How to Fix Manage "File does not have a program associated with it" Error
Information
This will show you how to fix the This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action error message you get when you click on the Manage context menu item for the Computer button in the Start Menu.
Note
This is usually caused by trying to change the shortcut overlay arrow icon using the
improper XP method of deleting the
IsShortcut string value in the registry instead of using the
proper Windows 7 method.
EXAMPLE: Error message
NOTE: When you right click on the Computer button in the Start Menu and click on Manage, you get this error:
"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."
OPTION ONE
To Fix Using a REG File Download
1. Click on the Download button below to download the file below.
Fix_Manage_Error.reg
2. Save the .reg file to the desktop.
3. Right click the downloaded .reg file on the Desktop and click on Merge.
4. Click on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted.
5. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you would like to.
Tip
If your still get an error afterwards, then download and merge the
lnk (LNK) option in the tutorial below to restore all of the default association for shortcuts (lnk), and try again.
Default File Type Associations - Restore
OPTION TWO
To Manually Fix in Registry Editor
1. Open the Start Menu, and type
regedit in the search box and press enter.
2. If prompted by
UAC, then click on
Yes (if administrator) or enter the
administrator's password (if standard user).
3. In regedit, navigate to the location below.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile
4. In the right pane of
lnkfile (LNKFILE), right click on a empty space and click on
New and
String Value. (see screenshot below)
5. Type in
IsShortcut for the name and press enter. (see screenshot below)
6. In regedit, navigate to the location below.
Code:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}\shell\Manage\command
7. In the right pane of
command, right click on a
(Default) and click on
Modify. (see screenshot above)
8. Type in the data below if it is not already there, and click on
OK. (see screenshot below)
%SystemRoot%\system32\CompMgmtLauncher.exe

9. Close regedit.
Tip
If your still get an error afterwards, then download and merge the
lnk (LNK) option in the tutorial below to restore all of the default association for shortcuts (lnk), and try again.
Default File Type Associations - Restore
That's it,
Shawn