"Open With" List Does Not Work

[Guest]

I have always opened dbf files with Excel in XP

Now I'm using Vista. I right click the dbf file and go to "open with" list.
Excel is not there. If I click "Browse" and set Excel.exe as the program to
open the file, it doesn't work. I tried to change the registry editor but
also it doesn't work.

I can start Excel and then open the dbf file within Excel, but that's not
what I want. I wanto to double click the file name and open it with Excel,
which is not in the Open With List. Anyone knows what's the problem here??

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, PR.

As you have learned, Vista handles this differently from WinXP.

Click Control Panel | Default Programs. The top two options here are what
you need to use. They are not as intuitive as their titles make them seem,
so study them a bit before you make your choices. Oh, and if you have a lot
of apps installed, it will take several seconds to populate these pages, so
don't abort them too soon.

My "Associate a file..." list does not show the .dbf extension. I think
that is because no file on my computer uses that extension. Your list
probably will include that extension and you can click Change program... to
select Excel - but you will probably need to click the down arrow for Other
Programs, and still maybe have to Browse to find Excel.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail beta 2 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 beta v.275)

 

[Guest]

But that's precisely the problem! If I go to Control Panel | Default Programs
and try to use the first 2 options, excel is not there!! it's not on the
"other program" list. and if i browse to find excel, nothing happens...

 

[Guest]

The problem is that Excel is never on any list for setting defaults, either

 

[Dave]

Try to reinstall Excel.

The problem is that Excel is never on any list for setting defaults,
either
on "set your default programs" or in the list for "associate a file type"
for
dbf files. And if browsing to find Excel nothing happens

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

John,

See if registering Excel.exe using the /regserver parameter helps.

- - -
/regserver Forces Excel to register itself and then quit. Use this
switch when you want Excel to rewrite all its
registry keys and reassociate itself with Excel files,
such as workbooks, charts, and others.
- - -

You need to do that from an elevated Command Prompt. To open an elevated Command Prompt, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com



Hi PR

I'm afraid I don't have an answer, but I have the same problem - did
you find a solution? I wonder if it has something to do with me removing
a trial version of Office 2007 that was installed on my new PC and
installing Office 2003.
Thanks
John

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the suggestion,

What exactly do I write in the Command Prompt. When I open it as
administrator , I can see:

C:\Users\Paulo>

So I tried to write C:\Users\Paulo>C:\Program
Files\OFFICE11\Excel.exe/regserver

And I got this: "The system cannot find the path specified" .....

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Leave a space after "excel.exe". Type:

"C:\Program Files\OFFICE11\Excel.exe" /regserver

Also, you seem to do that from a *normal* Command Prompt window. You need to open an admin Command Prompt as I said before.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Thanks for the suggestion,

What exactly do I write in the Command Prompt. When I open it as
administrator , I can see:

C:\Users\Paulo>

So I tried to write C:\Users\Paulo>C:\Program
Files\OFFICE11\Excel.exe/regserver

And I got this: "The system cannot find the path specified" .....

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Paulo.

I sure am glad Ramesh came to help!

Since the pathname includes a space, be sure to enclose it in double-quotes.
Also, the exact path may be different, depending on where you installed
Excel in your computer. In mine, the path is E:\Program Files\Microsoft
Office\Office12\excel.exe. If you need to find your installation, then use
the Dir command in that Administrator:Command Prompt window with the /s
switch to search all subfolders:
dir c:\excel.exe /s

It might take a few minutes if that's a big drive with lots of folders.

So I tried to write C:\Users\Paulo>C:\Program
Files\OFFICE11\Excel.exe/regserver

Make that:

C:\Users\Paulo>"C:\Program Files\OFFICE11\Excel.exe" /regserver

Yeah, that's what Ramesh said, but I wanted to emphasize those quotes around
the full pathname, since "\Program Files" includes a space. Maybe it was
just a typo or an oversight, but the quotes were missing from your post.
Without the quotes, Vista looks for a file or folder named "C:\Program" and
can't find one by that name. :>(

And, by the way, the reason I hadn't replied sooner is that I found out that
I had the same problem and was looking for a solution before posting back.
Thanks, Ramesh!

