Solved Win8 File Association Type

allgames71

New Member
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35
Everytime I install Win8 , the default file association all goes to Metro UI associated. I won't use Metro UI at all , instead use the Desktop. So everytime I've go to the [Control Panel] ... [Programs] ... [Make a file type always open in a specific program]
It's very annoying. Is there a simple way to let me change all the files association type such as by .reg. I've tried regshot program to get certain file association change registry then import it to the registry , but with fail. As it said program is in use , forbitten ...
I can't thinks of a simple way to solve this program even in the safe mode.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
You would need to import the reg file into the hive from outside of windows.

What did regshot give you as a.reg file?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
hello SIW2 ,

I can understand what you mean and I know the steps you mentioned , importing by WinPE registry.
But I through away the registry by regshot long ago as I thought it's useless.

Frankly speaking , using regshot to compare registry with shot1 and shot2 is really hard task. Besides , there're so many File Association Type to modify. For all of the modification , that may take a week non-stopping !!!

Is there a faster way for this. Thanks

Is there a program that record the modification of registry and files, then can apply the next time ?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I don't know which associations you want, exactly. Photoviewer and IE , I expect, and what else?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
AC3 Audio , AVI Video file , BMP , BSF (HDTV) , divx , flc , flic , flv , gif , jpe , jpeg , jpg , m2t , m2ts , m2v
m4a , m4v , mid , midi , mkv , mov , mp3 , mpe , mpeg , mpg , mpv2 , mts , pdf , png , rm , rmvb , swf
tif , tiff , tod , tp , trp , ts , wav , wmf , wmv , xvid , zip

These are the File Association I want to modify their default open program.
Did you found that once install Win8 , all the default open program all goes to Metro UI , just like mp3 , pdf ....
Say if you install Faststone Image Viewer for photo viewing at set the file association to all it's default files , the setting is useless in a certain extend. What I try to say is , if Metro UI program has the ability to open some photo file extension , evening you set in Faststone file association. Not all of them will be change. As Metro UI will open some of them if it can be. And the other photo file type which it can't open , will let Faststone to open.

Specially the video files , also Windows Media Player is not the default program to open .mp3 !! The default one is Metro UI program , right ?

That's why I want to change the above File Association by one tick to get rid of that annoying Metro UI.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
A stock install of Windows 8 will include some interesting new file associations. The new Windows Reader app, for example, is configured to open PDF, XPS, and OXPS files by default. The Photos app is configured to open a wide range of picture files. Xbox Video is configured to play all video files, and Xbox Music is configured for audio files.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 64-bit
hello ARC1020

Thanks for your suggestion web tutorial , but I know that well already. I do this file association changing all the day. So I know it and I hate it. As everytime it takes me at least 5 minutes to concentrate to the monitor to make this changes. After this job I'll nearly black out after keening to the monitor.

The above website don't help. Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
What I want is a fast and easy way to modify the File Association. Either program of by registry way. Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
use DISM

allgames71, there's an easy way, but it's a little better suited for deploying OS with the custom file type associations set, rather than applying it after the installation.

Basically, you configure the system as you like in your account, then run:
Code:
dism /online /Export-DefaultAppAssociations:C:\temp\AppAssoc.xml
Then you can import XML on any OS
Code:
dism /online /Import-DefaultAppAssociations:C:\temp\AppAssoc.xml
But there's a catch! It only applies to accounts created afterwards. The existing accounts don't get these settings, except for the one you used to configure file type associations.

To take advantage of this method at deployment time, you mount the image (e.g. install.wim) and import XML into it:
Code:
dism /Mount-Image /ImageFile:C:\wim\install.wim /MountDir:C:\mount
dism /Image:C:\mount /Import-DefaultAppAssociations:C:\temp\AppAssoc.xml
Then you deploy the image and pat yourself on the back :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dv7t (17.3'', i7-2630QM, HD 6770M 1Gb, 8Gb RAM, 2 SSD@120Gb + 1 HDD@750Gb)
hello Vadikan ,

That's what I want. Thanks a lot. But I need time to digest and test. But I'm sure yours is the right way.

Actually , I don't install Win8 singlely in any computer. I preinstall (Sysprep) Win8 in Audit Mode in my own computer and use ADK to generate an unattend.xml which is <CopyProfile=True> . This Win8 I've installed all the programs I want , when everything ready , I sysprep the Win8 with unattend.xml. At this time I use Acronis to back it up as an recovery image for any computer.

Even I've pre-modified all the program's File Association , unfortunately when deploy the image to any computer , Microsoft will reset all the File Association to default. So I've to redefine all the File Association myself manually. I takes time and effort to watch very carefully to the monitor , as I don't want to miss any files relatives.

Should I modify the File Association in the Win8 Audit Mode ? And in the Win8 Deploy , how can I avoid Microsoft reset File Association ?

