Can you unassociate a file with a program?

cturtle · External Since: Aug 09, 2007 Posts: 1

I accidentally opened a file with windows and cannot remove the file
association. I don't wish to change it just remove it.

brink · External Since: Aug 09, 2007 Posts: 1

cturtle;415745 Wrote:
> I accidentally opened a file with windows and cannot remove the file
> association. I don't wish to change it just remove it.

If you mean that you want to delete the file extension type reference
completely off your computer, then:
1. Open regedit (type in Start Search area of Start Menu and press
Enter)
2. Open "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT"
3. Find the file extension and right click it and click delete.
4. Answer Yes to the confirmation prompt.

If you want to remove the program associated with the file extension
and leave it blank, then do the above except instead of step 3:
1. Find the file extension and right click on the "Default" in the
right pane.
2. Click Modify and leave the entry blank and click Ok.

Let me know if this is not what you meant, and I'll try and help.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

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brink

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dean-dean · External Since: Oct 19, 2006 Posts: 1090

It kinda depends on the extension you associated. If it's a .dll, or.exe,
or .sys, or .lnk, for example, then no, you don't want to change it (well,
you do, but to what? there are a number of Windows files that open with
Unknown Application, because of the nature of the file extension. Its
complexities may vary). If it's a file extension that windows doesn't use,
like one you made up, say, .xyz, then yes, you can remove it in the
registry.

If you are trying to change an extension back to it's original state,
associated with its original Unknown Application, you might
have to state which file extension it is, if you need directions as to how
to restore it.

"cturtle" wrote in message

>I accidentally opened a file with windows and cannot remove the file
> association. I don't wish to change it just remove it.