Windows 7: How do I add a default program?

I want my Photo Mechanic (image ingester) 32 bit program to open in Windows 7 Pro 64-bit whenever I insert a CompactFlash card into my USB reader.

When I open Start/Default Programs Photo Mechanic is not listed. How can I add it to Default Programs?

Welcome,

I hope that this information will help

Open With - Change Default Program

I think you can edit the lists for each item in the control panel

Go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Autoplay

there is also a good Autoplay editor, but it was for XP so I dont know if it will work with Windows 7 or 64x systems:
Autoplay Repair Freeware download and review - modify the autoplay list from SnapFiles
OrangeBlue

Unfortunately that did not work. I'm still getting the message:

"This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. please install a program or if one is already installed create an association in the Default Programs control panel".

My Nikon Camera uses is following folder structure

DSIM (folder)
100D300S (subfolder)
_DSCxxxx.NEF (image file)

I have associated .NEF with Photo Mechanic and this does open when I double click a NEF file.

The problem is that with Windows XP SP3 I was able to insert a CompactFlash card and Photo Mechanic would automatically open and start an ingest process. Now all I get is the about error message.

How to Restore Missing Windows Media Center AutoPlay Entries in Windows 7 - The Winhelponline Blog

There ya go! a good article on this issue

Are you able to open the files from your computer if they are stored on the computer? this might be a file association problem

Edit: more info

For the file extensions, go to

Control Panel > Default Programs > Associations ? dont know if this is correct....

Then scroll down through list till you get to the file extension .NEF

Make sure it has a program associated to it. If it doesn't, then use the "Change Program" button.

I think this is correct I am away from my Windows 7 comp

Bingo: Default Programs - Associate a File Type or Protocol

For finding the Program, use step 5 in the Tutorial and look in the C:\Program Files(86)\ folder for all of the 32 bit programs

I do not see any Autoplay in Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Autoplay

I can open Photo Mechanic by double clicking a NEF file