MS Server 2003 Problem - bat file association

Hawaiian · 30 May 2012

I rebuilt a dell 1855 server with MS 2003sp2. During configurations I accidently associated bat file extentions to notepad and can not run bat files. Any assistance is really appreciated.

Thanks ahead of time.

V43L1N · 31 May 2012

Hey Hawaiian,

I think I can lend a hand here. To change file type associations in Win2K3:

-Right-click on any file and select Open With....
-Or, right-click on any file, select Properties, and then click Change.

Both of these should allow you to change default associations.

If these don't work for you let me know and I'll see what else I can dig up.
~V

arkhi · 31 May 2012

Would this work?

Code:

 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.bat]
@="batfile"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.bat\PersistentHandler]
@="{5e941d80-bf96-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile]
@="MS-DOS Batch File"
"EditFlags"=hex:30,04,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\DefaultIcon]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
  00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,00,68,00,\
  65,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,31,00,35,\
  00,33,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shell]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shell\edit]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shell\edit\command]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
  00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,4e,00,4f,00,\
  54,00,45,00,50,00,41,00,44,00,2e,00,45,00,58,00,45,00,20,00,25,00,31,00,00,\
  00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shell\open]
"EditFlags"=hex:00,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shell\open\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shell\print]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shell\print\command]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
  00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,4e,00,4f,00,\
  54,00,45,00,50,00,41,00,44,00,2e,00,45,00,58,00,45,00,20,00,2f,00,70,00,20,\
  00,25,00,31,00,00,00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shellex]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shellex\DropHandler]
@="{86C86720-42A0-1069-A2E8-08002B30309D}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\PifProps]
@="{86F19A00-42A0-1069-A2E9-08002B30309D}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shellex\PropertySheetHandlers\ShimLayer Property Page]
@="{513D916F-2A8E-4F51-AEAB-0CBC76FB1AF8}"

HKCU Portion, just in case MSServer2003 has it

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.bat]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.bat\OpenWithList]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.bat\OpenWithProgids]
"batfile"=hex(0):

Hawaiian · 03 Jun 2012

Thanks V43L1N and Arkhi !!! The registry files are the ticket!

I will backup the registry tomorrow at work and run the two reg files. I'm guessing I need to run batch file assoc first then the HCHU reg file.?.

Not ashamed to say I am new to this and really do appreciate all your help. This is the first server I ever rebuilt from scratch. Built one head guess and brain drain at a time. I had to replace both Raid 1 HDD's which meant it was actually a total rebuild from scratch. Worse was I had never setup a Raid drive. It was kool but a lot of head scratching and several pots of coffee and 5-Hour energy bottles.

All was good until I started doing the server lock-downs from a different server built document. Which told me to associate the .bat extension to notepad.exe. After that when i entered a bat file to execute it would only open it in notepad (duh me - thats what i had changed it too and thats when I realized I screwed the pooch).

When I searched the registry there was no .bat or batfile entries. That meant no way to know for sure what to put in the file associations fields to (re-)associate how the entry's were run when the bat file was run from the command prompt.. i.e. what program(s) open/run a batch file command.

What I have managed to do to date is - Currently I can run the bat file but all it does is bring up the command prompt. Then I have to retype the command at the command prompt instead of it running as it should the first time it was input in the Run command.

V43L1N · 04 Jun 2012

That is strange, so the command prompt is not running the batch files, It just opens a command prompt and waits for input?

Have you used the batch file on other systems successfully? It sounds like the batch file you are using is a little off. If you have, I am out of ideas.

I will ask some of the senior members to take a look at this thread when you reply.

Hawaiian · 04 Jun 2012

The batch runs normally on other systems.

Since I had to unassociate the .bat extenstion it wiped all the fields. It also wiped out the registrys entries for "batfile". I am hoping that running your reg file and HKCU keys should reset everything back to normal. ? .

The command to run the "run" is "%1" %* that much I do know. The "runs with application" field was changed when it was "unassociated" and that is what calls and executes the run command. I don't know what to put in there. Just the command it call to "run" is what I dont know. And of course the other commands for "edit" and "print".

arkhi · 04 Jun 2012

Okay, let's be sure here. Run the regedit file below FIRST. This removes bat file entries so you can start with new ones. After you do that, run the two reg files I have above. It doesn't matter what order. Restart computer and let us know.

Thanks

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
 
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.bat]
[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.bat]

Hawaiian · 06 Jun 2012

It Worked!! Thanks bunches!!

You're Awesome !!