is it will not let me change anY
associations. There must be some other keys that control this.
Rick
Wesley Vogel
spend some time on this. ;-(
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
In news:5798EB96-985F-416C...@microsoft.com,
eureka125
I appreciate your efforts. I guess we can't win them all.
Regards,
undisclosed
Hi folks, sorry for the necropost. This is a drive-by for the benefit of
future users suffering from this problem, as this thread is one of the
highest search results to precisely describe it.
I had this exact same problem: All filetype options grayed out under
admin users or even Administrator, all registry keys present and
correct. The solution I found after lots of searching - whose source
I've unfortunately lost and can't seem to find again - is safe mode. I
rebooted to safe mode, made a change to a filetype and hit OK (and then
immediately put the filetype back to the way it was). One reboot later,
hey presto - whatever switch went wrong was cleared, and I could change
filetypes under admin again. Hope it helps.
(Crossposted 'here'
(http://forums.techarena.in/windows-xp-support/1005546.htm).)
--
Hypocee