Windows 7: How do you delete /OpenWithProgids

Hello,
I recently tried Irfanview for a couple of minutes. It took over the file associations of some files. Deleted it with Revo Uninstaller Pro. Now I am repeatedly getting in CCleaner Registry Cleaner several Invalid or empty file class such as .wma/OpenWithProgids/IrfanView.AU along with several others. I've checked the file associations and none are showing to IrfanView but to the original Windows Media Player. I delete them through CCleaner but they always show back up. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks for any responses in advance.
glennc

What program do you want to use? Find the one you want on the list, or browse to it. Put a check in the box, then use the program.

BTW ... Irfanview has it's own uninstaller in the program folder.

Howdy Jaycee,
I thought I did check the ones I wanted. Nothing shows to Irfanview. So I'm a bit lost. I am probably wrong, but I thought Revo Uninstaller runs the program's uninstaller first and then cleans up what is left. It looks like it is using the different program's own uninstall program??????? Might you elaborate on your first point, please? Thank you.
glennc

I've been having the same problems since I uninstalled Winamp. Every CCleaner scan of the registry showed "(.mp3, .mp4, .avi, ect.)/OpenWithProgids/Winamp" in my case. Each time I listen to music or watch a video the error returned in scans after previously being "fixed". So here's how to permanently fix this issue. When you uninstalled your program a registry entry was left behind. This entry in the registry tells the computer that the program is still on your PC and available to use for your media. Even though the program is no longer installed the registry still registers as if it is. You need to delete the registry entry manually. Open the registry editor by clicking the start button and typing "regedit". Select "HKEY_CURRENT_USER, Software, Microsoft, Windows, CurrentVersion, Explorer, FileExts". Select the most common media extensions that have been appearing in the registry cleaner and click on "OpenWithProgids". Right click on the uninstalled program name and select delete. Now I don't get anymore registry errors with any further scans. Problem solved. In my case I only had to do this with one extension and the uninstalled program was removed from all the extensions. But to be safe you should check all the extensions that have been appearing in the registry cleaner for you. Hope this helps.

Rather than deleting them in the registry, why not change them in the File associations?

Go Start>Default Programs and select them from there.

Seems to me it's not accepting the changes because you haven't told it what to change it to.

The purpose of CCleaner is to remove all unused, unwanted, redundant, etc. files and registry entries no longer needed on the PC. I, and I'm sure glennc will agree with me, that when a program is uninstalled and a followup registry scan is conducted it is expected that all traces of the the program are no longer on the PC. A simple change in the file associations is hardly the assurance we come to expect from knowing that traces of an unwanted program is still lingering behind in the registry and telling us that CCleaner is not living up to its promise that it is an efficient file and registry cleaner.

Im not disagreeing with you, I was simply pointing out that maybe you are making it a little more complicated than it need's to be.

Personally speaking, I don't touch CCleaner's Registry Clean function, Windows 7 is not XP, it needs very little registry management.

Even on a clean install of Windows, CCleaner will find several redundant registry keys.

The fact that neither Revo nor CCleaner managed to get rid of them actually suggests to me that it's more likely to be a problem with the registry key rather than the program though, I find it unlikely that two such respected apps would be unable to clear them otherwise, although I could be wrong.

To reset your file associations to default you can follow this tutorial which will get rid of the Irfan problem (but also reset any others you have setup!):-
Default File Type Associations - Restore

Why have those entries in the registry when the program is no longer installed on the system.
That is how the registry gets bloated. Entries from all kinds of stuff that is no longer needed.

Just a small but very, very important point when advising anyone to go into the Registry. Always, Always make a backup of the Registry before you touch it. One very small mistake in the registry can stop your PC working completely. With a backup you can easily put things right, without it you could be in serious trouble.
Here's Brink's tutorial on how to backup the Registry;
Registry - Backup and Restore