"Always use selected program" - Always Checked or Unchecked

How to Have "Always use selected program" Always Checked or Unchecked in "Open with"​

   Information

This will show you how to have the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file check box to always be checked or unchecked by default in the Open with dialog box in Windows 7 and Vista.

You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do this tutorial.

   Note

This option was found and created by Daniel Martín at the source website below:

How to display the "Open With" dialog box with the "Always associate this program" checkbox unchecked by default | The Hows and Whys of Windows

EXAMPLE: "Open with" with "Always use selected program" Always Unchecked by Default

OPTION ONE

To Have "Always use selected program" Check Box Always Unchecked by Default

1. Go to the site below, or click on the Download button below, to download the MyOpenAs.zip file.
How to display the "Open With" dialog box with the "Always associate this program" checkbox unchecked by default | The Hows and Whys of Windows

OR


Download




OR

(Direct download below)


Download


2. Click on Save, save the zip file to your desktop, and extract all (drag and drop) contents of the zip to your desktop. (see screenshot below)

3. Do either step 4 or 5 below depending on if you have 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit(x64) Windows 7 or Vista installed.

4. If you have 32-bit (x86) Windows 7 or Vista Installed
A) Open the extracted x86 folder from step 2, and copy and paste the MyOpenAs.dll file into the C:\Windows\System32 folder.

B) If prompted, click on Continue and Yes to approve pasting it into the C:\Windows\System32 folder.

C) Go to step 6.
5. If you have 64-bit (x64) Windows 7 or Vista Installed
A) Open the extracted x64 folder from step 2, and copy and paste the MyOpenAs.dll file into the C:\Windows\System32 folder.

B) If prompted, click on Continue and Yes to approve pasting it into the C:\Windows\System32 folder.

C) Go to step 6.
6. Right click on the extracted MyOpenAs.reg file from step 2, and click on Merge.

7. If prompted, click on Run, Yes (UAC-Windows 7) or Continue (UAC-Vista), Yes, and OK.

8. Go to the site below, and follow the instructions there.
How to display the "Open With" dialog box with the ?Always associate this program? checkbox unchecked by default ? Part III | The Hows and Whys of Windows

OPTION TWO

To Have "Always use selected program" Check Box Always Checked by Default

NOTE: This is the default setting.
1. Go to the site below, or click on the Download button below, to download the MyOpenAs.zip file.
How to display the "Open With" dialog box with the "Always associate this program" checkbox unchecked by default | The Hows and Whys of Windows

OR


Download



OR

(Direct download below)


Download


2. Click on Save, save the zip file to your desktop, and extract all (drag and drop) contents of the zip to your desktop. (see screenshot below)

3. Right click on the extracted MyOpenAs_RestoreDefaults.reg file from step 2, and click on Merge.

4. If prompted, click on Run, Yes (UAC-Windows 7) or Continue (UAC-Vista), Yes, and OK.

5. Open the C:\Windows\System32 folder in Windows Explorer, and delete the MyOpenAs.dll file. (see screenshot below)

6. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes (Windows 7) or Continue (Vista) to approve deleting it.

7. Go to the site below, and follow the instructions there.
How to display the "Open With" dialog box with the ?Always associate this program? checkbox unchecked by default ? Part III | The Hows and Whys of Windows



That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Add or Remove "Always use selected program" in Open With
• How to Associate a File Type or Protocol Default Program in Window 7
• How to Set Default Associations for a Program in Windows 7
• How to Hide or Show Known File Type Extensions in Windows 7
• How to Add "Show/Hide Known File Extensions" to Context Menu in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Change the Default Program a File Type Opens with in Windows 7
• How to Remove or Restore the "Open with" Context Menu Item in Windows
• How to Clean Up and Remove Programs from the "Open with" Context Menu
• How to Add a Program to "Open with" in Windows 7
• How to Fix "Open with" Opening with Notepad or Error Message
• How to Add "Open with" to Context Menu of URL Files in Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Add "Open with" to Context Menu of BAT Files in Windows 7 and Vista

 

[nondisposable]

This should be the default factory setting. I find unbelievable that Microsoft went to such extent to make their OS secure, castrating users of their basic rights, but left that checkmark so that inexperienced users can easily install spyware and rogue programs.

