I can't associate portable program as default program

I have exactly the same problem with other portable apps.

I am trying to set a PDF reader to open my PDFs - Evince or Sumatra. I follow the normal procedure for telling Windows7 what to open it with, and if I navigate to and select a portable app, it simply ignores what I just selected and stays with it's established list of proposed programs. Doesn't matter what I try, it doesn't let me assign a portable app to the file type.

There must be a way to edit the registry or something, just as some portable apps are able to change the file associations for you.

I realize that this is a year old thread, but I think it's important to know that it's not an issue with the one media player in the op. Programs like Irfanview do have a function to associate windows file types, but the PDF readers that I want to try do not have this function. I have eVince and Sumatra portable PDF readers. The reason I chose those is because the Foxit reader that microsoft is not a good option for me.

Hi A Guy
Thanks for leading me into the right direction.
The following command worked for me:

Sumatrapdf.exe -register-for-pdf

A Guy said:

Welcome to Seven Forums Timmi. Sumatra has a command line for setting the portable as default

Open an advanced command prompt

Start> In search box type cmd> Right click on cmd.exe in results above and choose Run as administrator

Navigate to the SumatraPortable folder (type cd and the path, IE: cd C:\Users\Timmi\program files (x86)\SumatraPortable > Enter )

Then type

SumatraPortable.exe --register-for-pdf

Enter

Try opening a pdf file. If it doesn't work first time, try it again. That should work.



Manual for Sumatra PDF reader

A Guy

A-Guy: Hey, I completely forgot to thank you for this.
(I probably forgot about the thread, at a time when I moved to Mint, and wasn't checking gmail anymore with all the junk in there and no tools to clean it up (you know, like MS's "sweep" function in webmail))

Everytime I come back to Windows (like now), I have to try and remember why Windows is resetting/overriding these file association settings when chosen from within a program. (I try to use portable apps for everything where possible).

Just so this post isn't for nothing:
for Portable Apps (like irfanview) that do have file-associations you can set in the program, launch it "as administrator" and those changes should take, rather than be reset by Windows.