need word 2007 AND word 2010, how to set file associations

Because I do teaching for people who have both versions (2007 & 2010) of Word, I have to keep both on my computer. How do I get .doc and .docx to associate with Word 2010?

Because I work mostly in 2010, I want to default to opening with 2010 but I can't do it. When I do try to correct the association (through the Control Panel) it WON'T associate with 2010. I go to the winword.exe in the correct folder for 2010 and click on it but it just stays the same, still associated with winword.exe in the 2007 folder.

Neutron16 said:

FileTypesManager is pretty good in cases like this one.

Download this free application, run it, look for docx. Hightlight it and press F2. In a new window delete anything in the User Choice field. Close that window and find Open coomand for docx in main Window. Make sure that command-line leads to Office14. Repeat for doc.

Thanks for the quick help and I tried your suggestion with FileTypesMan. Using F2 the User Choice is blank and the command line for both .doc and .docx now reads "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\WINWORD.EXE" "%1" and everything .doc or .docx still opens in Word2007! What am I missing?

Here's a pretty simple solution that usually works:

1. Right click on a file
2. Click open with
3. Choose the program that you wish to open the file with (If necessary, browse for the program)
4. Check the box "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" box
5. Hit OK

Then your file should always open with the selected program. :)

benjetson said:

Here's a pretty simple solution that usually works:

1. Right click on a file
2. Click open with
3. Choose the program that you wish to open the file with (If necessary, browse for the program)
4. Check the box "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" box
5. Hit OK

Then your file should always open with the selected program. :)

Yes, I knew about that but the only program I could access that way was Word2007. Although I could start Word2010, it was not available to "Open with" and I have no idea why. I have uninstalled Word2007 and will deal with it when and if I have to later, perhaps on another computer. It was causing too many problems.

This is a terrible problem Microsoft has yet to resolve. see this blog at Green Wire IT solutions for creating a batch file to patch this (click-to-run) issue Office 2010 Home and Student, Unable to "Open With" Word, Excel etc. - Greenwire Computer Repair Services and Business IT Consulting | Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples