something's broke!

[jopa66]

I consider myself to be somewhat knowledgeable but, this has me baffled.
This problem is on a fresh install of WindowsXP Professional. Not sure if
this was caused by software installation or perhaps one of the Windows
Update patches. I do know that the original install was OK. System restore
is not an option as I have spent hours (days) installing everything. Other
than this, everything is working great and the system has never worked
better. I guess I could live with this but, I prefer to get it fixed before
SP-2. If anyone has a solution I'd certainly appreciate it.

Here's the problem - you know that ugly little icon that Windows uses for
unknown file associations? Well here's the dilemma. When I list/search files
in Windows Explorer, any HTM or HTML documents now have this icon!! They
still work fine but I can't get the proper icon to show.

Here's what I've tried so far.


first:

In the "view files" tab of the "Folder Options" applet, all "HTML Document"
file types (13 in total) show the ugly icon in the list. They all "Open
with: Internet Explorer" and the little blue (e) is there. Clicking advanced
button brings up the next window which does show the the proper icon
immediately beside the name "HTML Document". Clicking the Change Icon button
brings up the next window where the first icon in the second row is already
selected. This window is pointing to: D:\Program Files\Internet
Explorer\iexplore.exe (yes, the OS is on drive D).

I can choose any icon I want, click OK and the icon will change on the "Edit
File Type" window BUT, clicking OK here will NOT change it in the File Types
list or in Windows Explorer. Any other file type behaves properly, allowing
me to change its icon if I want.


second:

OK fine, Hit the Change button for "Open with:" - Internet Explorer is
already selected. Say OK and viola! - IExplore's little blue (e) now shows
in the file list (which is actually the first icon in the first row in that
previous window). Not the right icon but we're making progress, right? NOT!!

Windows Explorer doesn't give two hoots to what you've just done. And
furthermore, we no longer have the option to change the icon - only to
restore it, which brings us right back to the ugly thing where we started.

BTW: that last step changed the file type description from "HTML Document"
to "HTML File". Taking this step further, I can choose any program to "Open
with:" and the same scenario applies and double clicking will open the file
in the new program but, the icon remains unchnaged and ugly in Windows
Explorer.


third:

Search the registry for string "HTML Document". Search results are as
follows:

Searchresults for "HTML Document" ,08/08/2004:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
CLSID\{25336920-03F9-11CF-8FD0-00AA00686F13}

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
htmlfile

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
SOFTWARE\Classes\CLSID\{25336920-03F9-11CF-8FD0-00AA00686F13}

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
SOFTWARE\Classes\htmlfile

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\HTML\ClientsName

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Text
Converters\Export\HTMLName

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Text
Converters\Import\HTMLName


DefaultIcon for the first 4 keys all point to:
D:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe,1

The 5th key shows iexplore as the only client and I don't think the last two
are important in this situation.


fourth:

Install Netscape Navigator v4.79 - allowing it to steal all the Internet
settings. It works! File type list as well as Windows Explorer all show the
Netscape icon. Now restart Iexplore - it complains that its not the default
browser. Click 'Yes' to make it the default and whamo - all the ugly icons
are back!!

Of course now I had the daunting task of uninstalling Netscape, then
cleaning up all the extra AOL, AIM and Navigator bits out of the registry.

I don't know what else to try. I'm obviously missing something that probably
quite simple

 

[Kelli Zielinski [MSFT]]

Try going into "Add/Remove Programs" and make IE your default in "Set
Program Access and Defaults". This should fix all your file associations.
If not, let me know.

 

[jopa66]

Thanks Kelly, I didn't even know about that button. I shall keep that little
gem in mind for the future. Meanwhile, I did find a fix for my problem. The
fix is here in case anyone else may need it sometime.

http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/htmicon.htm

RESOLUTION

a.. Open Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) and navigate to the following
location:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\htmlfile]

b.. Backup the key by exporting it as a REG file. See here for more
information on how to do that.

c.. After backing up the key, delete the htmlfile key from the registry.

d.. Open Internet Explorer and click the Tools menu. Choose Internet
Options and select the Programs tab.

e.. Click Reset Web Settings button and complete the process.

 

[Kelli Zielinski [MSFT]]

That works, too - glad you got it fixed!

Thanks Kelly, I didn't even know about that button. I shall keep that
little
gem in mind for the future. Meanwhile, I did find a fix for my problem.
The
fix is here in case anyone else may need it sometime.

http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/htmicon.htm

RESOLUTION

a.. Open Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) and navigate to the following
location:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\htmlfile]

b.. Backup the key by exporting it as a REG file. See here for more
information on how to do that.

c.. After backing up the key, delete the htmlfile key from the registry.

d.. Open Internet Explorer and click the Tools menu. Choose Internet
Options and select the Programs tab.

e.. Click Reset Web Settings button and complete the process.


--
If it ain't broke - tweak it!

~john aka: jopa

Try going into "Add/Remove Programs" and make IE your default in "Set
Program Access and Defaults". This should fix all your file
associations.
If not, let me know.