 

[Brink]

Hello Nondisposable,

I agree that it would be best to have it always unchecked to be safe. I suppose that Microsoft felt that if you went to the trouble to change the "Open with" program, then you would most likely want to have it as the new default program as well, so they were just trying to make it more convenient to do so. To bad, it could backfire on the inexperienced though.

 

[grits]

So far I have managed to Extract but how do I find the system32 folder to do the "copy/paste" step?

 

[Brink]

Hello Grits,

You would need to open Windows Explorer, manually navigate to the C:\Windows\System32 folder, and open the System32 folder.

 

[grits]

Whew, stumbled a bit but believe I got it done, now do I save or delete everything except the two that got copied/pasted & merged?

Thanks.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome. Nope that's it.

 

[MRACHINI]

File not found anyone has it please share

File not found anyone has it please share

 

[Brink]

Hello Rachini, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Looks like their server is down for now. I've added a direct download link for the file to use.

 

[gmt5564e]

Doesn't Work For Unknown Filetypes

This does not work if opening an unknown filetype (aka a file for which there isn't already a program associated); in that case, the checkbox is still checked by default. This only seems to work if you right-click a file that's *already* associated with a program, and Open With->Choose default program.

It appears that the dll posted is part 1 of the tutorial here: http://blogs.msmvps.com/dmartin/blo...e-this-program-checkbox-unchecked-by-default/

...But omits part 3, for a complete solution: http://blogs.msmvps.com/dmartin/blo...ogram-checkbox-unchecked-by-default-part-iii/

 

[Brink]

Thank you metal450. Tutorial updated.

 

[gmt5564e]

If you have a look at the part 3 link, he's expanded his dll to provide a complete solution. However, the link is dead (same as your 1st "download" link - only the 2nd link, which you've mirrored here on sevenforums works). In other words, the DLL you've posted is for the partial solution, and linking to his "part 3" article doesn't really enable the complete solution as it describes a different DLL than you've posted - which is no longer available on his site

 

[Brink]

It looks like we are stuck with the current partial solution unless someone has a copy of the MyOpenAs_v2.zip file from part 3, and would like to upload it here to share.

 

[jonnyhotchkiss]

For the perpetually inquisitive, the reg entry changes HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\opendlg\command

from
%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1
to
%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\system32\MyOpenAs.dll,MyOpenAs_RunDLL %1

 

[maxseven]

For the perpetually inquisitive, the reg entry changes HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\opendlg\command

from
%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1
to
%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\system32\MyOpenAs.dll,MyOpenAs_RunDLL %1

Thanks for bumping this old tut. This has bugged me for years and I never heard of this solution before!

 

[jonnyhotchkiss]

pleasure!

sadly, I suspect that v2 full-solution is forever lost - sent a msg to a grateful commentator but couldn't reach the original webmaster, and wayback doesn't have that zip cached... nearly installed some dev stuff, might waste another night trying to take reveng on MS!

 

[AuralArch]

pleasure!

sadly, I suspect that v2 full-solution is forever lost - sent a msg to a grateful commentator but couldn't reach the original webmaster, and wayback doesn't have that zip cached...

I just downloaded the full "complete" (v2) fix... Apparently it's available again now

Here's the link:

http://www.wintecnico.com/Ficheros/MyOpenAs_v2.zip

 

[AuralArch]

It looks like we are stuck with the current partial solution unless someone has a copy of the MyOpenAs_v2.zip file from part 3, and would like to upload it here to share.

That file is currently, once again available from the author's site. I just read that series of articles & downloaded it before looking at this thread. Here's the link:

http://www.wintecnico.com/Ficheros/MyOpenAs_v2.zip



In your tutorial, the last item (#8) of option one needs to be edited. Have you actually read those 3 posts about this issue?
Sending folks to follow the instructions on that site doesn't make any sense & creates confusion because there are NO instructions per se in his article- he explains the scope of the issue and traces how he created the DLL but doesn't explain how to use it; essentially sending folks on a wild goose chase!

 

[Brink]

Hello AuralArch,

The link you posted doesn't work.

Considering this tutorial was originally posted in 2011, it's not uncommon for the site linked to have changed by then, and not noticed.

I'll see if I can find a new solution.

 

[barsiq]

Thank you very much , it was very helpful to me , and solve my problem .