Windows 7: AVI name has changed!

I recently had to re install wmp on my desktop and in doing so when i click on an avi file it shows the description instead of the file type,

so when it shows the thumbnail on the bottom of the explorer window it says video clip instead of avi

any ideas how to get it back .

Creative Element Power Tools

This free software will let you change the file attributes and file types, among other things.

Thanks unfortunately that didnt do it. although i named the avi filetype it still shows :- video clip for the file type and not "avi". im not sure when it actually changed so i guess i can live with it, its just a pain not knowing when or why it changed ,or how to change it back, i dont want to run sfc scan as i have themes i dont want to reset

That appears to be the default with Windows Media Player. Did you install other codecs or video software that might have changed it at one time?

My guess is: this is a registry entry that was changed by Windows Media Player when it was re-installed. Probably nothing to be concerned with. If you want, I could try to determine how to change it back and give you steps to do so.

What was your default player before? What is it now? Those are the real questions I should have asked.


If I set the default player type for an AVI file to Windows Media Center, it shows AVI File as the file type. If I then set the default player to Mindows Media Player, it says Video Clip. VLC shows VLC media file (.avi)

ah! that explains it then as i use both a laptop and desktop , the desktop is a HTPC and i use wmp to play avi as default ,
on the laptop i use wmc as the default player for all video filetypes . so this would explain why i see a difference,
many thanks for clearing that up, it was winding me up as it seemed a simple thing and i was sure it used to say avi, obviously i was confusing the two.
and the recent re install made me think that it had changed as a result of that.
rep on the way...
...after i have spread it around .

You're welcome. Glad I could provide some information that helped.

It may have said AVI File on both systems, but if you used Recommended Settings when you re-installed WMP, that would have reverted the default player for AVI to WMP. I did the same steps on my system and my default was changed from VLC to WMP.

Isn't there a setting for "hide common extensions"? By default, and with a reinstall, "video clip" may be the result?

This isn't an extension issue. It is a file type association issue. If you just select an AVI file in explorer, you get information at the bottom of the window through the Details Pane. It will tell you the file name, file type, duration, size, resolution, rating, date modified, date created, and frame rate of the video.

This information changes based on what default program is used to open an AVI file.