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Windows 7 - Open With - Change Default Program



 

Open With - Change Default Program

How to Change the Default Program a File Type Opens With in Windows 7
Published by Brink
06-05-2009
Default Open With - Change Default Program

How to Change the Default Program a File Type Opens With in Windows 7

information   Information
A default program is the program that Windows 7 uses when you open a particular type of file extension. This will show you how to change a file type to open with a different default program for just this one time or always using the context menu in Windows 7.

These Default Programs association settings are a per user setting and not applied to all users.





Here's How:
1. Right click on the file type (ex: .txt file) that you want to change the default program for, then click on Open with. (see screenshot below)
Open With - Change Default Program-step1.jpg

Note   Note
If you do not have Open with in the context menu, then this means this file does not have a program associated to open it with.
  • Instead, click on Open.
Open With - Change Default Program-open-1.jpg
  • Select (dot) Select a program from a list of installed programs, and click on OK.
  • Go to step 3.
Open With - Change Default Program-open.jpg



2. To Select a Program that is Already Listed in Context Menu
A) After you have expanded Open with, select a listed program (ex: Notepad or Wordpad) that you want to open the file with for just this one time. (see screenshot below)
Click image for larger version

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B) Go to step 4.
3. To Select a Program that is Not Listed in Context Menu
NOTE: This option will allow you to select to have the file type to always open with the selected program by default if you like.
A) After you have expanded Open with, select Choose default program. (see screenshot below step 1)

B) Under Other Programs, click on the drop down arrow to the far right to exapnd it and see more programs to select from. (See screenshot below)
Open With - Change Default Program-step2.jpg
C) Select the program that you want to open the file with. (See screenshot above)
NOTE: If the program you wanted to select is still not listed, then click on the Browse button and navigate to the program's exe file. Select it, and click on the Open button to add it to be able to select it.


D) To Always Open this File Type with the Selected Program
  • Check the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file box. (See screenshot below step 3B)
  • Go to step 3F.
E) To Only Open this File Type Temporarily with the Selected Program for Just this One Time
  • Uncheck the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file box. (See screenshot below step 3B)
F) Click on OK. (See screenshot below step 3B)
4. The file will now be opened by the selected program.
That's it,
Shawn






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Tutorial Tools
07-20-2009   #1
steephan


W7 32bit & UBUNTU 64bit
 
 


What to do if I do this on shortcut? :]
I done this accidently and non of my shortcuts dosn't work anymore :/

My System SpecsSystem Spec
07-20-2009   #2
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


Hello Steephan, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You can download and run this REG file below to restore the default lnk (shortcut) associations in Windows 7.

Hope this helps,
Shawn
Attached Files
File Type: reg Default_Shortcuts_lnk.reg (3.9 KB, 2536 views)
My System SpecsSystem Spec
07-20-2009   #3
steephan


W7 32bit & UBUNTU 64bit
 
 


Thx for fast reply
wrrr dosnt work at all :/
I have enought of this problem
My System SpecsSystem Spec
.


07-20-2009   #4
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


Steephan,

You can do a System Restore using a restore point dated before this happened to hopefully fix it then.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
07-26-2009   #5
steephan


W7 32bit & UBUNTU 64bit
 
 


If I only made backup before :/
Any other options?
Reinstal system only?
My System SpecsSystem Spec
07-26-2009   #6
Brink


Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
 
 


I would do a repair install instead of a clean install instead. This way you will not lose anything.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
07-27-2009   #7
steephan


W7 32bit & UBUNTU 64bit
 
 


SO i need boot from windows dvd and there is that option?
My System SpecsSystem Spec
07-27-2009   #8
Dwarf


Vista SP2 HP 32-bit & Ult 64-bit W7 SP1 Pro 32-bit & 64-bit
 
 


No, you do not boot from the DVD. Instead, boot into Windows 7 and then insert the DVD. The following image is from the beginning of this Tutorial - you just need to follow the rest of the instructions from there.
Open With - Change Default Program-capture.png
My System SpecsSystem Spec
07-28-2009   #9
steephan


W7 32bit & UBUNTU 64bit
 
 


made repair install and didnt help :/
My System SpecsSystem Spec
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