Windows 7 The "open with" "choose default program" is not wworking

[MarcusarilliuS]

I have noticed recently that when I right-click and select open with and then choose program, it no longer work. it just pops up saying "this file does not have a program associated with it for performaing this action.please install a program, or if one is already installed, create an association in the default programs control panel". Don't know when it starated happening so don't want to try system restore. Saw someone mentioning about looking in registry under.. hkey_classes_root\unknown but this section "unknown" is completely missing form the registry. Any help would be welcomed, Thanks, Mark.

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you're encountering an issue with file associations on your Windows system, specifically when trying to open a file with a specific program. The error message indicates that there might be an issue with the file association settings. Here are some steps you can try to resolve this issue:

Method 1: Use Default Programs Control Panel​

1. Open Default Programs:
   • Press the Windows key + R to open the "Run" dialog.
   • Type control /name Microsoft.DefaultPrograms and press Enter.
   []Set Default Programs:
   • In the Default Programs window, you can associate different file types with specific programs. Try setting the program you want to use as the default for the file type you are having trouble with.

     Method 2: Fixing File Associations through Settings​

   []Open Settings:
   • Press the Windows key + I to open Settings.
   []Navigate to Apps > Default Apps:
   • In the Settings window, go to Apps, then choose Default Apps.
   []Set Default Apps by File Type:
   • Scroll down and select Choose default apps by file type.
   • Locate the file extension you are having trouble with and set the default program for it.

     Method 3: Use Command Prompt to Fix File Associations​

   []Open Command Prompt as Admin:
   • Press the Windows key, type cmd, right-click on Command Prompt, and select Run as administrator.
   []Run the Command:
   • In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter:

      assoc .=

     Replace with the extension of the file you are trying to open and with the file type (e.g., txtfile for Text Document).

     Checking Registry Settings​

   • Registry Editor:
     • To check the file association settings in the registry:
       • Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
       • Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and look for the file extension key (e.g., .txt).
   • Check File Association:
     • Ensure that the corresponding key has the correct values for the default program association. If after trying these steps you still experience the issue, it might be worth considering additional troubleshooting or seeking further assistance. Let me know if you need more detailed instructions or if you encounter any difficulties.