Resolved Unable to associate desired program with specific filetype

This is driving me crazy.

I've installed and reinstalled XP Pro on half a dozen computers over the past eight years, but I've never run into this problem before.

In their infinite wisdom, the Gnomes of Redmond (read Micro$oft) associate Windows Media Player (if installed) with WAV files, a particularly cumbersome way to open and play a small audio file.

I've always associated a small stand-alone program called QuickPlay with the few WAV files on my computer. I just installed XP Pro on a new computer and, while I can find QuickPlay using the Open With window in the File Types tab in Tools > Folder Options, for whatever reason, the OS will not associate the program with WAV files, choosing instead to associate WMP.

If anyone has an answer for this problem, I'd really appreciate hearing it.

Thanks.

 

Flat out guess.... Media player>Play List>Options>Files and unassociate the file(s) you are working with..... Just a guess - and a wild one at that!!

Good Luck

 

You need to "Associate" Wav Files with QuickPlay. You have to do this manually ..

1. Do File Find for a ".WAV" file
2. Hold down the Shift Key and Right Click on it
3. Select "Open With.. "
4. Select "Other "
5. Find QuickPlay.exe and Click Open
6. Click on "Always Use this Program" so it is ticked Make sure this is checked.
7. Click OK.

You should now be able to double click on a wave file and it will play
through your default sound device, in this case "quickplay "

To check again do a file search for *.wav. Right click>properties, check it and the default should show "quickplay "

 

I guess I didn't make myself as clear as I thought I did.

Ski52 ...

Unassociating WMP from the WAV filetype would seem to make sense, but it makes no difference. At present my system still wants to use WMP to play a WAV file.


Goddez ...

That's more or less exactly what I've been trying to do. FWIW, it's not necessary to hold down the shift key when right-clicking the file to open the context menu. I can find QuickPlay.exe with no problem, but it doesn't appear in the list of programs in the Open With window. That's what has me baffled, because it's never happened before.

 

Hi Jim,

I think this is because it is a stand alone executable. It is never installed and does not register itself. In the case of windows 7, while it did not appear on the list of open with choices at first, I had to browse to the location of quickplay. Once I made it permanent default for player for wav extension, it is now in the list.

The "shift/rightclick>open context menu" is often different than a normal rightclick on a file. In this case the difference would have been an "open" as opposed "open with" or possibly "chose or change program" depending on operating system.

-----------
alternative method:
http://www.articlesbase.com/e-learn...ile-associations-xp-247352.html#ixzz0q5jVp62d

pictures and directions:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4490313_change-default-program-open-files.html

 

goddez1 (Anne, if I remember correctly) ...

I understand exactly what you're saying, and I agree that that's the way XP should work. What you don't seem to understand is that, even though I can navigate to the location of quickplay.exe and select it, QuickPlay never appears in the list of choices, meaning that I'm unable to make it the default player for WAV files.

That isn't true on my system. Whether I press the shift key or not when right-clicking on a file ... the context menu always says "open with ".

There's probably a Registry hack that will solve this, but so far I haven't been able to locate one.

 

Jim,

Don't listen to Ann (the goddess is meant to put out fires her avatar ignites mine) (shame on you Ann).

Ok seriously, what happens if you edit the actions menu directly? ie open an explorer window and select Tools->Folder Options->File Types and scrolling down to WAV Wave Sound and changing from there?

 

Hi all,

To Wildfire,
Please see my response in thread #5. Are these directions incorrect?

To Jim,

I did leave out a few steps in my original thread #3. I got these direction using a snippet from Quickplay zip folder readme. The additional steps instructed the user to delete any existing play default via the file types tab. I just wasn't comfortable with those. I didn''t use them (windows 7) but It's possible that these steps were necessary for xp so here is the whole thing quoted:

Notice the bolded text. These were the steps I left out previously.

Regardless, my thread #5 or Wildfire's manly voice should get ya' there.

 

Did you try the browse button in the open with window? then browse to the exe file and select it.

 

Sorry Ann,

I was just trying to lighten the mood of the boards a little (that combined with a little alcohol on a Sunday afternoon isn't a good mix).

As usual your instructions were correct and I'm also at a loss as to why Jim has this problem, your post #8 and mine though should be enough to resolve the issue. Hopefully Jim will post back with a positive outcome

P.S.
My post was meant as a complement.

Paddy

 

Thanks Paddy,

I thought as much and did find your compliment flattering and amusing. I was just a bit embarrassed and to shy to bring attention to this directly. Thank you.

I did get a little confused, though, when you instructed Jim to "not listen to me ". Not having access to an xp os, made me wonder if I was really messing up. Now I feel better.

 

Hi Guys ...

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll try to respond to all in a single post.

I did, but even when selected, QuickPlay didn't appear in the list of files in the Open With window.

I know you're using Win7, and maybe these instructions are correct for that OS, but they're incorrect and incomplete for XP. Having said that, your expanded instructions and Wildfire's suggestion steered me in the right direction.

FWIW, the steps that worked for me were (omitting your first seven steps):
1. Open Folder Options, either from the Control Panel or from the Tools menu in Windows Explorer
2. Click on the File Types tab
3. Scroll down to WAV and highlight it
4. Click on the Advanced button
5. Click on the Edit button
6. Type open in the "Action" window
7. Browse to QuickPlay.exe and open it; the path to it will appear in the "Application used to perform action" window
8. OK your way out and close the Folder Options window

QuickPlay is now associated with WAV files.

A big "Thank you" to all who responded with suggestions.

 

Hello again Jim,

Forgive me. I tend to tackle quests in an adventurous manner and will click on any buttons and such, exploring what they do, along the way. I assume others do the same. As long as the basics are there, I can figure out. I'm glad you have been able to do the same.

Your welcome and thank you back at ya' for sharing the out come and instructions modifications you used.

 

HI Ann(e?),

No forgiveness necessary. I, too, tend to jump right into things, usually without reading any instructions. I may stumble and fumble along the way, but I usually find that I've learned more by doing than by reading.

In this case, though, I was completely stymied by the problem, which had never occurred before, and needed a shove to get me out of the rut I was in and get me going in the right direction.

Thanks again.