Windows explorer has lost its "file Association"

Hi,

·         Since when are you facing this issue?

·         Do you recall making any changes to the computer?

Step 1:Firstly, run the fixit available in the link below and check if that makes any difference

When you run an .exe file on a Windows Vista-based or Windows 7-based computer, the file may start a different program

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950505

Step 2:Check with another user profile

If you do not have another user account, you will have to create one.  If everything works fine with another user profile, you can infer that the user profile is corrupt, check the link to know how to fix this issue.

Fix a corrupted user profile
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Fix-a-corrupted-user-profile

Step 3: System restore

You may want to perform a System Restore on the computer to restore back the previous settings.

Note: When you perform System Restore to restore the computer to previous state, programs and updates you installed are removed.

System Restore: frequently asked questions

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/System-Restore-frequently-asked-questions

Hope this information is helpful.

Amrita M

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer
Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Although I am able to open files using the OPEN command after right clicking on a file, when I use windows explorer and double click on a folder or file I get the following error message:

This program does not have a program associated with it for performing this action.  Please install a program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the default Program Control Panel.

When I go there I can't find anything about Windows Explorer.  How do I restore the file association?

Email removed for privacy

Hi

Go to the following website.

File Association Fixes for Windows 7
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/file-asso-fixes-for-windows-7/

Read the instructions on that page and then download and apply both the Directory  and  Folder  association fixes.

Let us know the results.