Weird file association prob: wrong progam selected after 'Browse'

Your welcome,

I can understand your apprehension with changing your user account.

If you change your mind and would like to finish that new account there are two ways that you can migrate your old settings to the new.

First up is a: Repair Install Not actually a migration, but it will try to repair your user account.

Second is: Fix a corrupted user profile - Microsoft Windows Help
If you run into a problem with Ownership and permissions you will have to take ownership of the files: Take Ownership of a File or Folder, and set the permissions: Set, View, Change, or Remove Permissions on Files and Folders

For certain programs you will need to export/import them separately such as:

If you have e‑mail messages in an e‑mail program, you must import your e‑mail messages and addresses to the new user profile before you delete the old profile. If everything is working properly, you can delete the old profile.

Source, near the bottom: Fix a corrupted user profile - Microsoft Windows Help

This should go without saying, but it would be prudent to have an image of your HDD before you start, we here at Sevenforums usually suggest Imaging with free Macrium, but that choice is certainly up to you as to which imaging program you would like to use.

You would still have the boogered account to start over from square one, but it is good insurance if something went wrong.

I will stay subscribed to your thread in case you need further assistance.

Your welcome,

It's a shame the how to set Default Programs links in my first post - your #2 - didn't work. If I can find an easier way to repair your user account I'll post back.


EDIT:

You said:

but something must have changed recently

Did you make any changes in any of the default's for your Office programs?