I accidentally set the default file format for a dds (DirectDraw Surface) to Windows shell common. It tries to execute it but obviously fails giving this error:I've tried everything. Modified registry keys, use slightly different solutions, but I just can't get it working. Does anyone have a fix for this?(name of file).dds is not a valid Win32 application.
Hello and welcome SA mate did you by any chance back up the registry before now? I always do after an install so at times like this one can just restore the darn thing to the Windows default.
Registry - Backup and Restore
If you let me know what registry entries you are looking at I can possibly see what mine are and let you know what the default entry is so you can start rom scratch again.
I actually didn't back it up (oops!) because I changed default program to shell32.dll and cannot undo it. There must be some sort of registry that restricts it. Sorry!
Oh dear have you done any imaging or backing up of your data because it is looking like a repair install. Take a look at this and let us know what you want to do. This is the only way that I can think of that will get the registry back in its' original form.
Now if you decide to do the repair - don't forget to back up that registry as per my previous posted link. Repair Install
I deleted the key (HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dds) but shell32 still dominates. Is there another registry that signifies a file association?
BTW, I have 2 users, the 2nd one i dont use isn't affected by this.
Hum interesting as far as I am aware the registry is the same for one user as another??
I might ask for some help on this on mate as this new situation has got me wondering what the heck is going on to be honest.
SA can I ask just did you install the Ultimate on this machine or upgrade to it because it is very unusual for a laptop to come with Ultimate installed on it unless of course you requested it from the store.
Now if you upgraded then I personally am not a fan of upgrades and myself would just buy an OEM copy and install it myself because that also gets rid of all the bloatware that comes with the different brands.
You can do an anytime Upgrade from anything from Home Basic through to professional and end up with Ultimate without any hassle at all :) (and no worries about compatibility, either - all the bits necessary are already on the machine, apart from the required Key )
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