Weird file association prob: wrong progam selected after 'Browse'

[Angstony]

For various reasons I like to open picture files in Firefox, but something must have changed recently as jpegs suddenly started opening in MSO Picture Manager. `No problem,´ I thought. `I'll just re-select Firefox as the default.´ So I right-clicked on a .jpg file and selected 'Open with→Choose default program...'. I was quite surprised that Firefox wasn't already listed as on option – not even under the 'Other Programs' header – but again thought that shouldn't be a problem as I could just browse to it. So off I toodled to 'C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox' and double-clicked 'Firefox.exe'... but what's this? Instead of 'Firefox' getting added as an option in the list of 'Open with' programs, a second 'Notepad++' icon appeared! The first Notepad++ icon is listed under the 'Recommended Programs' header, so I guess that should be Firefox too, as it doesn't make much sense to have a text editor opening picture files – not unless you're some kind of hacker or programming guru, I guess.

Anyway, I've gotten around the immediate problem by using the excellent Default Programs Editor. But I really don't like having the standard method still acting weirdly like that, so I would appreciate any help in fixing it.

 

[Anak]

Hi Angstony, welcome to 7F!

This: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2630-default-programs-set-program-s-default-associations.html should better explain how to set the defaults and this: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/19449-default-file-type-associations-restore.html would help in restoring any defaults that are acting up.

 

[Angstony]

Hi Anak, thanks for the welcome.

My problem isn't really to do with incorrect file associations – although it was an incorrect file association that brought it to light. No, it's the fact that when I select a particular program – in this case Firefox – to become the default for opening a file type, its icon doesn't get put into the list of programs to open the file type with. Instead another program's icon is shown – in this case Notepad++.

See, this is how my 'Open with' dialog looks immediately after I've clicked 'Browse' and navigated to Firefox.exe:

 

[Brink]

Hello Angstony, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Odd. You might see if reinstalling Firefox may help.

 

[Anak]

Your welcome,

I need to ask.

1.) Are you seeing any error messages such as: No Such Interface Supported.

2.) Do you have any add-ons/extensions or plug-ins in Firefox (FF) to facilitate the opening of .jpeg files, if you do are they up to date?

3.) Is your FF up to date? Version 26.0 is the latest stable as of this posting.

4.) If you do in #2, and FF is up to date try disabling them, and test.


If you're not seeing a message or #4 doesn't help there could be several things going on here.

• Are you sure you do not have any malware infection?

• Some system files could be corrupt to be absolutely sure you should run: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html then: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

• A problem with the registry specifically at:

  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.jpeg\OpenWithList

  and right below it

  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.jpg\OpenWithList

  How comfortable are you with working with the registry? You could navigate there to see if FF is listed, Use Registry Editor - Find and Find Next and type OpenWithList or UserChoice in the Find Box. FF would more likely be in OpenWithList than UserChoice.

•    Note

  If you decide you want to make changes, Please: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/4230-registry-backup-restore.html before you do. It would not hurt to create a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/697-system-restore-point-create.html also.
  If FF is there,

• It could be a corrupt User Account. You could create one to test: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/181024-user-account-create.html

• It could be a problem with unregistered system files.

• Firefox could be corrupt. You could either Reset Firefox preferences to troubleshoot and fix problems or do a complete re-install.It would be easier to modify the about:config entry but I haven't found it yet.
  
  

 

[Angstony]

Hello Angstony, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Odd. You might see if reinstalling Firefox may help.

Hi Brink, thanks for the welcome.

Yes, I've just tried that but it's made no difference. I've also tried reinstalling Notepad++, but I think that may be a red-herring because I've just realized it's the icon of whichever program is currently set to open a file type that gets added after a browse. I've been checking against .gif files as I'd already fixed the .jpg association using the Default Programs Editor utility. Although I've got no idea why gifs are associated to Notepad++.

1.) Are you seeing any error messages such as: No Such Interface Supported.

No.

