How to Repair or Change File Associations

Windows users know that files of certain types are tied to certain programs such that double-clicking on that file will cause it to open in a particular program. For example, clicking on a DOC file will open the file in Microsoft Word. This is done because Windows has associated DOC files with Microsoft Word. Sometimes the file associations get screwed up and don\’t work. If there is no program associated with a file type, the file will display with a blank icon and double-clicking that file will cause Windows to ask you what program to use to open it.

You can repair your file associations easily. In Windows Explorer, click on Tools > Folder Options. Then click on the File Types tab. Windows will look for all file types on your system and display them. Scroll down and find the file type you need to associate with a program. To edit it, highlight the file type and click "Change". Select the program from the list to open the file type with. If the program you need is not displayed, click "Browse" and go find the EXE file of the program you want to open the file with. Save your changes with the "OK" button. To add a brand new file type, you can hit the "New" button, type in the name of the file extension and save.

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Michael Doser
problem…in windows 98se…all thumbnail views disappeared from every folder on all three hard drives…but the thumbnail option remained…what is the default thumbnail viewer for windows 98se?..that is to ask, what file is creating the thumbnail views in windows explorer?…is it the same file that opens the graphic images when you double-click on them?
i ask this cuz in folder options/file types there are file extensions for graphic images missing…such as .bmp, .tif, .gif and the .jpg file will not open at all
http://howtofixabootup. john
i boot up and go to the main sceen where my icons are and all it does it reboot up again . how can i fix the problum.
Jane Radley
Thanks for that tip David, it sounds easy but what if we encounter unknown file extensions and don’t know the correct program to associate it to? I think there are free software such as this http://rescuedata.org/file_extensions_repair.html claiming to fix this kind of problem, but if they can really do it as they claim to be, then why don’t microsoft just make such software for itself? I think microsoft only has find a program service, but not a software that automatically does it. What do you think of these software?