File associations in Vista

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I can't associate particular filetypes with the programs I want in Vista. It
doesn't work using Explorer, nor does it work with the Control Panel defaults
mini-program. In either case, when I browse to the program I want to use and
click OK, that program never shows up in the list. I want to associate all my
..txt text files with "Textpad," my favorite ASCII editor. I've done it for 12
years now with all earlier versions of Windows, but, I can't get it to work
with Vista.
Thanks.

You will need to either right click a file of that type and select open with
and browse to the program (textpad) or use the default program utility and
manually browse to the program yourself. The following link will explain the
default program utility better.
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...b1ca21033.mspx

"PeterBBailey" wrote:

> I can't associate particular filetypes with the programs I want in Vista. It
> doesn't work using Explorer, nor does it work with the Control Panel defaults
> mini-program. In either case, when I browse to the program I want to use and
> click OK, that program never shows up in the list. I want to associate all my
> .txt text files with "Textpad," my favorite ASCII editor. I've done it for 12
> years now with all earlier versions of Windows, but, I can't get it to work
> with Vista.
> Thanks.

"Spenceation" wrote:

> You will need to either right click a file of that type and select open with
> and browse to the program (textpad) or use the default program utility and
> manually browse to the program yourself. The following link will explain the
> default program utility better.
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...b1ca21033.mspx
>
No, that's my point. None of those choices work. And, in Start/Default
Programs, I don't see anywhere to ADD other programs. All it shows me is a
list of the regular, garden-variety Windows programs. How do I add to that
list?

Thanks.





> "PeterBBailey" wrote:
>
> > I can't associate particular filetypes with the programs I want in Vista. It
> > doesn't work using Explorer, nor does it work with the Control Panel defaults
> > mini-program. In either case, when I browse to the program I want to use and
> > click OK, that program never shows up in the list. I want to associate all my
> > .txt text files with "Textpad," my favorite ASCII editor. I've done it for 12
> > years now with all earlier versions of Windows, but, I can't get it to work
> > with Vista.
> > Thanks.

No, that's my point. None of those "features" work. They don't allow me to
choose TextPad to the list of default programs, and, when I browse to TextPad
and click OK, it never shows up in the list of available programs.

"Spenceation" wrote:

> You will need to either right click a file of that type and select open with
> and browse to the program (textpad) or use the default program utility and
> manually browse to the program yourself. The following link will explain the
> default program utility better.
> http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...b1ca21033.mspx
>
> "PeterBBailey" wrote:
>
> > I can't associate particular filetypes with the programs I want in Vista. It
> > doesn't work using Explorer, nor does it work with the Control Panel defaults
> > mini-program. In either case, when I browse to the program I want to use and
> > click OK, that program never shows up in the list. I want to associate all my
> > .txt text files with "Textpad," my favorite ASCII editor. I've done it for 12
> > years now with all earlier versions of Windows, but, I can't get it to work
> > with Vista.
> > Thanks.

Are you an administrator on this machine?

http://articles.techrepublic.com.com...1-6172036.html

Here is a step by step guide. On the Open With part (Figure F) click browse
by the bottom right and navigate to the program. Hopefully this helps

"PeterBBailey" wrote:

>
>
> "Spenceation" wrote:
>
> > You will need to either right click a file of that type and select open with
> > and browse to the program (textpad) or use the default program utility and
> > manually browse to the program yourself. The following link will explain the
> > default program utility better.
> > http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...b1ca21033.mspx
> >
> No, that's my point. None of those choices work. And, in Start/Default
> Programs, I don't see anywhere to ADD other programs. All it shows me is a
> list of the regular, garden-variety Windows programs. How do I add to that
> list?
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>
>
>
> > "PeterBBailey" wrote:
> >
> > > I can't associate particular filetypes with the programs I want in Vista. It
> > > doesn't work using Explorer, nor does it work with the Control Panel defaults
> > > mini-program. In either case, when I browse to the program I want to use and
> > > click OK, that program never shows up in the list. I want to associate all my
> > > .txt text files with "Textpad," my favorite ASCII editor. I've done it for 12
> > > years now with all earlier versions of Windows, but, I can't get it to work
> > > with Vista.
> > > Thanks.

I'm sorry for this mess. I'm just not used to this interface.

