Windows File Association fixes

On Windows it can happen that some (system) files can not be opened anymore with their default build in application. Such can happen for example after a failed installation of some software application. To easily fix the default file associations, one could use the registry files provided on the site of Doug Knox (for Windows XP).

He provides registry files to fix following file types:

• Batch File Association Fix (Restore the default associations for BAT files)
• You may need to remove registry settings underneath this key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.bat
• CAB File Association Fix (Restore the default associations for CAB files)
• CHM File Association Fix (Restore the default associations for CHM files)
• COM File Association Fix (Restore the default associations for COM files)
• CPL File Association Fix (Restore the default associations for CPL files)
• Directory Extension Fix (Restores defaults to HKCR\Directory)
• Drive Association Fix (Restores default settings for hard drives)
• EML File Association Fix (Restores defaults for EML files)
• EXE File Association Fix (Restore default association for EXE files)
• Folder Association Fix (Restore default associations for File Folders)
• GIF File Association Fix (Restore default associations for GIF Files)
• HLP File Association Fix (Restore default associations for HLP files)
• HTA File Association Fix (Restore default associations for HTA Files
• HTM/HTML Associations (Restore the default associations for htm/html files)
• ICO File Association Fix (Restore the default association for ico files)
• INF File Association Fix (Restore the default association for INF files)
• Internet Explorer Desktop Icon Fix (Restore the default behavior for the Desktop IE icon)
• JPE/JPG/JPEG Association Fix (Restore the default associations for jpe/jpg/jpeg files)
• LNK (Shortcut) File Association Fix (Restores Default Shortcut Behavior)
• MPG/MPEG File Association Fix (Restores default associations for MPG/MPEG files)
• MSC File Association Fix (Restore default associations for MSC files)
• MSI File Association Fix (Restore default associations for MSI files)
• MSP File Association Fix (Restore default associations for MSP files)
• REG File Association Fix (Restore default associations for REG files)
• SCF File Association Fix (Restore default associations for SCF files)
• SCR File Association Fix (Restore default associations for SCR files)
• TXT File Association Fix (Restore default associations for TXT files)
• TIF/TIFF File Association Fix (Restores default associations for TIF/TIFF files)
• URL File Association Fix (Restores default associations for URL - Internet shortcuts)
• VBS File Association Fix (Restores default associations for VBS files)
• ZIP Folder Association Fix (Restores default associations for ZIP Folders - REG File)

If your EXE file associations are corrupted, it can be difficult to open REGEDIT, or to even import REG files.  To work around this, press CTRL-ALT-DEL and open Task Manager.  Once there, click File, then hold down the CTRL key and click New Task (Run).  This will open a Command Prompt window.  Enter REGEDIT.EXE and press Enter.