Windows 7: file associations not stored

esuhl

I just wondered if anyone else has had problems in getting Windows 7 to remember file associations?

For example, I use Foxit Reader to view PDF files, but every time I open one I am prompted to either "Use the Web service to find the correct program" or "Select a program from a list of installed programs".

So, I choose the second option and the "Open with" dialogue appears. I select "Foxit Reader", ensure that there's a tick in the box marked "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" and the PDF file opens in Foxit Reader as expected.

Then I close Foxit Reader and double-click on another PDF file and I have to go through the same process! Argh!!!

Can anyone explain how I can convince Windows to listen to me?!

debitcardmayhem

Try Control Panel - Use start button and seach for associations see if that fixes it

esuhl

Hmmm... I've gone to Control Panel / Default Programs / Set Associations, but ".pdf" isn't listed. I also tried Control Panel / Default Programs / Set Default Programs, but "Foxit Reader" isn't there.

There doesn't seem to be any way to add an extension or program manually either...

Thanks for the suggestion, though.

danmanchester

Try clicking the 2nd option under Default Programs "Set associations" there will be a much bigger list, scroll down until you see the extension .pdf then you should be able to set Foxit as your default.

debitcardmayhem

If you are happy using regedit you could navigate to
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.pdf]
then right click on it and export it as a then edit it and paste here -
mine looks like this

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.pdf]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.pdf\OpenWithList]
"a"="pythonw.exe"
"MRUList"="badihfgec"
"b"="AcroRd32.exe"
"c"="firefox.exe"
"d"="WINWORD.EXE"
"e"="thunderbird.exe"
"f"="encrypt.vshost.exe"
"g"="gvim.exe"
"h"="calibre.exe"
"i"="Acrobat.exe"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.pdf\OpenWithProgids]
"AcroExch.Document"=hex(0):

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.pdf\UserChoice]
"Progid"="Applications\\AcroRd32.exe"

esuhl

The extension ".pdf" isn't listed, danmanchester.

Thanks for having a look, debitcardmayhem. The relevent section of my registry shows this:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.pdf]
"Progid"="FoxitReader.Document"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.pdf\OpenWithList]
"a"="Foxit Reader.exe"
"MRUList"="ab"
"b"="firefox.exe"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.pdf\OpenWithProgids]
"pdf_auto_file"=hex(0):
"FoxitReader.Document"=hex(0):

debitcardmayhem

esuhl wrote: »

Thanks for having a look, debitcardmayhem. The relevent section of my registry shows this:

Ok if looks correct but you could delete the .pdf key then next time you select a pdf from explorer and select open with then other programs Foxit it will redefine the entry in the reg and should be ok again, i deleted my and ended up with this now

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.pdf]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.pdf\OpenWithList]
"a"="AcroRd32.exe"
"MRUList"="a"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.pdf\OpenWithProgids]
"AcroExch.Document"=hex(0):

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.pdf\UserChoice]
"Progid"="AcroExch.Document"

As you can see my others have been deleted and it now says Acrobat
yours of course will be foxit (the abcdef etc entries have been deleted)

esuhl

debitcardmayhem wrote: »

you could delete the .pdf key then next time you select a pdf from explorer and select open with then other programs Foxit it will redefine the entry in the reg and should be ok

I deleted the ".pdf" key, and did as you suggested but exactly the same thing happens. The first time the "Open with" dialogue listed a lot of programs to choose from, and subsequently just Foxit Reader is listed, but I still get prompted to choose the default program every time!

The registry key was re-created as follows (pretty much the same as before, but without Firefox in the "OpenWithList"):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.pdf]
"Progid"="FoxitReader.Document"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.pdf\OpenWithList]
"a"="Foxit Reader.exe"
"MRUList"="a"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.pdf\OpenWithProgids]
"FoxitReader.Document"=hex(0):

debitcardmayhem

Strange , I have to go out at the mo will look again if no one else comes up with a solution

debitcardmayhem

Hi eshul,
found this on the foxit forum lets see if this works

Please right click Foxit Reader.exe and choose "Run as Administrator".
And type administrator account and password if there is a box pop up.
Then run Foxit Reader > go to Help menu > check "Set to Default PDF Reader " and click OK with the message

esuhl

Aha! You absolute star! That's done it! Thanks so much - I've been trying to fix that for months!

:T