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General discussion

Problems with File Extensions

Feb 21, 2004 9:09PM PST

I recently tried to organise my file extensions using a program called extmania. I was sick of new programs associating themselves with different types of file and hijacking them so I was forced to use them. I heard of a program called "Extmania" that promised to solve my problems.

However...extmania proved annoying and not as helpful as promised so I uninstalled it. I was left with no extensions assoicated with anything!! Or to more correct, ALL my files associated with extmania and therefore refusing to open as extmania PROGRAM.EXE could not be found!

I have had many conversions with the company but they have proved unhelpful. So now I am left with manually associating various ext with programs using windows explorer<tools<folder options<view< etc. This is a pain in the backside. Some programs (like acrobat) do it for me but I have yet to find a way for Word and Excel to do it. To make matters worse, I seem to be incorrectly configuring Word and Excel so they will not successfully open the files (I have to open Word and then open the file from Word).

Can anyone help? Ideally I would like a tip to automatically get windows (I am using Win 98SE) to search and sort out my ext. However if someone knows of a program that will allow you to SUCCESSFULLY manage file ext with their opening programs that can be easily uninstalled when its done its job, then please let me know.

This is causing me major hassle!!!!


Pat

Discussion is locked

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Take the known document types
Feb 21, 2004 10:02PM PST

For example a WORD document name.DOC and right click and select open with... when the box opens (I use XP so I am not sure what the dialog box will look like) select WORD and also click the box "always use this program".
Perform this for XLS (excel files) JPG, BMP and GIF (picture files) and a few other of the 'major' know extension types. Other than that you really shouldn't be opening too many files by clicking on them, rather the programs themselves will call up the appropriate files.

Once you select "always use..." every DOC file, for example, through out your computer will always open up WORD when double clicked.
Hope this helps

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Re:Take the known document types
Feb 22, 2004 12:11AM PST

Thanks for the input. Unfortunately Extmania ( I now understand the mania bit) has removed the "opens with..." option. This is my problem. If you know how to reinstate the open with... menu option. Please help.

patmos

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Are you really saying
Feb 22, 2004 12:47AM PST
Unfortunately Extmania ( I now understand the mania bit) has removed the "opens with..." option.

that once you have clicked a file (highlighted/bolded it) even though it was once correctly associated, that while holding the Shift key and right-clicking that file, the Open with.. option is not on the context menu?
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by now you probably fixed it or bought new computer (lol)
May 6, 2005 1:18AM PDT

Since your message was posted in February, it is a pretty good bet you have fixed and just forgot to come back and tell folks how you did it.

But, if you didn't fix it and still want to, have a look at my suggestion below to the person "have the same problem" May 05, 2005.

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Actually an easy 'cure'...
Feb 22, 2004 1:39AM PST

do a file search on your computer for SHELL.INF which will normally be located in the Windows\inf directory.

When you locate it right click and select the Install option.

This will reset all your extensions to the defaults that were there when Windows was installed.

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I am having the same problem
May 5, 2005 1:18PM PDT

I am not able to open the Shell.INF file. None of my files are associated so windows doesnt know what program to open the files with. Could you direct me to Browse for the file to open shell.inf?

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have a look here
May 6, 2005 1:15AM PDT

You don't say what operating system (OS) you have (that's always a good idea, btw). You should find SHELL.INF in the C:\WINDOWS\INF folder. If your OS is WinXP, that folder may be hidden. If so, open C:\WINDOWS and use menu options Tools, Folder Options and click on the View tab and then click on "Show Hidden Files and Folders" and then click on "Apply."

INF files, in general, are not "run" per se; they are "installed" instead. So, once you locate the file, right-click on it and select "Install" from the drop-down menu.

If any files are left without an association after "installing" SHELL.INF you should have no problem getting them to behave as follows -- and you COULD even do this INSTEAD of installing the shell, but it would be much better and quicker to install the shell settings first.

Any file that your computer (Windows) doesn't know how to use/open can be opened by double-clicking on it. Assuming Windows doesn't know what to do with it, a box will pop up listing just about every program installed on your system including those furnished with Windows and those added by you or other users. Simply scroll down the list until you see the one you want to use and the rest should be obvious. BUT, take heed of this: if you are not CERTAIN you are selecting the correct program, make sure the box "always use this program to open files of this type" is NOT checked!! If that turned out to be the correct choice, repeat the process and then make sure the box IS checked. The box will be checked or unchecked by default according to the way it was last time it was used (Windows install default is "checked.")

By leaving the box un-checked, if you select the wrong program, it is an easy matter to repeat and try another program until you find the right one.

Here's an example that may have real-life significance:

Suppose your computer has MS Office 2000 installed and somebody you know and trust has sent you a document named "Proposal.wpd" That is probably a WordPerfect 6 (or above) document, but perhaps you do not have the WordPerfect program. No problem!! Dbl-click on the Proposal.wpd icon and when the box opens up scroll down to "MS Word 2000" and click OK or Open or whatever. "Word" will know the file is not a "Word" file and it will "sense" that it is a WordPerfect file and offer you a conversion. Accept the offer and if that turns out to be good, quit without saving changes and go back and do it again -- this time checking the box "always use this program..." Now, whenever anyone sends you a WPD, your computer will "know" how to open it.

If you are an Win-XP user, it would be a good idea to set that C:\WINDOWS folder back to "hide hidden files" (repeat above Tools, Folder Options, etc.).

Good luck!

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same problem......
May 28, 2005 2:15AM PDT

on right click-> install shell.inf ..get the message
can't open this file grpconv.exe,to open this file windows need to know ehich program crated it...and this is the problem will all exe's..
the problem started after websearch virus attack...i removed the infected files and landed up having this problem
any tips guys...

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solution
May 28, 2005 9:55AM PDT

my problem got solved ..just for guidance...to people having this problem..
since i was unable to run regedit from run address bar..
changed regedit.exe to regedit .com and the changed some default value to "%1"%" (not sure which value...tried finding that website later but couldn't locate) after this change ran the exe mentioned at this link.http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/PLEASE_HELP_ME_OUT_OF_MALWARE_bleep_-t26348.html
and then things started making sense again....

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if you can't see file extensions, read this first
May 6, 2005 9:56AM PDT

In my response just above this, I said you may need to:

Open the folder C:\WINDOWS and then click on menu options Tools, Folder Options and then click on the View tab and look for "show hidden files and folders"

Just below that is an option to "Hide extensions of well-known file types" make sure to UN-CHECK that! You need to see the hidden files and folders and you need to see the file extensions.

I looked at your profile and now realize that you are using WinXP on a Dell Inspiron 8100

That's a nice computer! Mine is a 8600 (newer than yours) with 512 MB RAM. You should kick your RAM up to 512 or 1,024 if you can afford it.

Maybe buy from Crucial, but call Dell on the phone -- I don't like their memory selector and I trust their parts dept humans more. If you decide to go with 1,024, you'll probably have to buy two 512 and throw the 128 away. Take the 128 to a local computer rennaisance or the like and get them to swap you for something you want -- I would NOT buy my memory from them! But, they could use it because they will have some Dell Inspirons that they could beef up with it. Or you could add 512 and keep the 128 in there, but talk to the Dell tech about that before you decide.

Back to the file extensions: when you get finished, if I were you, I'd leave the file extensions showing but I would hide the system files and folders -- it is too easy to make a mistake and besides there are a bunch of them and every time you click on C:\WINDOWS, you'll see 20 gazillion update files that you don't need to be bothered with. Happy