Correct conflicting Windows file associations

Repairing broken file associations
To re-associate a particular type of file with its parent program, you need to know its file extension, which provided you’ve turned on the display of file extensions in Windows Explorer, as described above, is a simple matter of looking.

Thereafter the procedures differ in Windows XP and Vista. In Windows XP, start Windows Explorer and click Tools, followed by Folder Options. In the Folder Options dialogue box click the File Types tab. After a short delay, during which Windows performs some background checks, a list of registered file types is displayed. This takes the form of an alphabetical list of extensions with brief descriptions alongside.

After clicking on a file extension, the name of the program set to open that type of file is displayed in the lower part of the dialogue box. To set another program as the default, click the Change button.

This opens a second dialogue box, entitled Open With, in which another program can be chosen. The recommended programs are listed first, and other programs that can also open the selected file type listed afterwards.

You’re not restricted to the programs in the list: if you click the Browse button you can navigate to any other program installed on your computer, but you’ll need to know its folder and the name of its executable file (usually ending in .exe). Having chosen a program, be sure to tick the box indicating that you always want to use that program with that type of file, then click OK.

The procedure for Windows Vista is similar but not identical, and can be followed in the step-by-step guide below. Now you have the power to ensure the application you like to view specific files in won’t be overridden by a rival program.