How do you delete /OpenWithProgids

[glennc]

Hello,
I recently tried Irfanview for a couple of minutes. It took over the file associations of some files. Deleted it with Revo Uninstaller Pro. Now I am repeatedly getting in CCleaner Registry Cleaner several Invalid or empty file class such as .wma/OpenWithProgids/IrfanView.AU along with several others. I've checked the file associations and none are showing to IrfanView but to the original Windows Media Player. I delete them through CCleaner but they always show back up. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks for any responses in advance.
glennc

 

[Jacee]

What program do you want to use? Find the one you want on the list, or browse to it. Put a check in the box, then use the program.

BTW ... Irfanview has it's own uninstaller in the program folder.

 

[glennc]

Howdy Jaycee,
I thought I did check the ones I wanted. Nothing shows to Irfanview. So I'm a bit lost. I am probably wrong, but I thought Revo Uninstaller runs the program's uninstaller first and then cleans up what is left. It looks like it is using the different program's own uninstall program??????? Might you elaborate on your first point, please? Thank you.
glennc

 

[blazerguitar831]

I've been having the same problems since I uninstalled Winamp. Every CCleaner scan of the registry showed "(.mp3, .mp4, .avi, ect.)/OpenWithProgids/Winamp" in my case. Each time I listen to music or watch a video the error returned in scans after previously being "fixed". So here's how to permanently fix this issue. When you uninstalled your program a registry entry was left behind. This entry in the registry tells the computer that the program is still on your PC and available to use for your media. Even though the program is no longer installed the registry still registers as if it is. You need to delete the registry entry manually. Open the registry editor by clicking the start button and typing "regedit". Select "HKEY_CURRENT_USER, Software, Microsoft, Windows, CurrentVersion, Explorer, FileExts". Select the most common media extensions that have been appearing in the registry cleaner and click on "OpenWithProgids". Right click on the uninstalled program name and select delete. Now I don't get anymore registry errors with any further scans. Problem solved. In my case I only had to do this with one extension and the uninstalled program was removed from all the extensions. But to be safe you should check all the extensions that have been appearing in the registry cleaner for you. Hope this helps.

 

[severedsolo]

Rather than deleting them in the registry, why not change them in the File associations?

Go Start>Default Programs and select them from there.

Seems to me it's not accepting the changes because you haven't told it what to change it to.

 

[blazerguitar831]

The purpose of CCleaner is to remove all unused, unwanted, redundant, etc. files and registry entries no longer needed on the PC. I, and I'm sure glennc will agree with me, that when a program is uninstalled and a followup registry scan is conducted it is expected that all traces of the the program are no longer on the PC. A simple change in the file associations is hardly the assurance we come to expect from knowing that traces of an unwanted program is still lingering behind in the registry and telling us that CCleaner is not living up to its promise that it is an efficient file and registry cleaner.

 

[severedsolo]

Im not disagreeing with you, I was simply pointing out that maybe you are making it a little more complicated than it need's to be.

Personally speaking, I don't touch CCleaner's Registry Clean function, Windows 7 is not XP, it needs very little registry management.

Even on a clean install of Windows, CCleaner will find several redundant registry keys.

The fact that neither Revo nor CCleaner managed to get rid of them actually suggests to me that it's more likely to be a problem with the registry key rather than the program though, I find it unlikely that two such respected apps would be unable to clear them otherwise, although I could be wrong.

 

[wilywombat]

To reset your file associations to default you can follow this tutorial which will get rid of the Irfan problem (but also reset any others you have setup!):-
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/19449-default-file-type-associations-restore.html

 

[Shootist]

Rather than deleting them in the registry, why not change them in the File associations?

Go Start>Default Programs and select them from there.

Seems to me it's not accepting the changes because you haven't told it what to change it to.

Why have those entries in the registry when the program is no longer installed on the system.
That is how the registry gets bloated. Entries from all kinds of stuff that is no longer needed.

 

[mitchell65]

Rather than deleting them in the registry, why not change them in the File associations?

Go Start>Default Programs and select them from there.

Seems to me it's not accepting the changes because you haven't told it what to change it to.

