Windows 7: Q: how to disassociate a program from a file type?

We can open a file with a non-default program by right-clicking the file, selecting "Open with" and browsing to the program. Once selected the program is added to the "Open with" list, for next time.

Also we have great tutorials:
for assigning a program to be the default for opening a filetype:
Default Programs - Associate a File Type or Protocol
for setting the default program for a filetype
Open With - Change Default Program
and for restoring the Windows defaults for many common filetypes:
Default File Type Associations - Restore



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Now, is there any easy way to remove the association or remove the "Open with" entries? We all make mistakes in these selections / associations and, I'm sure, like to recover from them. I have found out the underlying Registry edits, but would prefer a "GUI way".

Try ShellMenuView.

Access and Customize Windows 7's Extended Context Menu - TechSpot

Not quite sure what you mean by 'delete the associations'. You can certainly change the default association simply by choosing another program to open it with in properties. Do you mean not have a default open command at all?

There is no UI method for changing the 'open with' entries. As they're drawn direct from the registry, editing there is the only option. It's probably not beyond the wit of our programming gurus to come up with a program to give this process a graphic interface if you wanted it if one doesn't exist already. Just not sure that the demand would match the effort required.

Actually, this is exactly what ShellmenuView is. It lists all of the programs and the shell extensions. it is a UI, but not a very good one (in my op). I feel like there is another place in the control panel that has an option to change what each program opens with, but I can't place it right now.....(if not then there should be )

Thanks guys - I don't want to change the context menu; rather just undo the mistaken actions that I did.

By "delete the association" I meant go back to the point before I had associated a program with a particular filetype as the default for opening it (without doing a System Restore). So, as you said, no default program at all.

Hello DarkStar,

You can use this to unassociate a file extension in Windows 7.

Unassociate File Extention Type - Vista Forums

Hope this helps,
Shawn

I'm a bit confused, but see this.

An Utility to Unassociate File Types in Windows 7 and Vista

Thanks guys.

So, no Windows way of doing it. Ah well.