Return ZIP files to open with default program

[Guest]

I mistakenly chose to open a corrupt ZIP file with WinRAR and thus lost my
ability to open ZIP files with the original compressed folders program in
Vista. I had not noticed that the option to 'always use this program to open
this type of file' is always checked in Vista, unlike in XP.

Realizing my mistake, I decided to try to return it to its original default
program to open with. What do I get? A dozen or so completely unrelated
programs from a history list but NOT the original default progam of Vista's
to open with! And its not a regular exe that you can browse to in Windows
folder, but seems to consist of esoteric commands that trigger the compressed
folders function in Vista.

How do I get the original compressed folders program association back?

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi amenx,

Click Start, type regedit.exe and press Enter.
Navigate to the following branch:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.zip

Delete the sub-key named "UserChoice"

Close Regedit.exe

If that does not help, get the .zip file association fix from here:

File association fixes for Windows Vista:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/

--
Regards,

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


I mistakenly chose to open a corrupt ZIP file with WinRAR and thus lost my
ability to open ZIP files with the original compressed folders program in
Vista. I had not noticed that the option to 'always use this program to open
this type of file' is always checked in Vista, unlike in XP.

Realizing my mistake, I decided to try to return it to its original default
program to open with. What do I get? A dozen or so completely unrelated
programs from a history list but NOT the original default progam of Vista's
to open with! And its not a regular exe that you can browse to in Windows
folder, but seems to consist of esoteric commands that trigger the compressed
folders function in Vista.

How do I get the original compressed folders program association back?

 

[Guest]

Thank you Ramesh, that worked! It wasnt easy, it wouldnt delete the key
without adjusting the permissions, but the important thing it worked.
Valuable lesson I learned from this, thanks once again.!

amenx

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

You're welcome, amenx.

--
Regards,

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


Thank you Ramesh, that worked! It wasnt easy, it wouldnt delete the key
without adjusting the permissions, but the important thing it worked.
Valuable lesson I learned from this, thanks once again.!

amenx

 

[ju.c]

Please include all of the older postings, thanks.