Restore and Reset File Association in Windows Vista Back to Original Default
Windows Vista allows user to change and set default program association for most kind of file extension type via Control Panel’s “Set Associations” or “Set Default Programs” under “Default Programs” link. However, there is no option or way to reset or restore the file type or file extension association to back to original default the is configured in factory-pre-installed or freshly installed Windows Vista.
List of programs available under “Set Default Programs” link, such as Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office Outlook, Windows Calender, Windows Mail, Windows Media Player and Windows Photo Gallery has defined their own default supported file extensions, types and protocols. And, user can easily set the program as the default program to use to open all file types and protocols it can open. Even so, it may not be the default file association that configured in Windows Vista originally.
Unless user remembers and knows the original file association and change the default program for the kind of file type accordingly using the graphical user interface (GUI) in Control Panel, else here’s another workaround to restore and reset the file association to the default Windows Vista version of file association.
- Click Start Menu, and then type regedit in the Start Search and press ENTER.
- Navigate to the following registry branch:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curre ntVersion\Explorer\FileExts\[ext]
Replace the [exe] with the actual file extension that you want to restore its file type association to revert back to original Windows Vista default. If you unsure, simply browse through all the sub-key under FileExts.
- Delete the sub-key named UserChoice.
- Exit from Registry Editor.
Windows Vista will now use original file associations that comes built into system for the particular file extensions with “UserChoice” deleted. However, the trick is not foolproof, especially if the other related system registry keys for the particular extension have been corrupted or broken. In such cases, it may be necessary to fix the file association by restoring its registry settings.
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Entries (RSS)
January 27th, 2010 06:48
So helpful! I have been dying to fix this!
January 7th, 2010 12:00
di i have to delete all the userchoice in filext ? sorrry im just reallly confused and i need to fix this :[
January 7th, 2010 11:05
i dont understand what i have to do after im in filext and then what do i have to do with the [exe] or [ext] ?
December 31st, 2009 00:12
ive totally effed up some one set my default program as ‘winrar’ and its been uninstalled! i tried to search for reedit but it wont open!! any help?
December 16th, 2009 04:06
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!! THANK U SOOOO MUCH MAN, ur getting me out of a very deep state of frustration with this, U RULE!
September 6th, 2009 09:31
Check out Assox – http://sites.google.com/site/assoxhome/
Designed for “PortableApps” environments where you’re logging into random machines and want to set up your working environment the way you like it. Allows tweaking:
-File associations (including actions – open vs edit) and filetype icons, descriptions
-Shortcuts (desktop or custom)
-Startup options
-Browser, email and telephony default apps
-Explorer Right-click options
-SendTo listing
on a per-session basis, and then putting everything back the way it was at the end of the session.
Overkill for the OP, but I’ve just discovered it and am VERY excited. . .
August 11th, 2009 14:26
Thanks a BUNCH! I had to restore my .WAgame file to open with WA.exe because I messed around and clicked on open with notepad for some reason. Windows 7 wouldn’t let me set it back to WA.exe, but this trick works! Oh and for anyone saying it doesn’t work, maybe you should start back a step one and give it another shot. I can prove that it works! Lawl! XD
July 20th, 2009 23:03
misassociated my .lnk … fixed my windows 7
big thx
July 3rd, 2009 21:09
i fking love you man its work fking love you i changed everthing to a nitepad reocverd syatsem restore ntohign worked
June 17th, 2009 15:09
Dude,
You saved my life. Stupid Vista and its default programs. I couldn’t open this one program because it kept asking for the application and when it did i could not select the right one. Once again, thanks and i appreciate it.
May 20th, 2009 04:08
Wow, this was totally unhelpful. There is no such sub-Key called User Choice.
May 18th, 2009 01:11
Thank you very much, your instructions worked! Your guidance is very much appreciated!
- Aden
May 11th, 2009 07:47
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/231/1/An-utility-to-unassociate-file-types-in-Windows-Vista.html
April 26th, 2009 15:22
I tried everything to change my zip folders back to opening with the default program, it still is trying to open it with windows media player, and when i click on it it just keeps on trying to open Media Player and then closing it so i can’t get rid of it forcing my to shut down my computer.
i have had this problem for months now and i have asked Dell but they couldn’t tell me.
January 18th, 2009 10:31
it works!!!!
thank you so much
I was actually very unsure to delete the sub-key User choice because I cannot backup the sub-key (in case, it doesn’t work I can restore it back). However, it works.. Thx. lol
January 14th, 2009 11:32
Thanks so much!!!!!!
I love how quick and simple the .zip file association restored …
I’m not a tech …really anyone can do it
Now I know what the guys in the It department do to fix vista errors..lolololol..:-)
November 19th, 2008 01:26
fiquei com duvidas apartir do passo numero 2. porque aqui no meu Editor de Registro porque aqui só tem a opção [exe] e não tem [ext]
o que eu faço agora ? clico no que tem?
October 20th, 2008 22:29
Bom dia amigos, tudo bem ? estou com um enorme problema, recentemente formatei meu computador com Windows Vista, e instalei o Windows XP, fiz back-up dos meus documentos, e-mails e contatos do Windows mail, importei os e-mails seguindo tutorial que encontrei na internet, até ai tudo bem, meus e-mails estão agora no outlook express sem problemas, acontece que eu não consigo importar nem exportar os contatos… ele salvou com a extensão .contact como faço para importar para o outlook express ??? existe alguma forma de mudar a extensão ??? Me ajudem por favor tenho mais de 200 contatos que não gostaria de perder… Desde já agradeço a atenção de todos. Os contatos estão da seguinte forma: EX:.josecarlos.contact, ricardo pereira.contact e assim por diante.
September 30th, 2008 05:24
How would I restore the .zip association in XP?
September 11th, 2008 05:44
here is a quicker/simpler way to restore .zip file association in Vista.
In Start Search type “cmd /c assoc .zip=CompressedFolder” without quotes and press enter.
August 6th, 2008 05:07
I cannot even open regedit. It opens the box that says “This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Set Association Control Panel.” Somebody, please help me.