The TechRepublic link didn't help me either. No matter what I do, Vista is
NOT respecting any "new" program that I'm trying to add as a useable program.
The list of "default" programs is bare bones. It doesn't even show Notepad.
"Spenceation" wrote:

> Are you an administrator on this machine?
>
> http://articles.techrepublic.com.com...1-6172036.html
>
> Here is a step by step guide. On the Open With part (Figure F) click browse
> by the bottom right and navigate to the program. Hopefully this helps
>
> "PeterBBailey" wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > "Spenceation" wrote:
> >
> > > You will need to either right click a file of that type and select open with
> > > and browse to the program (textpad) or use the default program utility and
> > > manually browse to the program yourself. The following link will explain the
> > > default program utility better.
> > > http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...b1ca21033.mspx
> > >
> > No, that's my point. None of those choices work. And, in Start/Default
> > Programs, I don't see anywhere to ADD other programs. All it shows me is a
> > list of the regular, garden-variety Windows programs. How do I add to that
> > list?
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > "PeterBBailey" wrote:
> > >
> > > > I can't associate particular filetypes with the programs I want in Vista. It
> > > > doesn't work using Explorer, nor does it work with the Control Panel defaults
> > > > mini-program. In either case, when I browse to the program I want to use and
> > > > click OK, that program never shows up in the list. I want to associate all my
> > > > .txt text files with "Textpad," my favorite ASCII editor. I've done it for 12
> > > > years now with all earlier versions of Windows, but, I can't get it to work
> > > > with Vista.
> > > > Thanks.

Using Textpad, can you configure associations in its
Configure>Preferences>Associated Files, or something similiar? Also, you
may want to try this:

http://forum.textpad.com/viewtopic.php?t=8152

"PeterBBailey" <PeterBBailey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:2B9BE3FC-C221-4B37-AE0A-7423CF5ACCBC@microsoft.com...
>
> I'm sorry for this mess. I'm just not used to this interface.
>
> The TechRepublic link didn't help me either. No matter what I do, Vista is
> NOT respecting any "new" program that I'm trying to add as a useable
> program.
> The list of "default" programs is bare bones. It doesn't even show
> Notepad.
> "Spenceation" wrote:
>
>> Are you an administrator on this machine?
>>
>> http://articles.techrepublic.com.com...1-6172036.html
>>
>> Here is a step by step guide. On the Open With part (Figure F) click
>> browse
>> by the bottom right and navigate to the program. Hopefully this helps
>>
>> "PeterBBailey" wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >
>> > "Spenceation" wrote:
>> >
>> > > You will need to either right click a file of that type and select
>> > > open with
>> > > and browse to the program (textpad) or use the default program
>> > > utility and
>> > > manually browse to the program yourself. The following link will
>> > > explain the
>> > > default program utility better.
>> > > http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...b1ca21033.mspx
>> > >
>> > No, that's my point. None of those choices work. And, in Start/Default
>> > Programs, I don't see anywhere to ADD other programs. All it shows me
>> > is a
>> > list of the regular, garden-variety Windows programs. How do I add to
>> > that
>> > list?
>> >
>> > Thanks.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > > "PeterBBailey" wrote:
>> > >
>> > > > I can't associate particular filetypes with the programs I want in
>> > > > Vista. It
>> > > > doesn't work using Explorer, nor does it work with the Control
>> > > > Panel defaults
>> > > > mini-program. In either case, when I browse to the program I want
>> > > > to use and
>> > > > click OK, that program never shows up in the list. I want to
>> > > > associate all my
>> > > > .txt text files with "Textpad," my favorite ASCII editor. I've done
>> > > > it for 12
>> > > > years now with all earlier versions of Windows, but, I can't get it
>> > > > to work
>> > > > with Vista.
>> > > > Thanks.

I have been able to establish association but haven't figured out how to
"break" them. After upgrading to Vista my MSN mail reader (MSN Browser)
quit opening .email attachments. The MSKB suggested that I associate the
email type with NotePad which I did. That's pretty ugly and I want to
remove the association but not replace it with another program yet.

Any idea how to do that?

Howard
=======================================
"PeterBBailey" <PeterBBailey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:EFEB3002-DB00-4DF6-9824-C204FB7BF4D3@microsoft.com...
>I can't associate particular filetypes with the programs I want in Vista.
>It
> doesn't work using Explorer, nor does it work with the Control Panel
> defaults
> mini-program. In either case, when I browse to the program I want to use
> and
> click OK, that program never shows up in the list. I want to associate all
> my
> .txt text files with "Textpad," my favorite ASCII editor. I've done it for
> 12
> years now with all earlier versions of Windows, but, I can't get it to
> work
> with Vista.
> Thanks.

This doesn't really answer your question, but you might find this of
interest:

INFO: Using MSN's client on Windows Vista
http://kurtsh.spaces.live.com/blog/c...38D!1953.entry

To completely un-associate an .eml extension, if that's what you mean (e.g.,
double-clicking on a file with that extension opens Notepad), in the
Registry Editor, go to

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.eml

(Export the key as a backup to undo your change, if you decide later that
you want things the way they were.) In the right-hand pane, right-click on
Default, under the column Name, (which probably has eml_auto_file as its
Value), and choose Delete. Close the Registry Editor. You may have to Log
Off and back On, or Restart, to see the change.

