Whenever we use "Open With" option to open a file in Windows, it shows a dialog box containing a list of installed programs to choose from. There is also a checkbox "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" given at the bottom of this dialog box which is used to set the selected program permanent to open that file type.
Sometimes it gets irritating when we accidentally select a program from the list and click on "OK" button. It sets the selected program as default to open that file type which adds some extra work to our life.
So here I'll tell you a simple registry trick to permanently disable this checkbox:
For Windows XP:
Method A:
1. Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now go to:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\openas\command
2. In right-side pane, change value of "Default" key to as following:
%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1 %2
NOTE: We have only appended %2 at last of default value. You can use any number from 2-9.
3. Exit registry editor and try to open "Open With" dialog box. You'll find that the checkbox is disabled now as shown in following screenshot:
Method B:
1. Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Policies\Explorer
If the "Explorer" key is not present, create it manually.
2. Now in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoFileAssociate and set its value to 1
3. Exit registry editor and try to open "Open With" dialog box. You'll find that the checkbox is disabled now as shown in following screenshot:
For Windows Vista, 7 or Server 2008:
Method A:
1. Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now go to:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\opendlg\command
2. In right-side pane, change value of "Default" key to as following:
%SystemRoot%\system32\rundll32.exe %SystemRoot%\system32\shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1 %2
NOTE: We have only appended %2 at last of default value. You can use any number from 2-9.
3. Exit registry editor and try to open "Open With" dialog box. You'll find that the checkbox is disabled now as shown in following screenshot:
Method B:
1. Type regedit in RUN dialog box and press Enter. Now go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Policies\Explorer
If the "Explorer" key is not present, create it manually.
2. Now in right-side pane, create a new DWORD value NoFileAssociate and set its value to 1
3. Exit registry editor and try to open "Open With" dialog box. You'll find that the checkbox is completely removed now as shown in following screenshot:
NOTE: As you can see, when we use Method A to disable the checkbox, the "Open With" dialog box doesn't show recommended programs list which it does when we use Method B. Also if you see the last screenshot of Windows Vista, the Method B totally remove the checkbox instead of disabling it.
BONUS TIP: This tutorial can also be used in reverse condition. e.g. if this checkbox is already disabled in your Windows and you want to enable it, then you can remove the %2 mentioned in Method A or set value of DWORD value to 0 as mentioned in Method B.
Posted by: Vishal Gupta | Categories: Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP
matt
I clicked "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" for a song to use the program itunes. My hp laptop now opens every program with Itunes including the internet. I searched controll Panel to find a way to undo the change, but found nothing and my laptop thinks all files are the same or something, how can I have programs opened with the programs they are supose to be opened without loosing data.
VG
^^ Check following:
http://www.askvg.com/solution-exe-files-always-open-with-notepad-or-other-applications/
Fango
This is a crappy "solution". All we want to do is to get rid of the pre-loaded checkmark. Not disable the entire functionality. This just trades one PITA for another. Weak sauce hombre.
Ngoma
I used always use this program to open this file to open a shapefile using Ms- Excel it didn't open. but now when i download any shapefile it automatically converted into Ms-Excel. and does not open. what can i do to remove this problem. I am using windows xp
peterkaz
by mistake i clicked on the always use the selected programe to open this kind of file and selected internet explorer and clicked on the ok button............. now all my programmes have internet explorer as their logo and they do not work anymore......... plzzzz help
VG
^^ Check following tutorial:
http://www.askvg.com/solution-exe-files-always-open-with-notepad-or-other-applications/
EDISON
THANKS BRO . .
avril fox
by mistake i selected always use ..... this option for all the files now each n every application on my system is showing that particular icon n even not working ( opening )
plz help me how to fix it
how to remove this from my all files is there any solution
thanks
VG
^^ Check following article:
http://www.askvg.com/solution-exe-files-always-open-with-notepad-or-other-applications/
Thisisit
Thank you.
Roger
Thanks! I used Nei'ls method to fix associations for .avi in my computer after deleting MPlayer
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts
It was very frustrating to see the file associations screwed by MPlayer. Programs should make users experience a pleasure, not a pain.
Thanks again!
El Cabong
This is excellent, I had users who kept screwing up the associations.
FYI, you may still be able to change your file associations using the command "assoc" at the command line. This is a helpful utility if you want to change file associations for all the users of a computer at the same time.
Thanks!