Solved cannot set file association - option greyed out

chrysalis

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Ok so I set the association for .ini files to regedit. I assumed it be easy to change back again.

Now when I try to set via open with or the control panel this happens.

I see notepad and wordpad as reccomended programs. I can select one but the "always use the selected program to open this file" is greyed out and unticked so the change doesnt stick.

If I navigate to notepad.exe manually it still is the same problem.

A reboot doesnt fix the problem.

If I try to fix in the registry it is set to notepad.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\inifile\shell\open\command

value notepad.exe

double clicking opens regedit.
 
Last edited:

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ok I found the fix, weird I have to say.

microsoft it seems have in their wisdom that if regedit is set as a association for a file it then is disabled to set it to a new program, this setting is what controls it.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\regedit.exe

REG_SZ value called NoOpenWith

I renamed to NoOpenWith2 and when I went back to the control panel the box was still ghosted but this time ticked and double clicking notepad saved the new setting.
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
home built
OS
windows 8.1 Pro x64
CPU
intel i5 4670k @ 4.3ghz
Motherboard
asus z87-plus
Memory
16 gig ram ddr3 @ 1600 corsair vengeance
Graphics Card(s)
evga 970 GTX 4 GIG FTW ACX 2.0
Sound Card
asus xonar D2X
Monitor(s) Displays
benq gw2765ht
Screen Resolution
2560x1440
Hard Drives
Samsung 850 pro SSD 512gig - boot device wooosh
WD black cavalier 640gig WD6401AALS
Seagate 500gig ST3500630AS
WD 2TB Green WDC20EARS
2 x WD Red 3TB WD30EFRX
Samsung 750gig HD753LG - on asmedia controller
PSU
coolermaster silent pro 600watt modular
Case
fractal define R4
Cooling
artic freezer i30, 3 case fans
Keyboard
microsoft business ps2 keyboard
Mouse
microsoft optical black mouse
Internet Speed
80/20 FTTC SkyBB
Antivirus
Nod32 AV v8, HitmanProAlert, SRP, System Hardening
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Chrome x64
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Intel controller is in AHCI mode currently using IaSTOR 12.8.0.1016 drivers

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Hi, yes those restore files look handy and would have done the job so will remember if a next time, thanks.
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
home built
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windows 8.1 Pro x64
CPU
intel i5 4670k @ 4.3ghz
Motherboard
asus z87-plus
Memory
16 gig ram ddr3 @ 1600 corsair vengeance
Graphics Card(s)
evga 970 GTX 4 GIG FTW ACX 2.0
Sound Card
asus xonar D2X
Monitor(s) Displays
benq gw2765ht
Screen Resolution
2560x1440
Hard Drives
Samsung 850 pro SSD 512gig - boot device wooosh
WD black cavalier 640gig WD6401AALS
Seagate 500gig ST3500630AS
WD 2TB Green WDC20EARS
2 x WD Red 3TB WD30EFRX
Samsung 750gig HD753LG - on asmedia controller
PSU
coolermaster silent pro 600watt modular
Case
fractal define R4
Cooling
artic freezer i30, 3 case fans
Keyboard
microsoft business ps2 keyboard
Mouse
microsoft optical black mouse
Internet Speed
80/20 FTTC SkyBB
Antivirus
Nod32 AV v8, HitmanProAlert, SRP, System Hardening
Browser
Chrome x64
Other Info
Intel controller is in AHCI mode currently using IaSTOR 12.8.0.1016 drivers
You're welcome. Hopefully will not have to.
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Self built custom
OS
64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
CPU
Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
Motherboard
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
Memory
64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz
Graphics Card(s)
ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
Sound Card
Integrated
Monitor(s) Displays
2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
Screen Resolution
2560x1440
Hard Drives
1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
PSU
Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
Case
Thermaltake Core P3
Cooling
Corsair Hydro H115i
Keyboard
Logitech wireless K800
Mouse
Logitech MX Master 4
Internet Speed
2 Gb/s Download and 100 Mb/s Upload
Antivirus
Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
Browser
Google Chrome
Other Info
Logitech Z625 speaker system,
Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Old Post but I know people will go nuts trying to figure this one out. Nothing here or from other sites worked for me. Some of the fixes seemed too general and I did not want to reset all, only fix the one. I'm an IT guy and tried the usual Windows Control Panel etc...

So... delete the UseChoice from hkcu. In my case I associated .shader with Visual Studio. After doing it, realized VS does not highlight code like Mono Developement, but couldn't switch it back.

Removing the key below re-enabled the check box. now I could re-associate with Mono.

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.shader\UserChoice]
"Progid"="Applications\\VCSExpress.exe"

For you, find the extension giving you grief in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\
If it has a "UserChoice" key delete it. (Back it up if you are paranoid, right click export!)

I don't think I even rebooted and the check box was back.

Cheers
 

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My Computer My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Self built custom
OS
64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
CPU
Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
Motherboard
ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
Memory
64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz
Graphics Card(s)
ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
Sound Card
Integrated
Monitor(s) Displays
2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
Screen Resolution
2560x1440
Hard Drives
1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
PSU
Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
Case
Thermaltake Core P3
Cooling
Corsair Hydro H115i
Keyboard
Logitech wireless K800
Mouse
Logitech MX Master 4
Internet Speed
2 Gb/s Download and 100 Mb/s Upload
Antivirus
Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
Browser
Google Chrome
Other Info
Logitech Z625 speaker system,
Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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