Changing file associations

[David]

Having just re-installed XP Home & all programs after a Windows Update
soured my system I find that .bmp files have been hijacked by the
cursed Windows Picture Viewer even though I set the association to
Photoshop when that program was installed. Worse, when I try to change
the association back to Photoshop it does not appear as one of the
programs from which to choose. I can browse to Photoshop.exe, but
Windows just will not accept the change.

How do I force the change? Can I strip out the Windows Viewer? I'll
never use it, but it doesn't appear in Add/Remove programs, typical MS
conceit. I just wish they'd concentrate on making a secure OS instead
packing it full of trash whilst leaving gaping holes to be exploited
by hackers.

David

 

[Kelly]

Hi David,

There are several ways to go about this.

Prevent Image and Fax Viewer From Stealing Associations

Go to Start/Run/Regedit and Delete this string:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\image\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers\S
hellImagePreview
@="{e84fda7c-1d6a-45f6-b725-cb260c236066}"

Manually Edit: Right Click On image file. Choose Open With, then Choose
Program. Select your favorite image viewer program. Check the "always use
selected program" box Click OK.

If you are wanting to change the default program, follow the same process.
Once another program is selected, the Preview option will be replaced with
Open as the default.
Start/Run and type in: regsvr32 shimgvw.dll

The other option is setting the default here for the Application:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileEx
ts\.bmp]
"Application"=""

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