Notepad 2 file association problem

[cyg63]

Hello all,

I've been using Notepad 2 as the default program to edit my htm and html files for a year without any problem. But yesterday I had a windows (critical) update, so I installed it and restarted my system. Then when I tried to edit an htm file, I found it was no longer associated with Notepad 2. At this point I've forgotten what the file opened with... probably the standard notepad editor.

Of course the first thing I tried was to R-click on a file and try to reset the default program back to Notepad 2. It didn't work. When I double click Notepad2.exe, windows doesn't appear to recognize it. The "okay" button on the "choose default program" function remains dead. I can associate these file types with firefox, IE, adobe reader, notepad etc. etc... but no longer Notepad 2.

I downloaded the latest version of Notepad 2 and tried again but the problem remained. I can't use windows' "set default program" feature in control panel, because Notepad 2 isn't an installed application, as I'm sure most of you know. It runs out of the box and doesn't affect the registry. I surfed around but all I found were instructions on how to completely replace notepad with Notepad 2 as the default. I don't want to entirely replace windows notepad, unless I have no choice. It's sufficient for most of my needs, just useless as an htm editor.

So now I'm getting really ticked and about to use system restore to uninstall the latest windows updates, and see if that works, despite the fact they're critical security updates. I'm building a website and I really need Notepad 2. If anyone has an alternative suggestion, please let me know. My OS is win 7 home premium 32 bit. Thanks!

 

[WindowsStar]

Try this software out. It is portable no install needed. Works Great!

FileTypesMan - Alternative to 'File Types' manager of Windows

 

[cyg63]

Try this software out. It is portable no install needed. Works Great!

FileTypesMan - Alternative to 'File Types' manager of Windows

Thanks but... I ran the program you suggested and it shows htm & html files as being Firefox documents, which is correct as far as I know. I've never had a problem editing Firefox documents with Notepad 2 before. I don't get what needs to be changed. I tried changing the .htm extension to function as a text document instead of Firefox, but that didn't help either. Windows refuses to allow me to open any file type with Notepad 2. What the heck did MS change in my system with their latest update??

 

[cyg63]

Problem solved (I hope)

After searching awhile I found this: defaultprogramseditor

It's freeware and doesn't require installation either. In a few quick and easy steps I was able to add Notepad 2 to windows' recommended default programs list. Then I was finally able to change the default and use Notepad 2 again. So far so good.

 

[WindowsStar]

After searching awhile I found this: defaultprogramseditor

It's freeware and doesn't require installation either. In a few quick and easy steps I was able to add Notepad 2 to windows' recommended default programs list. Then I was finally able to change the default and use Notepad 2 again. So far so good.

I checked out Default Programs Editor mostly the same thing as File Type Manager, different interface but they have the same options.

Glad you have it worked out. -WS