Thoughts and Theories From Roger Andre
for the curious, and people getting to grips with computing and computers.
Tuesday 13 October 2009, 2:47 PM
Is This A Windows 7 Show Stopper Or Just A Minor Bug?
PreviousComments on this post
Hmm can you associate it with any other 3rd party software?
I thought of win zip and win rar. But I really want to solve it on a purely windows basis.
I am aware that I could install win zip/rar and then uninstall them to repair the file association, but I shouldn't have to. The functionality is right there in your face with vista/xp. Strangely missing from 7.
Go to Control Panel. In small (or large) icon view choose 'Default Programs' and proceed from there.
Thanks Moley, but even in 'Associate file type or protocol with specific program' There is still no choice to associate un-zipping files with the native windows file un-zipper.
Sounds like while you were telling Media Player to open the Zip file you ticked the box for always opening Zip files with it; not sure Media Player even understands archives!
Control Panel - Programs - Default Programs - Set Associations (labelled as 'make a file type always open in a specific program'
Choose .Zip - towards the end of the list but not as far down with the protocols. Select the Change Program button and choose Windows Explorer from the list of Recommended Programs. Make sure the 'Always use the selected program.....' box is ticked and click OK.
And this is neither a showstopper - a huge bug that can't be patched by an update and requires significant recoding - nor a bug at all; it's something in the interface that confused you, which may be a bad thing but is a pretty different thing from a bug.
For some reason the 'Windows Explorer' option is missing from my list. If this means that it's just my 7 being broken then fine. Maybe an sfc command line scan will fix it.
Media player classic is an extra that comes with the k-lite codec pack. Sometimes if you throw it a .zip file, it will do all the unpacking and playing for you.
I have to say, if third party software messes with your Windows association, I really don't think it's a Windows bug! Try picking a program manually and navigating to the Explorer.EXE file?
M
The Explorer.exe file was nowhere to be found. Now I've installed and un-installed win-zip and it's fixed the problem. Explorer.exe unzips files for me with no problem.
Simon. To be fair to the 3rd party app, it was me that messed up the association not the app. k-lite is as good as gold.
Thanks everyone for your input.
Explorer.exe is located in C:\windows. Perhaps it is hidden in your case depending on what security settings you have set in in Control Panel > Folder Options > View.
I should've known that! Thanks Moley.
