Help needed in establishing program - file associations

Hi John.

Notepad is renamed as Text Document, once you open the file, the Notepad is seen on top.
Select an open space in explorer, right click select New -> Text Document.

To overwrite default, it is very straightforward.
In your Handbrake folder, select a file with .mp4
Right click on the file -> Open with -> Choose default program -> Browse
Find this Handbrake .exe file, and ensure the box is marked a tick on the left side, click on the Handbrake .exe
In this way all the .mp4 will open & associated with this Handbrake program, auto.

Do not use registry as it is LIVE, and should you make a serious mistake, the system may hang.

This is to overwrite the existing program and to use your favorite Handbrake program to open with.

This method apply to all, as far as i use.


Eric.

Thanks for your reply Eric. Not sure if I fully understand your first paragraph. If I 'Select an open space in explorer, right click select New -> Text Document.' this creates a 'New Text Document.txt' which when double clicked opens in WordPad, not a problem as the default for .txt is WordPad.

Your instructions enabled me to put programs I want in the right click open with list.

I don't seem to be able to set up a default for Notepad. In Control Panel/Default Programs/Set your default programs Notepad does not appear in the list. Right clicking on the file Open with/Choose default program results in the error message
"This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Please install a program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Programs control panel." This is the behaviour for any file extension.

Why can't I change the default program for any file extension by this method and how do I set a default for Notepad?

John.

When trying to open any file type (extension) with right click > open with > choose default program... the following error is given and I cannot browse to any program. I assume this should work as in XP where programs that can open that extension are added to the drop down open with list. All the information I have been able to find relates to establishing correct file associations.

I any one knows of a fix it would be appreciated.

Thanks for your suggestions Callender. I have run the registry edits and tried to other fixes with no change. BTW the problem machine is running Win7 Pro and we have another desk top running Win7 Home on which open with > choose default program works as expected and allows browsing to a program.

It seems to me (a noob when it comes to this stuff) that all the procedures are aimed at establishing compatible program - file extension associations. Do I understand correctly that every program has one or more file extension(s) that it can open and that every file extension has a list of programs that it can be opened with. Each extension has a default or primary program that is used to open it when the file is double clicked. The problem here I think is that the "choose default program" doesn't recognise that a default program exists for that extension, it gives the message as above for all extensions.

I have downloaded all the default file extensions and merged some of the more common ones into the registry. Rebooted and tried the "choose default program" item in the "open with" menu for some of the extensions merged. I still receive the message as above and am unable to browse for a program.