Why have those entries in the registry when the program is no longer installed on the system.
That is how the registry gets bloated. Entries from all kinds of stuff that is no longer needed.

Just a small but very, very important point when advising anyone to go into the Registry. Always, Always make a backup of the Registry before you touch it. One very small mistake in the registry can stop your PC working completely. With a backup you can easily put things right, without it you could be in serious trouble.
Here's Brink's tutorial on how to backup the Registry;
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/4230-registry-backup-restore.html

 

[marsmimar]

It might be helpful to review exactly what the registry is and what it was meant to do.

The Windows Registry

A lot of people will say Windows 7 registy is not the same as Windows 98 or even Windows XP. And that's certainly true. But the basic underlying function is still the same . . . It keeps track of all software installed on the computer and (perhaps most importantly) how each program relates to and interacts with all the other programs on the computer. And this is where many registry editors/cleaners give the appearance that they're not doing the cleanup very well.

Let's say you uninstall Program A. It's very possible that Program A hooked itself into a couple hundred registry keys, and some of those keys belong to Program B and Program C. A registry cleaner (at least the reputable ones) will err on the side of caution and NOT remove the registry entries JUST IN CASE they are still needed by Programs B and C. Personally, I'd rather have a few hundred or even a few thousand unneeded registry entries than to have a program crash because a needed key was mistakenly removed.

And to repeat an often stated fact, Windows 7 is not your father's Windows XP where tweaks and cleaners were the norm in order to keep XP working the way it was supposed to.

 

[wilywombat]

That link in post #11, whilst informative for XP and earlier versions does not apply to windows seven so , whilst a useful read for history purposes, it does not apply to the problem in hand.(except the cautions and reference to backing up the registry!!)

 

[marsmimar]

That link in post #11, whilst informative for XP and earlier versions does not apply to windows seven so , whilst a useful read for history purposes, it does not apply to the problem in hand.(except the cautions and reference to backing up the registry!!)

Exactly my point. Windows 7 is NOT Windows XP and doesn't need all the tweaks and registry cleaners. But the PURPOSE of the registry is still the same.

 

[wilywombat]

Yeah, I agree...we could do with a good windows 7 registry description document something similar.

 

[glennc]

Hello and my Apologies,
For some reason, I haven't received email of the numerous posts, and have been busy elsewhere. I have changed the association, no luck. I have physically searched the appdata files and removed any Ifanview anythings, oh by the way it is happening with the Foxit pdf files and it was removed before Ifanview. I certainly appreciate all you suggestions and viewpoints. Will attempt to rid myself using any and all methods mentioned. Thanks again.
Will let you know if there is success. Really appreciate it.
Glenn

 

[SIW2]

You could have a look with RegScanner - search - then rt click each entry and Jump to key.

RegScanner: Alternative to RegEdit find/search/scan of Windows

I know you can do a similar search with Regedit - but this finds and lists them all in one go - bit more convenient.

 

[wilywombat]

Have you tried my suggestion in post #8 yet? It should work.

 

[glennc]

Howdy,
I have first tried blazerguitar831's suggestion. I manually went in and yes there were Iranview openwithids. I deleted them. It may take a bit before I'm sure that it worked or not. Well Revo Uninstaller Pro didn't get them all. I wish me luck.
Be back.
BTW, thanks blazerguitar831!!!

 

[blazerguitar831]

BTW, thanks blazerguitar831!!!

You're welcome. But you might want to hold on to your gratitude for just a bit. After a recent restart I ran a registry scan and the errors returned. The deleted entries also returned in the registry. If sevenforums can't provide a solid solution to this problem we have then I doubt any other Windows 7 related forum can help us. Default Programs fail. Redundant file extensions related to the removed program still exist. System Restore fails. "When all else fails," a good clean install of the OS works every time. I've done a clean install more than half a dozen times in the past year and a half I've been using Win 7. Before Win7SP1 I could have my PC back online and looking as if I never installed Winamp in less than four hours from starting the clean install. After SP1, a little over five hours. But if a clean install is not an option for you or you would rather continue searching for a registry solution, then good luck my friend. And you're still welcome.

 

[SIW2]

Dunno why I bother posting.