Removing Bad File Associations

Image by AcidZero via Flickr

Have you ever gotten a support call that starts out with the customer telling you that when they click on X icon it unexpectedly opens up program Y? Of course you find out that they chose the open with and selected a wrong program... No big deal right? Just have them choose open with and select the correct program and problem solved.

What if the file type shouldn't have any file extension? You can choose open with, but there isn't an option to delete the incorrect file extension (that would be too easy Microsoft).

For Windows XP Users

• Click the "Start" button in the lower left corner of the screen.
• Click "My Computer" to open Windows Explorer.
• Click the menu "Tools > Folder Options" and select the "File Types" tab.
• Scroll down the file type list and find the desired file extension. Click on it to select.
• Click the "Delete" button, then "Yes" to confirm.
  

For Windows Vista or 7 Users

• Click the "Start" button in the lower-left corner of the screen.
• Type "cmd" and press "Enter" to open the command prompt window.
• Type "assoc .ext= " and press "Enter."
  

Note, "ext" stands for the file extension you wish to remove from the association list.

Related articles

• Open a Command Prompt from any Folder in Windows (helpdeskgeek.com)
• Set Default Programs in Windows 7 (helpdeskgeek.com)
• File Association in Windows - How to change it (techblissonline.com)
• Manage and edit file associations in Windows (en.onsoftware.com)
• How to: Restore default applications in Windows XP (en.onsoftware.com)