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail beta 2 in Vista Ultimate x64)

Leave a space after "excel.exe". Type:

"C:\Program Files\OFFICE11\Excel.exe" /regserver

Also, you seem to do that from a *normal* Command Prompt window. You need
to open an admin Command Prompt as I said before.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Thanks for the suggestion,

What exactly do I write in the Command Prompt. When I open it as
administrator , I can see:

C:\Users\Paulo>

So I tried to write C:\Users\Paulo>C:\Program
Files\OFFICE11\Excel.exe/regserver

And I got this: "The system cannot find the path specified" .....

John,

See if registering Excel.exe using the /regserver parameter helps.

- - -
/regserver Forces Excel to register itself and then quit. Use this
switch when you want Excel to rewrite all its
registry keys and reassociate itself with Excel
files,
such as workbooks, charts, and others.
- - -

You need to do that from an elevated Command Prompt. To open an elevated
Command Prompt, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories,
right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com



Hi PR

I'm afraid I don't have an answer, but I have the same problem - did
you find a solution? I wonder if it has something to do with me removing
a trial version of Office 2007 that was installed on my new PC and
installing Office 2003.
Thanks
John

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi Robert,

I assume the issue is fixed after running the command-line?

Thanks for the explanation! Had that in mind, but did not put my point across.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi, Paulo.

I sure am glad Ramesh came to help!

Since the pathname includes a space, be sure to enclose it in double-quotes.
Also, the exact path may be different, depending on where you installed
Excel in your computer. In mine, the path is E:\Program Files\Microsoft
Office\Office12\excel.exe. If you need to find your installation, then use
the Dir command in that Administrator:Command Prompt window with the /s
switch to search all subfolders:
dir c:\excel.exe /s

It might take a few minutes if that's a big drive with lots of folders.

So I tried to write C:\Users\Paulo>C:\Program
Files\OFFICE11\Excel.exe/regserver

Make that:

C:\Users\Paulo>"C:\Program Files\OFFICE11\Excel.exe" /regserver

Yeah, that's what Ramesh said, but I wanted to emphasize those quotes around
the full pathname, since "\Program Files" includes a space. Maybe it was
just a typo or an oversight, but the quotes were missing from your post.
Without the quotes, Vista looks for a file or folder named "C:\Program" and
can't find one by that name. :>(

And, by the way, the reason I hadn't replied sooner is that I found out that
I had the same problem and was looking for a solution before posting back.
Thanks, Ramesh!

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail beta 2 in Vista Ultimate x64)

Leave a space after "excel.exe". Type:

"C:\Program Files\OFFICE11\Excel.exe" /regserver

Also, you seem to do that from a *normal* Command Prompt window. You need
to open an admin Command Prompt as I said before.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Thanks for the suggestion,

What exactly do I write in the Command Prompt. When I open it as
administrator , I can see:

C:\Users\Paulo>

So I tried to write C:\Users\Paulo>C:\Program
Files\OFFICE11\Excel.exe/regserver

And I got this: "The system cannot find the path specified" .....

John,

See if registering Excel.exe using the /regserver parameter helps.

- - -
/regserver Forces Excel to register itself and then quit. Use this
switch when you want Excel to rewrite all its
registry keys and reassociate itself with Excel
files,
such as workbooks, charts, and others.
- - -

You need to do that from an elevated Command Prompt. To open an elevated
Command Prompt, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories,
right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com



Hi PR

I'm afraid I don't have an answer, but I have the same problem - did
you find a solution? I wonder if it has something to do with me removing
a trial version of Office 2007 that was installed on my new PC and
installing Office 2003.
Thanks
John

 

[R. C. White]

Hi, Ramesh.

I assume the issue is fixed after running the command-line?

Yes. I meant to say that explicitly but was in a rush. Yes, now Microsoft
Office Excel shows up, just like Microsoft Office Word, in the list when I
highlight a program labeled "Unknown application" and then click Change
program.

