Open With

[Guest]

Open With right click does not show for text type files - txt, doc, rtf, etc.
Using the Shift key it will show, BUT there are two blanks in the dialog box.

Word
Notepad
*blank
*blank

If you click in the blank spot nothing happens.

Right click on the file, Properties, Always open with is grayed out.
However, I can still change it.

Other files seem to be OK in showing the Opens With dialog box.

I have tried Kelly's Korner 220, 241, Vogel's registry changes for
NoFileAssociate. And C:\%windir%\rundll32.exe shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1
for the unknown. Here is what was there before that change
%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe
%SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1

Nothing seems to work. It was fine a few days ago. Permissions are also OK.

Any more ideas?

 

[Matija Hrovat]

Hi,
take a look at the following article:

How to Remove Programs from the "Open With" List
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/258860

Look for .doc, .rtf separately.


Let us know if this helped.

Regards,
Matija Hrovat

 

[Guest]

OK - Partial solution.

How do I get rid of the blank spots

i.e. Here is the list for a TXT extension:

Notepad
Microsoft Word
Internet Explorer
(blank entry)
(blank entry)
----------------
Choose Program

If you click on the blank areas nothing happens - it's like there used to be
a choice there, but the words and execution were removed, but not the space
they used to occupy.

Ideas??

 

[Matija Hrovat]

I'm sorry but I don't understand...
If you go to regedit and you open the following key:

+ HKEY_CURRENT_USER
+ Software
+ Microsoft
+ Windows
+ CurrentVersion
+ Explorer
+ FileExts
+ .txt
+ OpenWithList

Which keys are listed on the right side ?

The other registry key you should check is:

+ HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
+ SystemFileAssociations
+ text
+ OpenWithList

This time don't look on the right side for the keys insted just expand
OpenWithList and check which keys are listed under.

Please let me know if I was unclear in any way.
Regards,
Matija Hrovat

 

[Guest]

When you right click on a file a dialog box opens, click on Open With and
there are three readable choices. Then there are two lines that have no
choice at all.

This is a representation of the dialog box

___________ _______________
| Open With | | Notepad |
| | | Microsoft Word |
|_________ | | Internet Explorer |
| (blank entry) | - no words, no choice, just a
blank area
| (blank entry) | - no words, no choice, just a
blank area
|_______________|
|Choose Program |
|_______________|

TXT or TEXT is not listed here

 

[Matija Hrovat]

Did you go to regedit and do you know what Registry Editor is ?
I am sorry but you are just reffering to what you see when you choose Open
with.


Description of the Microsoft Windows registry
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986

Regards,
Matija

 

[Guest]

I know EXACTLY what the registry is - How to find it, search it, edit,
restore and all the other stuff. I am an advanced user.

The first registry enrty that you referenced is OK
The second one (Root) does not have the entry you suggest.

You are right - I am referring to what I see when I choose Open With.

My Apologies!! I guess I forgot to include that for some reason Open With
(right click) decided to show up again, but this time with what I have tried
to describe in the previous post.


However, this problem still remains -

Right click on the file, Properties, Always use the selected progam (square
little box at the botton of the dialog) is checked and grayed out.

Are you a MS-MVP?

 

[Matija Hrovat]

Well if I understood you correctly (please let me know if I didn't) the
first registry key:

+ HKEY_CURRENT_USER
+ Software
+ Microsoft
+ Windows
+ CurrentVersion
+ Explorer
+ FileExts
+ .txt
+ OpenWithList

Doesn't contain the blank entries which entries does it contain ?


and the second key:
+ HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
+ SystemFileAssociations
+ text
+ OpenWithList

Doesn't even exist.


Check two more keys if they exist or if they contain the problematic
entries:
+ HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
+ .txt
+ OpenWithList

(look for a sub-key not a string value)


the other one is:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
*
OpenWithList

(also look just for "blank" sub-keys)


If you aren't able to find the key, use the following sysinternals utility:
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/Regmon.html
In the filter/highlight insert OpenWith
Right click text file and point to Open With menu.
Check the results in regmon. It's a little more time consuming but the
results will show you from where the blank entries are taken.
If you cannot find it you can send me the results to my e-mail (remove
"-spam") and I'll try to check which entry is problematic.

Hope this helps and please do not hesitate to contact me if I misunderstood
you or if anything I wrote is not clear.

Regards,
Matija Hrovat