2.) Do you have any add-ons/extensions or plug-ins in Firefox (FF) to facilitate the opening of .jpeg files, if you do are they up to date?

Well I have a Greasemonkey script that allows me to drag to resize picture files. But I've tried disabling Greasemonkey altogether – in fact I've created a blank FF profile with no extensions and used that, but it's still the same.

3.) Is your FF up to date? Version 26.0 is the latest stable as of this posting.

Yes, I have it update automatically.

Are you sure you do not have any malware infection?

Well, as sure as I can be. MSE and SuperAntiSpyware are set to do full scans every alternate night, and neither of them has reported anything untoward.

I will check out your other suggestions some time over this weekend. I've got a bunch of work to get done now, so I can't afford to break off from that for too long. I can tell you I've tried running a registry cleaner (Wise Registry Cleaner 7) and although it reportedly found and fixed a lot of problem, it didn't fix this one.

Thanks for all your help so far.

 

[Anak]

I'm trying to understand the timeline, did you use the registry cleaner before you joined SevenForums and made your first post here?

Did you or did the registry cleaner make a backup of the registry before you cleaned it?

 

[Angstony]

I ran the registry cleaner after my second post before seeing any more replies. And yes, the Wise registry cleaner has a backup function built in, so I used that before trying the clean up.

 

[Anak]

Okay.

If your SFC scan doesn't show any integrity violations you could also try: How Do I Boot to the Last Known Good Configuration? - KB Article - 334410 | Dell

Even though the note says it may not work, I've had good results doing it. It won't hurt anything, once you make your selection your machine would just boot up.

 

[Angstony]

Okay, I've tried all of your suggestions now. The SFC scan found nothing wrong and booting to the last known good configuration didn't help. However, I think you may be on to something with it being a user account issue, as the problem doesn't exist within the test account I created.

I might just live with it for the time being as I've put a lot of work into configuring my profile to work just how I like it, so I'm reluctant to start over unless it's absolutely necessary.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Anak]

Your welcome,

I can understand your apprehension with changing your user account.

If you change your mind and would like to finish that new account there are two ways that you can migrate your old settings to the new.

First up is a: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html Not actually a migration, but it will try to repair your user account.

Second is: Fix a corrupted user profile - Microsoft Windows Help
If you run into a problem with Ownership and permissions you will have to take ownership of the files: Take Ownership of a File or Folder, and set the permissions: Set, View, Change, or Remove Permissions on Files and Folders

For certain programs you will need to export/import them separately such as:

If you have e‑mail messages in an e‑mail program, you must import your e‑mail messages and addresses to the new user profile before you delete the old profile. If everything is working properly, you can delete the old profile.

Source, near the bottom: Fix a corrupted user profile - Microsoft Windows Help

This should go without saying, but it would be prudent to have an image of your HDD before you start, we here at Sevenforums usually suggest http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html, but that choice is certainly up to you as to which imaging program you would like to use.

You would still have the boogered account to start over from square one, but it is good insurance if something went wrong.

I will stay subscribed to your thread in case you need further assistance.

 

[Angstony]

Thanks Anak.

The solutions are all a bit drastic for such a seemingly simple problem. Anyway, I've gotten around the problem for now by using the 'Default Programs Editor' utility, so at least it's behaving more-or-less how I want it to. I just can't change them quickly or easily from the right-click context menu. It seems to be just picture files that are affected, because both Chrome and Firefox appear as options on all other file types, as far as I can tell. Whereas with picture files it seems I can have either Firefox or Chrome listed in the options, but not both.

Oh well, as I say, I think I'll just live with it for now, and maybe try one of those solutions if I notice any other weird behaviour from here on out.

 

[Anak]

Your welcome,

It's a shame the how to set Default Programs links in my first post - your #2 - didn't work. If I can find an easier way to repair your user account I'll post back.


EDIT:

You said:

but something must have changed recently

Did you make any changes in any of the default's for your Office programs?