[Q] Vista64, how to force 64bit versions of IE and WMP for associations.

[jiv]

Hello, I'm trying to force Vista64 to use its 64bit versions of IE and WMP
when I click on local *.html files and media playlists *.wpl files.
Currently it's trying to launch the 32bit versions of the respective
programs which I don't want. I renamed the 32bit .exes and it scoffs when
trying to launch the old program, default programs and file associations
don't seem to allow it either. What's the trick? Thanks -

 

[zachd [MSFT]]

There's a number of sites out there that have mirrored my earlier comments
on how to do this:
===
To switch and change to 64-bit WMP11, open an elevated command prompt as
administrator and type the following command:

%windir%\system32\unregmp2.exe /SwapTo:64

Then, open Registry Editor (regedit), then navigate to the the registry key
of "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App
Paths\wmplayer.exe". Then set the registry subkey "Path" to be
"%Programfiles(x86)%\Windows Media Player" (without quotes), and "(Default)"
subkey (normally the first entry) to "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Media
Player\wmplayer.exe" (include quotes).

To undo the x64 change and go back to Windows Media Player 11 x86 32-bit
edition, also open an elevated command prompt with administrator privileges,
but issue the following command instead:

%windir%\system32\unregmp2.exe /SwapTo:32

Then, run Registry Editor, and reset the value for registry subkey of "Path"
and "(Default"). With either one of two methods, you will have complete full
x64 Windows Media Player experience."
===

It's a little test feature I put in that is wholly unsupported but should
generally work fine. Mixing 64bit and 32bit associations is extremely
unsupported though, sorry.