Clicking the "Open With" or "Choose Program..." option always opens the file with Notepad?
Published : Dec 25, 2004Updated : Aug 03, 2005
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Symptom
When you right-click a file and choose the Open With command, or click Choose Program...., one of the following may occur:
- Notepad may launch (the selected file opens with Notepad)
- One of the following error messages is displayed:
Access is denied
-or-
This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Folder Options control panel.
Resolution
Method 1
Download openas.reg and save to Desktop. Right-click the file and choose Merge.
Method 2
To fix the problem manually, follow these steps:
-
Click Start, Run and type Regedit.exe
Navigate to the following location:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Unknown \ shell
-
Backup the key by exporting to a REG file.
In the right-pane, double-click (default) and type openas as its data.
Then navigate to the following branch:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \ Unknown \ shell \ openas \ command
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In the right-pane, double-click (default) and set its data as follows:
rundll32.exe shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1
Exit the Registry Editor.