jpg files I’d select iexplore.exe from the list. For example, I like having my JPEG files open in Internet Explorer. Depending on the program, you might have to click twice before you actually find the executable file (usually ending in. At this point you should be seeing something like this:Ĥ – If the program you wish to use to open this type of file isn’t listed, click the Browse button and look for the program on the list that pops up next.
If it was just one or two file types that were affected, you could change them like this:ġ – In Windows Explorer, right-click on the filename or icon of a file you wish to set the default program for, then hover your mouse over Open with.Ģ – Click on Chose default program (you’ll find it at the bottom of the slide-out menu).ģ – If you see the program you want this type of file to open up in when you click on it listed in the Recommended Programs list, make sure the box beside Always use the selected program to open this kind of file is checked, then double-click on that program’s name to set it as the default program for the file type in question.
Probably the best example is purchasing a new photo editing program such as Adobe Photoshop Elements to replace the old stand-by Windows Paint.īut sometimes things go haywire and one or more file associations will get changed without your knowledge, and it sounds like that’s what happened in your case. In fact, it is done fairly often, usually when a new program is installed to take over a task that has been performed by some other program before then. You can easily change the file association for a specific file extension if you wish. There are literally dozens of other file types with different extensions, and Windows looks at the extension to decide which program it should use to open that file by default. doc extension are usually opened with Microsoft Word while. Rick’s answer: It sounds like your file associations have gotten messed up Kim. Your PC’s Windows installation associates virtually all common file types with a specific application that it uses to open that file by default whenever you click on it.įor example, files with the.
I can’t open anything! Please help? My computer has Windows 7 if that matters. Question from Kim: Everything was working fine until this morning, but now every time I click on a file it tries to open in Notepad.