Fix Application Programs Cannot or Unable to Set Associations for Supported File Extensions Problem in Vista

Some application programs, especially some older version of software may not be able to or cannot properly set file associations for the file extensions that the programs supported in Windows Vista. Some example of such programs include ACDSee, Nero, TTPlayer, foobar2000 and etc.

The unable or cannot register or set file associations correctly in Windows Vista problem is caused by the UAC (User Account Control) security feature. UAC prevents any program or process from accessing, modifying, changing or editing the protected system registry, if the the program or process is running in low privilege or low priority mode without full administrator privilege, which has been suppressed by UAC.

Some error message that may be prompted including “An error occured while changing file type associations. If you are using a limited account, please contact your system administrator.”

The UAC restriction can cause file type and file extension association to fail during the setup installation process, and also when user attempt to registry the file association from within the program itself, it the setup installer or the program is not running explicitly in high priority elevation mode with full administrator privileges. Thus, after attempting to associate file type of some file extensions such as .JPG to third party image editor, the JPEG image will still be opened by default Windows tool such as Windows Photo Gallery.

Thus, to fix the file association error by some programs, there are two workarounds. First resolution is to run the program (or the setup installer if file association is done during installation process) in high level priority elevated mode with no UAC restriction. To do so, right click on the program shortcut or program executable, then click on Run as Administrator. Second solution is of course, to disable and turn off UAC once and for all.

Share and contribute or get technical support and help at My Digital Life Forums.



Leave a Reply

You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Subscribe without commenting


Custom Search

New Articles

Incoming Search Terms for the Article

set Associations - Set Program Associations - unable to change file association - unable to change file associations - acdsee file association problem - Vista Cannot associate file with program - An error occured while changing file type associations. If you are using a limited account, please contact your system administrator. - unable to rename file extensions after installing office service pack 3 - change application program in windows - file type start program - vista cannot start program; download fix - unable to change file extension - changing nero file associations - run as administrator set file association - vista file exension fixes - can not register programs to file - fix free file associate - nero file associations 2008 - cannot remove file association - not able to play a dvd, error set file association - set program associations itunes - set associations for vista word - cannot set associations in windows mail - cant associate file with program - registry setting default programs for file types - how to set file associations in Vista - How to fix for free File Association - vista cannot set default program - Cannot run and open programs file extension errors - set association error - windows vista cannot change file type association - how to fix set association on computer - unable to change program " file types" - unable to associate a file to a program in xp - Unable to Start a Program with an .exe File Extension Windows Vista - file association cannot - vista set associations dvd - cannot change file type association - cannot associate Office programs to file extensions - program file association problems - add file type to set associations - acdsee 9 association file problem windows vista - cannot register file extension - file association error - unable to change file type association windows - CANNOT CHANGE FILE TYPES - set associations microsoft word - vista file association fail - how to fix program associations - unable to change file association in vista -