Windows 7: Explorer crashes when I try to change file associations

This is a new re-install of Windows 7, with the only notable software being Office 2003 and Access 95 (upgraded to Access 97).

When I try to edit an HTML signature in Outlook I get an error that there is no editor available, so I was advised to set the filetype for .htm files to Microsoft Word (not just using the option in IE). I was following these instructions:

Outlook 2003 on Windows7, Signature ERROR message: couldn't find editor for H(.) files



However, when I click on "Associate a file type or protocol with a program", explorer crashes and restarts (see attached screenshot).

How can I fix this?

Many thanks,
Steve

Hello Steve, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You could do a system restore at boot using a restore point (if available) dated before you had this issue to hopefully fix it.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks for they reply. A system restore is the last thing I want to do, partly because I don't know for sure if it ever worked properly even after its reinstall... I only noticed it after I did some configuration and installation of the Office suites.

Cheers,
Steve

Steve,

In that case, you might see if running a sfc /scannow command may be able to help if it's a corrupted system file at fault.

If not, then you may be looking at a repair install or a system restore.

Thanks for the link to the repair install - I'll bookmark that. However, it's an OEM install disc