Changing file associations

[Dr. Dos]

I cannot change file associations in XP Pro.

The help instructions say to chose "change" under the
general tab of (right click) (file) properties. There is no
Change for this particular file (although this works for
other files). Also, no choice for "Open With," either.

XP does not have/use Winfile.exe, so how do I adjust/delete
associations. This particular association is with the
extension .cnf which associates with "speed dial" something
I do not use.

Thank you.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Dr. Dos;
Did you click the (BLUE) Related Topics at the bottom of the Help article you
mentioned?

From XP Help:
===================
[To modify an existing file type
Open Folder Options in Control Panel.
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click Folder Options.
On the File Types tab, click the file type you want to change, and then click
Advanced.
If necessary, modify the file type description, and click Change Icon to change
the file type icon.
Under Actions, click the command you want to modify, and then click Edit,
Remove, or Set Default. Click New to add a new command to the Actions list.
Notes
After you specify a new action, the corresponding command appears on the menu
when you right-click a file with the associated extension.
In the New Action dialog box, you can click Browse to find the program you want
to specify for the action.
All files that have the file name extension will use the icon and commands you
specify.]
===================
[To associate a file name extension with a file type
Open Folder Options in Control Panel.
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click Folder Options.
On the File Types tab, click New.
Type a new or existing file name extension, and then click Advanced.
In Associated File Type,
Type or select New to create a file type to associate with the file name
extension.
-or-
Type or select a different file type to associate with the extension.
Notes
When you type a file extension in the Create New Extension dialog box, the
Associated File Type list displays the file type that is associated with that
extension. To select New, scroll to the top of the list.
For information about how to make modifications to the file type, click Related
Topics.
To change the program that opens a file, on the File Types tab, under
Registered file types, click the file type, and then click Change.]

 

[Dr. Dos]

Dr. Dos;
Did you click the (BLUE) Related Topics at the bottom of the Help article you
mentioned?

From XP Help:
===================
[To modify an existing file type
Open Folder Options in Control Panel.
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click Folder Options.
On the File Types tab, click the file type you want to change, and then click
Advanced.
If necessary, modify the file type description, and click Change Icon to change
the file type icon.
Under Actions, click the command you want to modify, and then click Edit,
Remove, or Set Default. Click New to add a new command to the Actions list.
Notes
After you specify a new action, the corresponding command appears on the menu
when you right-click a file with the associated extension.
In the New Action dialog box, you can click Browse to find the program you want
to specify for the action.
All files that have the file name extension will use the icon and commands you
specify.]
===================
[To associate a file name extension with a file type
Open Folder Options in Control Panel.
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click Folder Options.
On the File Types tab, click New.
Type a new or existing file name extension, and then click Advanced.
In Associated File Type,
Type or select New to create a file type to associate with the file name
extension.
-or-
Type or select a different file type to associate with the extension.
Notes
When you type a file extension in the Create New Extension dialog box, the
Associated File Type list displays the file type that is associated with that
extension. To select New, scroll to the top of the list.
For information about how to make modifications to the file type, click Related
Topics.
To change the program that opens a file, on the File Types tab, under
Registered file types, click the file type, and then click Change.]

Actually, there were no "related topics" at the bottom(s) of
most of the listings. There were blue "contact us." buttons
The Help off of Windows Explorer is provided by Toshiba.
Maybe that is why "related topics" is missing. (There were a
total of 24 unhelpful topics I viewed in Help.) I also
looked at the microsoft site which gave the "open with" and
"properties" "general" "change" instruction.

Thank you.
Your directions were correct and useful. I found similar at
Annoyances.org

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Comcast's news server must be down. I've been trying to
send this off and on for 2 - 3 hours.
---------------------------
Dr. Dos;
You're welcome.
Try this.
------------------
Do a Search for:
HelpCtr.exe
When/if you find it, the one in:
C:\WINDOWS\PCHealth\HlpCtr\Binaries\HelpCtr.exe
is the one you want.
Right click it | Send To | Desktop (Create Shortcut)
-------------
HelpCtr.exe = Microsoft Help and Support Center
--
Hope this helps. Let us know.
Wes

In

Dr. Dos;
Did you click the (BLUE) Related Topics at the bottom of the Help article
you
mentioned?

From XP Help:
===================
[To modify an existing file type
Open Folder Options in Control Panel.
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click Folder Options.
On the File Types tab, click the file type you want to change, and then
click
Advanced.
If necessary, modify the file type description, and click Change Icon to
change
the file type icon.
Under Actions, click the command you want to modify, and then click Edit,
Remove, or Set Default. Click New to add a new command to the Actions list.
Notes
After you specify a new action, the corresponding command appears on the
menu
when you right-click a file with the associated extension.
In the New Action dialog box, you can click Browse to find the program you
want
to specify for the action.
All files that have the file name extension will use the icon and commands
you
specify.]
===================
[To associate a file name extension with a file type
Open Folder Options in Control Panel.
Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click Folder Options.
On the File Types tab, click New.
Type a new or existing file name extension, and then click Advanced.
In Associated File Type,
Type or select New to create a file type to associate with the file name
extension.
-or-
Type or select a different file type to associate with the extension.
Notes
When you type a file extension in the Create New Extension dialog box, the
Associated File Type list displays the file type that is associated with
that
extension. To select New, scroll to the top of the list.
For information about how to make modifications to the file type, click
Related
Topics.
To change the program that opens a file, on the File Types tab, under
Registered file types, click the file type, and then click Change.]

Actually, there were no "related topics" at the bottom(s) of
most of the listings. There were blue "contact us." buttons
The Help off of Windows Explorer is provided by Toshiba.
Maybe that is why "related topics" is missing. (There were a
total of 24 unhelpful topics I viewed in Help.) I also
looked at the microsoft site which gave the "open with" and
"properties" "general" "change" instruction.

Thank you.
Your directions were correct and useful. I found similar at
Annoyances.org

You can change the program used to open different file types like this: in
an open folder, pulldown 'Tools', click 'Folder options'. Select the 'File
types' tab, and highlight the file extension in question. Click on the
'Advanced' button near the bottom. Now you can edit the way that file
extension is handled.