Awkward Problem with Windows XP URL:File Protocol

[bradyfan123]

For some reason I can't use the "always open this file with this application" option when I open a file..all my files look the same now so its a bit confusing. Usually when I right click and click open with, I could select an app and click the "always open with this app" option but now i cant, and when I right click on the file, for example a .wmv or a .txt notepad file, and click properties..the change option for "open this file with..." is not even there. And it says in "type of file": URL:File Protocol for all of the files that have this problem. Very wierd problem. Thanks for any help.

 

[PC Hobbyist]

It sounds like some registry glitch. Unfortunately I don't know of a single solution to apply to all of the file types affected at once.

So, try this instead:

1. Open my computer
2. click on tools then on Folder Options
3. click on the "file types" tab
4. now, find the extensions to the affected file types and click on the "change" button to set what application to use when opening that file type. Hint: press letters on the keyboard to jump to that letter on the list for quick scrolling.
5. if you want to, you can also click the advanced button to see if you want to make some changes there too.

I hope that fixes it.


EDIT--------

I just found these links that might help you get the job done quicker. You basically want to restore the default file associations in windows. I typed that into google and found these links.

http://dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_easy_file.htm
That is the best link. You can download this .bat file from that website that will restore the file associations to what Windows XP shipped with. Other file associations from 3rd party programs will have to be changed how I explained above.

Here are two more links, but if you use the .bat file from the link above, then you won't really need these:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/imgassofix.htm
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm