This article is also available as a TechRepublic and as a TechRepublic. To determine which application will run when you double-click a file icon, Windows Vista uses the familiar file extension system made famous (infamous) in earlier versions of Windows. And just like the previous versions of the operating system, figuring out how to change a file extension association in Windows Vista can be a little frustrating if you don't know where to look. The steps The Windows Vista tool you use to change file associations in located in the Control Panel under the Default Programs icon, as shown in Figure A. Figure A Control Panel Oddly enough, searching the 'association' in the Vista search tool off of the Start Menu returns no results — at least for me. Once on the Default Programs screen you have two choices for changing file associations: • Set your default programs • Associate a file type or protocol with a program.

You can also change AutoPlay settings for CDs and DVDs for this screen, as well as set program access settings. ( Figure B) Figure B Default Programs The first selection on the Default Programs screen (Figure B) is Set Your Default Programs. Narsingh Deo System Simulation Pdf File there. On this screen of the tool, as shown in Figure C, you can select a program and either give it complete control as the default program for all file extensions it can handle or choose the file extensions you want individually. How the list of programs was formed for this tool is not explained, but a few programs are missing from the list. The one program that comes to mind almost immediately is Adobe Acrobat Reader. Figure C Set Default Programs Clicking the Choose Defaults For This Program option on the Set Default Programs screen (Figure C) shows you a list of potential file extensions that can be associated with the chosen program ( Figure D). Crash Crash Hear The Waves Go Bash on this page.

Windows 7 allows users to change and set default program association for most kind of file extension under Control Panel –>Default Programs –>Set Associations. There are is no option or a way to reset fact to when the Windows installed but we have some workarounds. Nice work shawn, but. As.reg files are so small, do you really need to zip them up? It just means more work for you in the first place, and another step for the end-user.

From here, you can check additional file extensions you would like Windows Vista to associate with the program. Figure D Select extensions individually. The second selection on the Default Programs screen (Figure B) is Associate A File Type Or Protocol With A Program. On this screen of the tool, shown in Figure E, you get a very long list of file extensions, including a description and the name of their associated program if it is known. To modify the program associated with a particular extension, you select the extension and click the Change Program button. Figure E Set Associations In the example shown in Figure F, I have chosen the.inf extension, which is currently associated with Notepad. From this screen, I can choose to change the association to another available program.

Figure F Change an extension association If another viable program is not listed on the screen in Figure F, you can browse your system for programs ( Figure G). Note that it is generally not a good idea to associate a file extension with a program that is not capable of reading or otherwise acting on it. Figure G Browse programs Once your file extensions are selected, you click Save and then OK to apply your changes to Windows Vista. Related Topics.