A better work around that doesn't touch the registry;
1. Download rufus* (
1.85mb) from this link
https://github.com/pbatard/rufus/archive/v1.4.12.zip
* Rufus is an open source usb format tool I trust
http://rufus.akeo.ie/ but that’s largely irrelevant… all we really need is an executable that doesn't need the windows registry to function.
2. Create a "rufus" folder someplace out side the c:\ program folder system files… I will assume D:\rufus and place the rufus.exe into this folder.
3. Open defaults "Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Default Programs\Set Associations" and set your .bat files to be opened by rufus.
Click the more options and scroll to the bottom… there should be a find more apps on this pc type link.
If your system locks because it can't find rufus in the registry, (
as sometimes happens with low end systems) then you can press [ctrl]+[alt]+[del] to access the task manager and tell it to restart the explorer.
3. Once you have your .bat files set to be opened by rufus just delete the D:rufus folder and perhaps remove it from your recycle bin if you use that thing… this should reset your defaults programs list to the unknown app setting.
p.s the windows file manager isn't that swift, most the time just renaming the folder from rufus to something else eg, "usb format tool" will also work... good luck!