Thanks a lot
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
hello Vadikan ,

That's what I want. Thanks.

Actually I don't install Win8 individually. I install Win8 in Preinstall Audit Mode in my own computer. I've modify the File Association at that time. Then sysprep with <Copy Profile=True> in unattended.xml. When deploy to other computer , Microsoft will reset all the File Association to default.

Should I use dism in Preinstall Audit Mode or after Syspre deployment ?

Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Hi allgames71,

I'm pretty sure you can do it in audit mode (configure -> export -> import) as well as after capturing the image, as described above. sysprep and CopyProfile is certainly something to consider, since it essentially updates the Default account. But I imagine MSFT has taken it into account.

Should I use dism in Preinstall Audit Mode or after Syspre deployment ?

I don't think it matters. Profile copy occurs at deployment time anyway (specialize). Technically, when you use sysprep with the answer file the latter gets cached. But I prefer to use the answer file with CopyProfile at deployment time to mitigate possible issues.

Give it a whirl and post the results please. I'm sure it shouldn't be a problem, if you have a sysprepped image and VM at hand.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dv7t (17.3'', i7-2630QM, HD 6770M 1Gb, 8Gb RAM, 2 SSD@120Gb + 1 HDD@750Gb)
hello Vadikan ,

I've tried "dism /online /Export-DefaultAppAssociations:C:\temp\AppAssoc.xml" and
"dism /online /Import-DefaultAppAssociations:C:\temp\AppAssoc.xml" whcih apply the other users created thereafter.

But the File Association remain unchanged.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Hey!

I tested it in December, when I wrote a blog post about the feature, and it worked for me back then. Please test as follows:

1. In the Control Panel, make Windows Photo Viewer default for all file types (instead of the modern viewer).
2. Export, import.
3. Create a new user, open any JPEG or PNG.

What program opens it? Attach your XML, if it's modern viewer.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dv7t (17.3'', i7-2630QM, HD 6770M 1Gb, 8Gb RAM, 2 SSD@120Gb + 1 HDD@750Gb)
hello Vadikan ,

I've no doubt with your test in December. And I know it works.

But did you find that in the "Set your default programs" , there would only have Windows's own program , can also have WinRAR , Google Chrome , Firefox. But the thing is , after I've installed Faststone Image Viewer and set it to default program to open pictures like Jpg , Bmp ...... , also set it picture File Association , it would never appear in the list of "Set your default programs". When you try to open a Jpg photo with double click , it also will be opened with Metro program.

So, the point is , if the program I've installed would appear in the "Set your default program" , I can handle it with some pictures association. But if it's not appear there , nothing can be done !! And the only thing you can do is go to the "Nake a file type always open in a specific program" , then to change one picture format by the other , until you change all the pictures format that should be open by Faststone Image Viewer , Jpg , Gif , Bmp , Tif , Tiff ........... That takes a lot of time !!

Besides , File Associations have to be changed is not only for pictures , there's still a lot of other ext to change like rm , rmvb , m2ts ...

The thing is how can I add the installed program to "Set your default program". Then I can do something.

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
allgames71, I hear you. Let's break down the problem in two pieces.

1. DISM association method
I took JPEG/PNG and two Windows viewers as an example. The method is designed to work with all programs that you find in "Set your default programs". If the program doesn't register there, that brings us to the point 2.

2. File type association model
It has changed in Windows 8. This means that when the program isn't on the list of default programs, it's incompatible with Windows 8. And it's not just words (see the my point in bold in the referenced post). Therefore, there's no supported method to import/export file associations.

You can do what the program developer should've done: register the program in "Set your default programs". But there's no silver bullet, and you'll have to spend a lot of time on each program. Start here.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dv7t (17.3'', i7-2630QM, HD 6770M 1Gb, 8Gb RAM, 2 SSD@120Gb + 1 HDD@750Gb)
hello Vadikan ,

I understand now. Most of application are not registered in "Set your default program". If this is it , I've to return to my start point , to change the File Association in "Make a file type always open in a specific program" one by one each time. I doesn't matter.

Thanks for caring all along. Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I'd say that the most popular applications do register in default programs now. When I wrote about this in December, some pretty popular software was not compatible (e.g. Opera browser installer was deceptive in that respect). But developers get the point gradually and the situation improves every day.

It reminds me the UAC case when it was introduced in Vista. It took developers some time to make their software UAC-compatible, albeit it's far more challenging than register in default programs.

And you're totally correct that the only good way to go is to associate programs individually (e.g. in the Control Panel or using Open with), then use the DISM export/import approach.

I think you can mark the thread is solved now :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion dv7t (17.3'', i7-2630QM, HD 6770M 1Gb, 8Gb RAM, 2 SSD@120Gb + 1 HDD@750Gb)
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