Windows won't keep default settings for .WPL files

For some reason, Windows will no longer remember settings for .WPL files. I hope it is just this, as I haven't tried anything else.

I recently fixed a couple of problems with my computer. First one was causing the Move To/Copy To command to appear whenever I double-clicked a folder from the Start Menu, and the second was causing the search box to appear when double-clicking a folder instead of the folder's contents. I fixed these two problems.

But now, whenever I click on my .wpl (James' songs.wpl), it brings up the dialogue asking me what program I would like to open it with. I choose Windows Media Player (under the recommended tab), and I check the box telling Windows to always use this program for this file. I closed WMP a few minutes later, and tried re-opening the same playlist file, and the same dialogue popped up. Five tries later, same thing.

Anybody have any solutions? Thanks.

 

Try this...

Go to 'Control Panel', select 'Folder Options'. Then select the 'File Types' tab. Scroll to WPL and click it. Then make sure it is set to 'open with' Windows Media Player. If it's not follow the directions to change the association.

B

p.s. Welcome to Windows BBS!

 

I may have figured it out, but I need help finding out how.

When I right-click on a .wpl or .mp3 file, the action "Open With" is bolded, meaning it has been set as the default action. Obviously, this is a context menu problem. Would editing a specific shell value in the registry solve this?




I checked the file for .WPL, and it was already set to Windows Media Player as the default. I tried "Restore ", but it didn't help. And WMP's in-program settings for File Type seem to be okay. See the following image:

Sorry, the site isn't working for the image. But it's the "File Types" box showing .WPL being used by "Windows Media Player" always.

Ah, here it works:

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/6343/screen5tp.jpg

Apparently, the same problem is occuring when trying to open .mp3 files. And .WMA/WMV files. I'm assuming it has something to do specifically with Windows Media Player, as all other extensions seem to work fine (.docx, .xls, .exe, .jpg, etc.)

 

Do you have any other playlists? If so, do they have the same problem? Do you have any other media players installed that may have tried to become the 'default' media player? I noticed you have Nero, is the Nero media player 'associated' with .wma (or .mp3) file types?
You mentioned fixing a couple of recent problems, what did you do to repair these problems?
Which version of WMP are you using?

B

 

I made a test playlist with a few songs, but same thing.

1) Nero isn't associated with any music file type
2) I have WinAmp installed, but it isn't associated with any types either (I really should get rid of it)
3) I am using Windows Media Player 11 Beta, but I've been using it since release and this is the first time the problem has popped up


For the past problems, I followed instructions on a couple of websites to edit registry keys to remove entries that were causing the problem. I also edited one of the "File Types" in control panel for "File Folder" since it had a whole bunch of useless actions.

But if you notice in the below screenshot, when I right-click on the playlist icon, there is no "Open" or "Play" command. There is only "Open With ", which is bolded (meaning default).

http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/452/screen46tj.jpg

Obviously, this somehow got messed up and the default action should be "Open" or "Play ". I'm wondering if I maybe changed a wrong entry in the registry.

 

Just saw your new post when I made my last post. I think you found the problem.
If you go back to the file type section in 'Folder Options'... when you get to .wpl, click the Advanced button. You can set which action is the default, by highlighting, then click the 'make default' button.
The only actions I have listed in this section is 'Open' and 'Play' (with Play being the default). You should be able to delete the 'Open with' action in the file types as long as you have the 'Open' and/or 'Play' action(s) there without causing any problems. Post back if this corrects it.

B

 

Nope, that's not it.

I clicked "Advance" and I only have two actions listed: Open and Play, with Play being the default. I don't know I got "Open With" to become the default option.

 

(Sorry, can't edit above post)

SUCCESS! I used a program called "ShellEXView ", and it apparently add the option "Play as Playlist" and "Play as MP3" under the Context Menu disabled. I enabled them, right-clicked on the playlist, and not only was "Play" there, it was set as the default!

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/1912/success2pp.jpg

Now I can go back to working on that spreadsheet that I normally would've had finished a few hours ago.

Mr. B, thank you very much for the help. This forum seems to be fairly helpful, so I think I'll become a contributing member.

Thanks again.

 

Glad you got it sorted.
Too bad about the spreadsheet though!

B