2 .mov file associations

I inadvertently installed Quicktime 6 and 7 on the same machine. This caused much headache. After uninstalling both, cleaning the registry of 'quicktime', and reinstalling, QT 7 loads and will now play .mov files, but only if I open QT first and open .mov files from QT. If I click on a .mov file, I get error message "The exception unknown software exception (0xc0000409) occurred in the application at location 0x0040130d. "
When I go to My computer/explore/tools/folder options/file types/MOV files/change, the 'Open with' window shows two QuickTime Player lines. This is not right. I can't delete either of them. If I set them both to open with Quicktime, it works once, and then after that I get the above error message.
If I delete the .mov file type and make a new .mov association with advanced optons 'open', 'use DDE' appliction Quicktime, I get 'Error 43 - a file could not be found (Documents).
How can I get rid of the two .mov file associations and bring things back to normal?
Thanks

 

I have some info stored that I have used for similar problems in the past. I'll paste it for your possible use:

 

Thanks for the reply. Using 'openwithclear' removes the second instance of 'open withQuicktime', but as soon as I reboot it is back again. There must be something that is loading a program that conflicts with Quicktime in assigning the .mov file associations.

Any further ideas?

 

First I need to know what is listed in the Registry for the file association by using the path I posted earlier. Were both "open with" options listed there? Did you try deleting that data as suggested? If so, did they both reappear?

Did you try the second option (tools > folder options > file types)offered as well? We need to pursue all possibilities before moving forward.

If you did those steps and it didn't help, then you can try resetting the association another way. Right click one of the file with a .mov extension and choose "Open With." Then ignore anything you see on the suggested programs list, instead click the browse button. The point to the location of your current Quick Time install and find and double click the executable file. Then when you are returned to the applet screen, tag the box labeled "Always use this program to open files of this type." Click OK and see if that resolves the issue. Post back your results in any case.

 

Here are the registry values for the path you posted:

mov
(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
progid REG_SZ QuickTime.mov

OpenWithList
(Default) REG_SZ (value not set)
a REG_SZ QuicktimePlayer.exe
MRUList REG_SZ a

OpenWithProgids
(Default) REG_NONE (zero-length binary value)
ft000004 REG_NONE (zero-length binary value)
mov_auto_file REG_NONE (zero-length binary value)
QuickTime.mov REG_NONE (zero-length binary value)

I tried the second option. I can delete the association, but when I try to reassociate a .mov file by clicking on it and using the 'Open With' window, there are still two 'Quicktime Player' lines under 'Recommended Programs'.

When I try the third option, it works if I stay on my C: drive, even though right click 'open with' shows two Quick time choices. If I go to my f: drive (where most of the .mov files are), I get the above error message.

The 'openwithclear.exe' program sometimes works, removing the two Quicktime associations. Bus as soon as I use Quicktime, or reboot, the two associations come back.

 

Run Regedit and rename the two keys, OpenWithList and OpenWithProgids by placing an X in front of each. Log off and they will be recreated when you log back on. Check if the problem is solved. If so, delete the renamed keys or leave them if you prefer, they won't affect the system.

It appears that the OpenWithProgids key is corrupt but processing both keys as above will be the best way to be certain we have gone the extra mile.

 

I changed the registry as you suggested. I still get the error message when I click on a .mov file under the following conditions:

With QT closed:
no error if file is on c: drive
error if file is not on c: drive

With QT open:
no error for files on any drive.

There are still two Quicktime choices in the 'Open with' window.

 

Go to My computer/tools/folder options/file types/MOV files and select the line and click the Delete button. Confirm the action.

Then run Regedit and go to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MOVFile

and delete that key if it exists.

Uninstall QT and reboot. Reinstall QT and test.

This is obviously a Registry corruption issue that is tightly ingrained. If it doesn't work after the foregoing, you can try uninstalling QT and doing a thorough Registry cleaning using more than one Reg Cleaner. Often one will fine stuff that another will miss.

I have used JV RegCleaner and RegSeeker to follow each other with success at times. I prefer RegSeeker for the ease of searching.

 

I deleted the key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MOVFile, uninstalled QT and rebooted, as per your instructions. No change.

I ran JV RegCleaner and RegSeeker and deleted the reported unnecessary registry entries. No change in the QT problem, but now device manager reports for the CD and DVD burner drives:

"Windows successfully loaded the device driver for this hardware but cannot find the hardware device. (Code 41) "

Further info:
I can click on a .mov file and successfully play it in QT from the C: and G: drives, but not from the F: drive. When I installed the second version of QT, I put it in the F: drive, thinking it wouldn't conflict with the QT already installed. It seems there are some remnants of that second installation on the F: drive that are causing the problem. How can i find them?

 

I think I assumed something that isn't true. When I said uninstall QT and use the Reg Cleaners to clean up the directory, I meant to use the SEARCH feature in those tools and type Quicktime as the text to be searched for. You'll no doubt get more than 100 hits doing it that way. If you delete all of them, it may just do what you need. Run the cleaners twice at least to be sure you have everything.

I'm thinking you just did a general clean up with the tools and didn't go specifically for a search for Quicktime.

Somewhere in there, it must have a path referencing the F: drive and that's likely all that needs to be deleted. Finding that amoungst all the other hits is next to impossible. That's why I suggest the shotgun method and taking all of them out before reinstalling.

 

Which of these search options should be checked when using RegSeeker to search for 'QuickTime'?

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
HKEY_CURRENT_USER
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
HKEY_USERS
HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG

Keys
Values
Data

 

Check 'em all. (Except the Search Files box) It takes longer but you need to be thorough.

I have a normal install of Quicktime and with all boxes tagged, searching for the term QUICKTIME yields 189 hits. You may choose to peruse the hits to find any that refer to the F: drive and just dump those only, but if that gets too tedious, just dump them all. Regseeker will make a backup. You'll not likely need it but it's comforting to know it's there in case Murphy rears his ugly head.


EDIT: Also leave the "Match Whole Word" box unchecked.

 

FYI

I see I have Version 5 QT on the machine that showed the 189 when searching with RegSeeker.

I checked another system that has Version 7 QT on it and did the same search. It yielded 1816 hits! Seems like quite a bit more bloat.

I just thought it might be of interest since your problems started with Version 7. From what I can tell, Version 7 is slower to respond and much more demanding on the system than the earlier version.

 

Totally gnarly, surferdude2!

Search & Destroy all 'QuickTime' references using RegSeeker (several times) did the job.

I fixed the problem with the DVD & CD drives. All is well, I can sleep tonight.

A thousand blessings on you and your family. May your camels always have water, and all your waves be tubular.

 

Oscarman, Thanks for posting back your results so others can benefit.

All the best,

Dude

ps. I should add that this is the only time I ever recommend using Registry Cleaners. Running them as a routine maintenance act is dangerous to the system and never produces any measurable benefit.