"Open With" won't let me select the correct program

Will · External Since: Apr 27, 2009 Posts: 3

I've got an .ape audio file that I used to play with VLC. On this new 32bit
XP Pro SP3 install it won't let me use VLC. I right click, Open With,
Browse (because VLC isn't there), select VLC.exe, "Always use the selected
program to open this kind of file" gets checked, but VLC is still not in the
list. Its like Windows is refusing to acknowledge its existence when .ape
files are involved. The only way I can use VLC is if I open it first, then
use the Open File method. Then it plays fine. Does anybody know what's
going on? This has happened with other programs I believe though its been a
while.

BeeCeeBee · External Since: Apr 28, 2009 Posts: 1

You need to make certain that you have correctly associated the file
extension with the player. If you make the VLC player the default for
the extension on the file (.ape) it should play automatically in VLC and
other options such as WMP will still be available in "Open With."

Let us know at www.computerhelpforums.net if this works out for you.

--
BeeCeeBee
Posted via http://computerhelpforums.net Forum to USENET Gateway

Olórin · External Since: Feb 02, 2009 Posts: 50

Will wrote:
> I've got an .ape audio file that I used to play with VLC. On this
> new 32bit XP Pro SP3 install it won't let me use VLC. I right click,
> Open With, Browse (because VLC isn't there), select VLC.exe, "Always
> use the selected program to open this kind of file" gets checked, but
> VLC is still not in the list. Its like Windows is refusing to
> acknowledge its existence when .ape files are involved. The only way
> I can use VLC is if I open it first, then use the Open File method. Then
> it plays fine. Does anybody know what's going on? This has
> happened with other programs I believe though its been a while.

As a workaround, you could add a shortcut to VLC into your Send To folder.
Right-clicking the file and choosing VLC from Send To might be quicker than
browsing from VLC's File > Open.

I'd suggest reinstalling VLC (perhaps with the lastest version, just in case
there may be XP SP3 issues with an old version you may be running), and
ensuring .ape files are selected in the installation routine's File
Associations dialog (IIRC it *does* present one). [EDIT: I've just checked
in my VLC, v0.9.8a. Under Tools > Preferences > Interface > Association
Setup there is no option for .ape files under audio or any other type, so
you may be out of luck finding that extension selectable in the set-up.]

Possibly some other media player has been told never to relinquish its grip
on an association with these .APE files. What do they open with by default,
ie if you just double-click one in Windows Explorer?

Failing all that, look into forcing an association between VLC and the .APE
extension through Windows Explorer's Tools > Folder Options > File Types
tab. Perhaps remove any entry for .ape files first then do the "Open With" >
VLC > "Always use the selected program" first; if it doesn't hold, see what
it *does* say for .ape files in the File Types list.

Another place to ask, where there may be more suggestions if no joy here, is
the "microsoft.public.windowsxp.music" group.

Jose · External Since: Jan 27, 2009 Posts: 150

On Apr 28, 12:20 am, "Will" <reply_to_group@thanks> wrote:
> I've got an .ape audio file that I used to play with VLC. On this new 32bit
> XP Pro SP3 install it won't let me use VLC. I right click, Open With,
> Browse (because VLC isn't there), select VLC.exe, "Always use the selected
> program to open this kind of file" gets checked, but VLC is still not in the
> list. Its like Windows is refusing to acknowledge its existence when .ape
> files are involved. The only way I can use VLC is if I open it first, then
> use the Open File method. Then it plays fine. Does anybody know what's
> going on? This has happened with other programs I believe though its been a
> while.

Your method will teach Windows to associate .ape files with that
program, not add it to a menu.

If you double click a .ape file (I don't even know what that is), does
VLC start (I don't know what that is either!). If yes, the
association has taken place. Does this work or not?

Is your real desire to have VLC added to the list of "Open with"
options?

Will · External Since: Apr 27, 2009 Posts: 3

> I've got an .ape audio file that I used to play with VLC. On this new
> 32bit XP Pro SP3 install it won't let me use VLC. I right click, Open
> With, Browse (because VLC isn't there), select VLC.exe, "Always use the
> selected program to open this kind of file" gets checked, but VLC is still
> not in the list. Its like Windows is refusing to acknowledge its
> existence when .ape files are involved. The only way I can use VLC is if
> I open it first, then use the Open File method. Then it plays fine. Does
> anybody know what's going on? This has happened with other programs I
> believe though its been a while.

Just wanted to thank everyone for the suggestions. And I just realized I
should
have posted this to a Microsoft XP newsgroup!

Olórin · External Since: Feb 02, 2009 Posts: 50

Will wrote:
>> I've got an .ape audio file that I used to play with VLC. On this
>> new 32bit XP Pro SP3 install it won't let me use VLC. I right
>> click, Open With, Browse (because VLC isn't there), select VLC.exe,
>> "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" gets
>> checked, but VLC is still not in the list. Its like Windows is
>> refusing to acknowledge its existence when .ape files are involved. The
>> only way I can use VLC is if I open it first, then use the Open
>> File method. Then it plays fine. Does anybody know what's going
>> on? This has happened with other programs I believe though its been
>> a while.
>
> Just wanted to thank everyone for the suggestions. And I just
> realized I should
> have posted this to a Microsoft XP newsgroup!

1) You're welcome - how did you get on?
2) Um - you did!