Hi Robert,

Good guess, Ramesh. My parents named me "Robert Charles" for my two
grandfathers, but then called me "R. C." so that neither Grandpa would be
jealous, I suppose. ;<) "Initial names" are quite common in my native
Oklahoma - and in Texas, where I live now. Maybe you saw J. R. Ewing in the
TV show, "Dallas". I have an uncle O. J. and cousins J. R. and R. O., and I
grew up with several J. C.'s and J. D.'s, as well as W. C. "Dub" Kitchens.
My Rotary Club now includes H. C. Kyle and O. A. Watson, Jr. So, while
Robert is my name, please call me R. C. - or just RC. As the old song says,
"Every Tom, Dick and Harry is named Bob White!" ;<) But I don't think I
ever met a Ramesh. I hope we get a chance to get acquainted at the next
Summit.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail beta 2 in Vista Ultimate x64)

Hi Robert,

I assume the issue is fixed after running the command-line?

Thanks for the explanation! Had that in mind, but did not put my point
across.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi, Paulo.

I sure am glad Ramesh came to help!

Since the pathname includes a space, be sure to enclose it in
double-quotes.
Also, the exact path may be different, depending on where you installed
Excel in your computer. In mine, the path is E:\Program Files\Microsoft
Office\Office12\excel.exe. If you need to find your installation, then
use
the Dir command in that Administrator:Command Prompt window with the /s
switch to search all subfolders:
dir c:\excel.exe /s

It might take a few minutes if that's a big drive with lots of folders.

So I tried to write C:\Users\Paulo>C:\Program
Files\OFFICE11\Excel.exe/regserver

Make that:

C:\Users\Paulo>"C:\Program Files\OFFICE11\Excel.exe" /regserver

Yeah, that's what Ramesh said, but I wanted to emphasize those quotes
around
the full pathname, since "\Program Files" includes a space. Maybe it was
just a typo or an oversight, but the quotes were missing from your post.
Without the quotes, Vista looks for a file or folder named "C:\Program"
and
can't find one by that name. :>(

And, by the way, the reason I hadn't replied sooner is that I found out
that
I had the same problem and was looking for a solution before posting back.
Thanks, Ramesh!

RC

Leave a space after "excel.exe". Type:

"C:\Program Files\OFFICE11\Excel.exe" /regserver

Also, you seem to do that from a *normal* Command Prompt window. You need
to open an admin Command Prompt as I said before.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Thanks for the suggestion,

What exactly do I write in the Command Prompt. When I open it as
administrator , I can see:

C:\Users\Paulo>

So I tried to write C:\Users\Paulo>C:\Program
Files\OFFICE11\Excel.exe/regserver

And I got this: "The system cannot find the path specified" .....

John,

See if registering Excel.exe using the /regserver parameter helps.

- - -
/regserver Forces Excel to register itself and then quit. Use
this
switch when you want Excel to rewrite all its
registry keys and reassociate itself with Excel
files,
such as workbooks, charts, and others.
- - -

You need to do that from an elevated Command Prompt. To open an elevated
Command Prompt, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories,
right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com



Hi PR

I'm afraid I don't have an answer, but I have the same problem - did
you find a solution? I wonder if it has something to do with me removing
a trial version of Office 2007 that was installed on my new PC and
installing Office 2003.
Thanks
John

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Glad the Excel problem is fixed, RC.

Not a guess actually, but I read your MVP profile when I was seeing the awardees list last month

Hope to meet you in the next Summit!

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

I assume the issue is fixed after running the command-line?

Yes. I meant to say that explicitly but was in a rush. Yes, now Microsoft
Office Excel shows up, just like Microsoft Office Word, in the list when I
highlight a program labeled "Unknown application" and then click Change
program.

Hi Robert,

Good guess, Ramesh. My parents named me "Robert Charles" for my two
grandfathers, but then called me "R. C." so that neither Grandpa would be
jealous, I suppose. ;<) "Initial names" are quite common in my native
Oklahoma - and in Texas, where I live now. Maybe you saw J. R. Ewing in the
TV show, "Dallas". I have an uncle O. J. and cousins J. R. and R. O., and I
grew up with several J. C.'s and J. D.'s, as well as W. C. "Dub" Kitchens.
My Rotary Club now includes H. C. Kyle and O. A. Watson, Jr. So, while
Robert is my name, please call me R. C. - or just RC. As the old song says,
"Every Tom, Dick and Harry is named Bob White!" ;<) But I don't think I
ever met a Ramesh. I hope we get a chance to get acquainted at the next
Summit.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail beta 2 in Vista Ultimate x64)

Hi Robert,

I assume the issue is fixed after running the command-line?

