Double clicking fails to open a 7-Zip file

I was trying to make some changes to7-Zip file associations and have managed to lose the ability to open a 7-Zip file (with a .7z extension) by double clicking it with the left mouse button.

All other operations work fine. I can open a file from the main program. I can right click it to get into the 7-Zip context menu and open it, either directly, or by using "open with" (which tells me that the default program is 7-Zip). I can extract files from a 7-Zip archive. In other words I can do everything except open a 7-Zip file by double clicking it. If I do this the program hangs and the little round circle flickers rapidly. The only way to stop this is to log off and log back on.

If I go to Control Panel -> Default Programs -> 'Associate a file type or protocol with a specific program' there is no sign of a .7z extension. However, there is a .z extension associated with 7-Zip and if I change the .7z extension to .z on a file I can now open it with 7-Zip by double clicking.

I have also tried uninstalling and reinstalling the 7-Zip program, to no effect.

So, is there any way to get my double click back?

I think 7Zip has GUI options to claim default rights? Or you can try Win7's default file association tool.

You might have a Restore Point you can revert to.

Or maybe you could go to Open With and choose a different default prog to open .7z. Then go back and choose 7Zip again.

Thanks for the reply. However I have finally managed to solve it using a neat little program called Default Programs Editor (the name tells it all). It's recommended by How To Geek which is a pretty good recommendation from a reliable site.

It would seem that I had managed to associate the file name with Windows Explorer, which would explain why Task Manager showed a rapidly increasing list of Windows Explorers being opened! I used the above program to change the associated program back to 7-Zip. Also, it now shows up in the list of associated file types in Default Programs.

Why the problem was only associated with double clicking I really don't know, but it seems to be sorted now (I hope!)

Great. I'll look into that prog. thanks.