How do you reverse the "Always Use This Program" error?


  1. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 64-bit
       #1

    How do you reverse the "Always Use This Program" error?


    I went to open a video, and when it asked me what program I wanted to use to open it, I clicked Windows Media Player.

    But I forgot to un-check the "Always Use This Program to Open This Type of File" box, and this resulted in a very annoying problem:

    Every item on my desktop is now a Windows Media Player icon, and worst of all: when I click on one of those shortcuts, it opens Windows Media Player--not the actual program or shortcut!

    Same with the taskbar--all the icons are now WMP icons.

    Is there some feature or command I can use to "revert" everything back to the icon it's supposed to be, and allow my shortcuts and files to open normally again?

    Thanks for your help!
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 6,243
    win 7 ultimate32bit, Win8.1pro wmc 32bit
       #2

    zweebie said:
    I went to open a video, and when it asked me what program I wanted to use to open it, I clicked Windows Media Player.

    But I forgot to un-check the "Always Use This Program to Open This Type of File" box, and this resulted in a very annoying problem:

    Every item on my desktop is now a Windows Media Player icon, and worst of all: when I click on one of those shortcuts, it opens Windows Media Player--not the actual program or shortcut!

    Same with the taskbar--all the icons are now WMP icons.

    Is there some feature or command I can use to "revert" everything back to the icon it's supposed to be, and allow my shortcuts and files to open normally again?

    Thanks for your help!
    Hi zweebie , Welcome to the forums, Right click on the offending file and select "open with" select the prog you want to open with t, then put you check mark on
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    pebbly said:
    Hi zweebie , Welcome to the forums, Right click on the offending file and select "open with" select the prog you want to open with t, then put you check mark on
    Thanks for your reply. I've tried that solution already: it changes all my icons to whatever I check.

    And even if that solution did work, I would have to do it 100 individual times, since all my icons are changed. But that's a moot point because it doesn't work.

    What I need is a way to reset it completely, or "undo" it. Does such a thing exist?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 14,606
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7600
       #4

    what about system restore ? you could try that
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 2,344
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #5

    Go to Control Panel/default programs and set it to default in there
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 6,243
    win 7 ultimate32bit, Win8.1pro wmc 32bit
       #6
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Thank you all for your help. I was able to restore yesterday's settings by using the System Restore feature, as boobah recommended, using tutorials I found through pebbly's links.

    I had never done this process before, so it was a good learning experience. Thanks again, you guys are awesome.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 14,606
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7600
       #8

    zweebie said:
    Thank you all for your help. I was able to restore yesterday's settings by using the System Restore feature, as boobah recommended, using tutorials I found through pebbly's links.

    I had never done this process before, so it was a good learning experience. Thanks again, you guys are awesome.
    Thats good news , sorry i didn't realise or i would have been more explicit with system restore howto. dont be afraid to ask we like to help!
    welcome to seven forums stick around there is so much to learn ,thats where we all started out here with windows 7.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Ha! Thanks for the friendly welcome boobah!:)
      My Computer


 

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