Lost file associations

[Terry Pinnell]

Well, more 'usurped' than lost.

I've just discovered that d-clicking an AVI or MPG file opens MediaInfo
(0.7.34) rather than the programs I've had associated with these
extensions for years. Worse, those types no longer even appear in the
Tools > Folder Options > File Types list. They'll have to be added from
scratch unless there's a smarter way. I had many options accessible from a
r-click, all of which will now have to be tediously restored.

Probably true of other movie types too, I haven't yet checked.

Anyone else had similar experience, or have any idea as to cause please?

Is there any way in XP to 'restore associations to some sort of default?
Or does a newly-installed OS have no associations for types such as AVI,
MPG, MP4, etc?

 

[Stan Brown]

Well, more 'usurped' than lost.

I've just discovered that d-clicking an AVI or MPG file opens MediaInfo
(0.7.34) rather than the programs I've had associated with these
extensions for years. Worse, those types no longer even appear in the
Tools > Folder Options > File Types list. They'll have to be added from
scratch unless there's a smarter way. I had many options accessible from a
r-click, all of which will now have to be tediously restored.

Probably true of other movie types too, I haven't yet checked.

Anyone else had similar experience, or have any idea as to cause please?

Is there any way in XP to 'restore associations to some sort of default?
Or does a newly-installed OS have no associations for types such as AVI,
MPG, MP4, etc?

You didn't say which applications you previously had associated with
those file types. But many multimedia applications let you change
file associations through the apps' own configuration or preference
screens. If you haven't checked already, it's probably worth while.

Failing that, open a file Explorer window to a folder that includes a
file of the given type. Select the file, then Shift-Rightclick or
Ctrl-Rightclick it and select "Open with...". (I can't remember
whether it's Ctrl or Shift in Win XP, and right now I'm running Win 7
where apparently it's both.) You'll then get a chooser window with
some apps listed. If yours is listed there, select it; otherwise use
the Browse... button to find it. Before making your selection, check
the "Always use this program" box on the dialog -- that's the key to
changing the file association.

 

[Terry Pinnell]

You didn't say which applications you previously had associated with
those file types.

Thanks Stan.

I've concluded that it was a badly designed setup program from MediaInfo,
which failed to adequately warn me that by default it would take over the
existing association. In the case of MPG was MediaPlayer Classic here.

But I also use a program called OpenExpert, more versatile than the
built-in Windows XP method. I didn't spell out the
"...many options accessible from a r-click..."
but for MPG there were 14, as shown here:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4019461/MPG-OpenOptions.jpg