Ron Schenone

Changing File Associations In Windows XP

Posted by on Jul 26, 2007 | 18 Comments

One of the most common problems that Window users face are understanding file associations and also how to change them. Before I proceed I want to explain that this procedure is not for the newbie, unless you like living life in the fast lane, since it could pose problems on your system.

First, what are file associations? File associations are what Microsoft uses to have a file opened by the correct program. The most common example is the .doc extension which opens Microsoft word. Notice the .doc This is the three letter extension that is attached to all Windows files. The three letter extension is affixed to a file name when it is saved on a system so that the file can be opened by the correct program.

When you install a new software program, it may change the file associations. Microsoft has a website dedicated on how to change file associations. On their site they state:

You can specify that files with certain file name extensions are always opened in the same program. You can also modify an existing file type to change its association with a program. You can work with file associations in Microsoft Windows Explorer or My Computer. This article describes how to change file associations in Microsoft Windows XP.

Microsoft article on how to change file associations can be found here.

Comments welcome.

[tags] microsoft, winfows, file associations, change,[/tags]

  • marc klink

    We tend to forget that there is a whole class of users who have no idea of what a file extension is. They have never seen one, being ‘protected’ by Microsoft’s idea of what the user should see.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/blade/ Ron Schenone

    Hi Marc,
    I agree. :-)
    Ron

  • Bradley Graham

    I have a question, please. I am currently using Irfanview as my media player. But all the .WMV files I try to play say that they are ALshow files. I uninstalled ALshow. How do I fix this, please? Thank you.

  • martin

    Great article.
    I’m looking for a freeware application that can do the same as Associate This 1.3.
    Hope you can help, tnx!!!

  • Lin

    “Not for the newbie?” Are you kidding? Here I am searching all over for a broad list of all file associations, which I know I’ve seen on my computer before, and here you are reiterating the same droll lesson that people have known for years.

  • Iwan Timmermans

    What’s a good virus scanner for the Mac?
    Right now I have ClamXav, but I have no idea if it’s any good.

    • http://about.me/jaowens Jordan Owens

      You don’t need one!!!!!!!!!

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1657023007 Justin Andrew Hansen

      If you own a Mac right now, I gaurentee that if you use your head, you wont need to care about viruses. If the Mac gains great marketshare over the next few years, then yeah I would consider an antivirus then.

  • Iwan Timmermans

    What’s a good virus scanner for the Mac?
    Right now I have ClamXav, but I have no idea if it’s any good.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1068818783 Tim Kissane

    The truth is that Linux systems are much harder to compromise than Mac or Windows. Google “Pwn2Own” for an example. Given the incentive of prize money, hackers were invited to attack all three OSes. Mac fell first, then Windows. Linux remained secure.

  • http://sunnyis.me/ Sunny Singh

    Well said. Viruses shouldn’t really be a problem on any platform as long as you use common sense and an anti-virus though. Don’t go out paying for one either, Microsoft Security Essentials is free and has a good reputation.

    For less tech-savvy users though, maybe switching to Mac OS or Linux might be a good idea. Linux is free to install too, and is arguably safer.

    • sri ganesh

      ya,i am on your side

    • sri ganesh

      ya,i am on your side

  • alex silva

    I own a computer repair business myself and seriously you have to be honest most computer users do not actually do smart things while they are online. Probably 50 to 75 percent of my clients come in because of massive viral infection even after I tell them the things to watch out for. You have to be honest here the average end user is probably more interested in looking up porn than actually worrying about not getting a virus. I have removed viruses from almost every Windows PC I have fixed. I have had to removed viruses from Mac as well but I have never had to remove a virus from a Linux box. I have run probably every OS at one point or another and in computer school I was training on probably 7 different OS systems. I found that the schools network constantly got viruses, being a computer school that isn’t surprising at all but what is more surprising is that the Linux networks never went down because of a virus. Linux has it’s issues but usually it is related to not being able to run a program because it needs another program to run. I tell any of my clients worried about security or viruses that they should consider a Linux system. Systems like MINT linux and Ubuntu linux are getting to be very user friendly. The interface on MINT is very Windwos like. Obviously it has it’s differences being a linux and all. Even the installs are getting more end user friendly, MINT Linux install all you have to do is put the cd in the drive and boot from the cd and it brings up a desktop and you click on install to hard drive. It is that easy. Ubuntu has a Windows based installer you can use right from Windows but the menu system of Ubuntu leaves something to be desired. Seriously though you can’t expect the general population to ever learn from their mistakes especially most end users. If all people had common sense I probably would not have a job.

  • alex silva

    I forgot to say,
    When I ran Windows and Mac I needed an antivirus.
    Since I switched to Linux I don’t use any antivirus and never have needed one since I switched.

    I am root

    • http://www.facebook.com/LeeWoody Lee Wood

      Watching Porn usually means you need a good AV! :o )

  • http://www.facebook.com/LeeWoody Lee Wood

    The mac might not have the userbase of Windows, however its becoming the most attractive target… Why? Because 80% of Windows users update windows, and their browser on a regular basis, aswell as their AV software… The last 20% are probably already infected…

    How many Mac users have AV software installed? Less than 5% according to official figures, I have two macs, neither of which have any AV installed.

  • http://profiles.google.com/rahul247rocks Rahul Ghosh

    thanks for sharing the info