Thanks for the explanation! Had that in mind, but did not put my point
across.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi, Paulo.

I sure am glad Ramesh came to help!

Since the pathname includes a space, be sure to enclose it in
double-quotes.
Also, the exact path may be different, depending on where you installed
Excel in your computer. In mine, the path is E:\Program Files\Microsoft
Office\Office12\excel.exe. If you need to find your installation, then
use
the Dir command in that Administrator:Command Prompt window with the /s
switch to search all subfolders:
dir c:\excel.exe /s

It might take a few minutes if that's a big drive with lots of folders.

So I tried to write C:\Users\Paulo>C:\Program
Files\OFFICE11\Excel.exe/regserver

Make that:

C:\Users\Paulo>"C:\Program Files\OFFICE11\Excel.exe" /regserver

Yeah, that's what Ramesh said, but I wanted to emphasize those quotes
around
the full pathname, since "\Program Files" includes a space. Maybe it was
just a typo or an oversight, but the quotes were missing from your post.
Without the quotes, Vista looks for a file or folder named "C:\Program"
and
can't find one by that name. :>(

And, by the way, the reason I hadn't replied sooner is that I found out
that
I had the same problem and was looking for a solution before posting back.
Thanks, Ramesh!

RC

Leave a space after "excel.exe". Type:

"C:\Program Files\OFFICE11\Excel.exe" /regserver

Also, you seem to do that from a *normal* Command Prompt window. You need
to open an admin Command Prompt as I said before.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Thanks for the suggestion,

What exactly do I write in the Command Prompt. When I open it as
administrator , I can see:

C:\Users\Paulo>

So I tried to write C:\Users\Paulo>C:\Program
Files\OFFICE11\Excel.exe/regserver

And I got this: "The system cannot find the path specified" .....

John,

See if registering Excel.exe using the /regserver parameter helps.

- - -
/regserver Forces Excel to register itself and then quit. Use
this
switch when you want Excel to rewrite all its
registry keys and reassociate itself with Excel
files,
such as workbooks, charts, and others.
- - -

You need to do that from an elevated Command Prompt. To open an elevated
Command Prompt, click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories,
right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com



Hi PR

I'm afraid I don't have an answer, but I have the same problem - did
you find a solution? I wonder if it has something to do with me removing
a trial version of Office 2007 that was installed on my new PC and
installing Office 2003.
Thanks
John

 

[Guest]

Thanks.

So now I'm trying to register Excel.exe using the /regserver parameter, and
I get this error message:

"one of your object libraries (stdole32.tlb) is missing or damaged. Pease
run Setup to install it".

Then, "please wait while Windows configures Microsoft Office Professional"...

...wait...

Then, nothing happens....

Even if the installation CD is in the drive, nothing happens ((

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Okie. Try this route instead.

Registering programs with the "Open With" dialog:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/openwithadd.htm

Download OpenWithAdd from the above link and save to Desktop. Select Excel.exe application by browsing the folder or by typing the path directly. Then click "Register". Microsoft Excel should now be registered with the system.

If you're using Office 2003, the file excel.exe would be present here:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE11\EXCEL.EXE

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Thanks.

So now I'm trying to register Excel.exe using the /regserver parameter, and
I get this error message:

"one of your object libraries (stdole32.tlb) is missing or damaged. Pease
run Setup to install it".

Then, "please wait while Windows configures Microsoft Office Professional"...

...wait...

Then, nothing happens....

Even if the installation CD is in the drive, nothing happens ((

 

[Guest]

Wow! Great! It works.. ! thanks Ramesh

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

You're welcome!

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Wow! Great! It works.. ! thanks Ramesh