"Howard Woodard" <woodard@msn.com> wrote in message
news:eeyyNmNxHHA.736@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>I have been able to establish association but haven't figured out how to
>"break" them. After upgrading to Vista my MSN mail reader (MSN Browser)
>quit opening .email attachments. The MSKB suggested that I associate the
>email type with NotePad which I did. That's pretty ugly and I want to
>remove the association but not replace it with another program yet.
>
> Any idea how to do that?
>
> Howard
> =======================================
> "PeterBBailey" <PeterBBailey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:EFEB3002-DB00-4DF6-9824-C204FB7BF4D3@microsoft.com...
>>I can't associate particular filetypes with the programs I want in Vista.
>>It
>> doesn't work using Explorer, nor does it work with the Control Panel
>> defaults
>> mini-program. In either case, when I browse to the program I want to use
>> and
>> click OK, that program never shows up in the list. I want to associate
>> all my
>> .txt text files with "Textpad," my favorite ASCII editor. I've done it
>> for 12
>> years now with all earlier versions of Windows, but, I can't get it to
>> work
>> with Vista.
>> Thanks.
>

Thanks. I had the latest MSN software before I upgraded so I never noticed
the Vista compatibility issue. There's no way to send a message or comment
to his blog or I would ask him how he was doing reading e-mail attachments.
Maybe I'm the only one that has the problem.

I tried the registry change and while I was able to delete the default value
for .email I couldn't make any changes at all to the .eml entry. I get the
dreaded "don't have permission" error. For the life of me I don't
understand why that is. But I can see that a lot of other folks are
stumbling across it as well. Here are the current entries. Any idea how I
can make changes to them?

Key Name: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.eml
Class Name: <NO CLASS>
Last Write Time: 7/12/2007 - 10:38 PM

Key Name: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.eml\shellex
Class Name: <NO CLASS>
Last Write Time: 7/10/2007 - 5:37 PM

Key Name:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.eml\shellex\{8895B1C6-B41F-4C1C-A562-0D564250836F}
Class Name: <NO CLASS>
Last Write Time: 7/11/2007 - 3:54 PM
Value 0
Name: <NO NAME>
Type: REG_SZ
Data: {b9815375-5d7f-4ce2-9245-c9d4da436930}

===============================================
"dean-dean" <dean-dean@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:unhd8lOxHHA.4184@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> This doesn't really answer your question, but you might find this of
> interest:
>
> INFO: Using MSN's client on Windows Vista
> http://kurtsh.spaces.live.com/blog/c...38D!1953.entry
>
> To completely un-associate an .eml extension, if that's what you mean
> (e.g., double-clicking on a file with that extension opens Notepad), in
> the Registry Editor, go to
>
> HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.eml
>
> (Export the key as a backup to undo your change, if you decide later that
> you want things the way they were.) In the right-hand pane, right-click
> on Default, under the column Name, (which probably has eml_auto_file as
> its Value), and choose Delete. Close the Registry Editor. You may have
> to Log Off and back On, or Restart, to see the change.
>
> "Howard Woodard" <woodard@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:eeyyNmNxHHA.736@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>I have been able to establish association but haven't figured out how to
>>"break" them. After upgrading to Vista my MSN mail reader (MSN Browser)
>>quit opening .email attachments. The MSKB suggested that I associate the
>>email type with NotePad which I did. That's pretty ugly and I want to
>>remove the association but not replace it with another program yet.
>>
>> Any idea how to do that?
>>
>> Howard
>> =======================================
>> "PeterBBailey" <PeterBBailey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:EFEB3002-DB00-4DF6-9824-C204FB7BF4D3@microsoft.com...
>>>I can't associate particular filetypes with the programs I want in Vista.
>>>It
>>> doesn't work using Explorer, nor does it work with the Control Panel
>>> defaults
>>> mini-program. In either case, when I browse to the program I want to use
>>> and
>>> click OK, that program never shows up in the list. I want to associate
>>> all my
>>> .txt text files with "Textpad," my favorite ASCII editor. I've done it
>>> for 12
>>> years now with all earlier versions of Windows, but, I can't get it to
>>> work
>>> with Vista.
>>> Thanks.
>>
>

[excille]

For Howard, having problems with editing a registry key, or those who don't want to mess around with their registry simply to disassociate a file, I've cut and pasted some info from the following website:
http://community.winsupersite.com/bl...n-the-fly.aspx

"At a command prompt (cmd.exe) type assoc.file_type= Where file_type is the extension of the file type for which you want to remove the application association. As an example, you could stop PHP files from opening with WordPad by typing assoc.php= and then hitting Enter. The next time you open a PHP file, you will be prompted to choose a program again."

The article continues to suggest changing the file association with the "open with" feature, but if you're here, like me, that didn't quite cut the mustard.

I also assume you can use this "assoc" command to specifically associate a file type with a specific program, but I haven't played around with the command much, myself.

Hope this helps.