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Resolved Question

File association problem question

Jul 31, 2011 4:19PM PDT

Hello All,

I run Windows XP Pro SP3. My system information are as follows:-

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name HOME-C52A55FF2A
System Manufacturer To Be Filled By O.E.M.
System Model To Be Filled By O.E.M.
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 107 Stepping 1 AuthenticAMD ~1808 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. P1.50, 05/02/2009
SMBIOS Version 2.4
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume3
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name HOME-C52A55FF2A\Smarty
Time Zone SA Western Standard Time
Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 1.88 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 4.84 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Previously I ran Word 2003 as well as word 2007. Word 2003 was uninstalled several months ago. However there are times when I attempt to double click to open a word document I find that my Acdsee Photo manager opens up and the screen is black. there is no document. I would then have to right click on the document I wish to open and select "Open With Word 2007. If I were to click on "Choose Program" A dialogue box comes up:- "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Folder Options Control Panel". The same happens when a Word document is sent to me as an attachment in Outlook Express.

I do not know how to create a file extension. I took a look but could not identify the file I would have to open so to do, hence this post.

I shall be grateful if I can be guided with a view to solving this problem that has become an annoyance as it causes me to waste time instead of working.

Your kind attention with be greatly appreciated.

Thanking you.

standeb

Discussion is locked

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Best Answer

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You're halfway there
Jul 31, 2011 10:26PM PDT

Hi standeb, you are halfway there.

Firstly, as a test, try this. Find one of those documents that you normally double click and this error happens. But, instead of double clicking it, now open Word 2007 itself then goto File > Open, navigate to where the file is, and select that. Does Word 2007 open the document properly? If so that proves that the document is not corrupted.

Close down Word and now try double clicking that document again. Does it work properly now or do you still get the same problem?

If you get the same problem, right click the file as you did the last time, go to that "Choose Program" and you should see a Browse button. Click that then navigate to and find "Winword.exe" which is the Microsoft Word 2007 application file.

See if that works.

With Outlook Express don't attempt to open the file from the email itself. Instead, save the file to your Desktop and open it from there.

Mark

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File association problem question
Aug 1, 2011 3:46AM PDT

Hello MarkFlax,

Thank you for the reply. I tried the same but it did not work. Might be that some more information is needed here.

First off when I right click on some documents the droplist comes up. At the top of the list is "Open with Acdc Photo Manager, Print with acdc etc". If you click on open with Acdc the program opens but it does not recognise the file.
Secondly, If I go to "Open with", I would see:- Word 2007, Acdc or Choose program. When I click on choose program, I get the message:-

"This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Folder Options Control Panel".

Seems to me that something has to be done to restore the choose program menu. and this may be done from the folder options in my computer. Please note that this is the message I have been getting and seemingly so because when I click on choose program, I do not see a browse button or a list of programs, so that I can click on the program required and then check the "Always open this kind of file radio button". May I add that there are some word files that would open immediately when double clicked. That probably happens because there is a difference between word 2003 files and word 2007 files but somehow Acdc Photo Manager Program gets in the way. Let me reiterate here that Word 2003 was uninstalled from the computer several months ago but there are files in the registry.

Is there a way to allieviate that?

I must also draw to your attention that I have installed on my computer two hard drives.
The first is a 160 gb and the other is 80 gb. The 160gb Drive "E" houses all my Word and other files while the 80 gb is partitioned as drive "C" housing mostly programs at 60 gb and "D" 20 gb houses music games, photos, Saved e-mails and program installers. This is so because if drive "c" crashes and I have to do a clean install, I would not have lost any or all of my files or programs.

Thanking you for your kind indulgence.

standeb.

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How did that test go?
Aug 1, 2011 3:50AM PDT

Tell us what happened when you ran that test.

Also, I see I did misunderstand. I didn't realise that, when you selected "Open with", that you could see Word 2007. So do that again and select that. Tell us what happens.

One more thing. These files that don't open, what file extension are they?

Mark

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File association problem question
Aug 1, 2011 12:52PM PDT

Hello MarkFlaz,

Thank you for your reply thread. I just saw the same.

There are files that are stated as Word 2003 files and other microsoftword 2007 files.

The tests run of 2003 files opened via double click. I tried "Choose Program" and got the same message :- "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Folder Options Control Panel".

The tests run on Word 2007 files opened the Acdssee Photo Manager. I retried the same using "Open With", They opened when I clicked Word 2007 but when I tried "Choose Program" I got the the message :- "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Folder Options Control Panel".

The Files seem to be .docx files I am not really sure. I was doing some reading up and saw that so I believe they are .docx files. However I noticed that when I opened the properties of the problem files it seems that I can change which program it opens with, that is to say, I note that in the properties dialogue I see that the files open with Acdsee but there is also a button that says "change". I have not gone in. I prefer, out of caution to wait until I hear from you.

Hope the info provided assists you in your diagnosis of the problem.

Again, I thank you for you kind consideration.

respectfully

standeb.

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File association problem question
Aug 1, 2011 1:26PM PDT

Hello again MarkFlax,

I did not wait out of caution as I said I would. I was tempted as it looked easy.
I opened the files properties and changed the program with which the files open to microsiftword and vola, I got the dialogue box with the list of programs appearing clicked on microsoftword clicked apply and OK and came out. I checked the files and they all opened with the double click and also "Open With". I sumise that the usual way to do it with Choose program was changed in word 2007 so you can now do it in the file properties dialogue box.

Thank you so much for your time, patience and assistance. Your questions caused me to think a little more so indeed you have assisted me.

Thanks again

standeb

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That's great.
Aug 1, 2011 10:47PM PDT

Sorry for the delay, but things moved faster than me. Happy

But I'm very pleased to see you have solved this, and in your own way to boot. That's very good work.

Just a note about file extensions. You should be able to see the extensions in Windows Explorer, (eg My Computer, My Documents, etc). Try this;

Open My Documents or My Computer, or whichever. Go to Tools > Folder options, then in the new window go to the View tab. Find the option that says "Hide extensions for known file types" and remove that tick.

Whilst you are there, tick the option that says "Show hidden files and folders". It 'may' say, "Show hidden files folders and drives". Click Apply then OK

That will show all file extensions for your files.

Mark

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File association problem question
Aug 3, 2011 2:06PM PDT

Hello MarkFlax,

I did not see your post before now. Like you, things moved faster than me.

Thank you for the reply and compliment. I felt good when I got it done but your reply made me feel better although it's just another scratch on the surface of things. I've got lots to learn.

Your tip with respect to file extensions has been noted. I had been in there but did not know what to do when I got there. I'll be doing some reading on it.

Thank you again for your kind assistance.

Regards.

Standeb.