When I assign specific file extensions to default program it doesn't hold

[videobruce]

Yes, I know how to do it (all 3 methods) but when I point to the programs .exe it doesn't 'stick' in the dialog box. I've done it multiple times, same thing. It's like I never pointed W7's O/S to anything. This just stared a few days ago. No real idea what caused it. Specifically it is .pdf files, but document files were affected also, but for some reason I was able to re-assign that file type.

To make matters worse, I even went to the hassle to restore a image of the O/S I made almost 3 months ago and the same same thing!!
In fact, it was more than one type of file, but .pdf is the major issue.

When I choose the program, the pop-up box with all the other 'assigned' programs shows, but the one I tried to add doesn't get added to the list.
It's PDF Exchange (that I have used for years) is the specific program, but again, it's ALWAYS worked with NO issue. This image and what was the former current active version.

Again, any way I do this it fails. Then and now.

One more detail, I also lost the default programs for .txt (I use Notrebook2) and .odt (Open Office documents & Spreadsheets), but I was able to restore those.
All of this happened apparently one time again, in both W7 installations.

[videobruce]

This will help; after I click on the .exe, nothing happens, no error messages etc.

 

[NotHereToPlayGames]

I'm not familiar with "PDF-Xchange", but your screencap cites it as PORTABLE.

So what happens if you copy the folder (archive it somewhere), then DELETE the portable apps "profile" then launch it?

Just speculating as all of my portable apps have their own "bin" (profile) where files and registry is saved within itself (as opposed to Win Registry / Program Files Folder / User Data Directory / etc).

ie, force PDF-Xchange to start BRAND NEW / FIRST-RUN.

Edited Sunday at 10:49 PM by NotHereToPlayGames

[videobruce]

I don't know if a 'Portable' application can be 're-launched.

14 hours ago, NotHereToPlayGames said:

DELETE the portable apps "profile"

I don't know how to do that, if there is one.

[NotHereToPlayGames]

Do you have a link of where you obtained PDF-Xchange?

[videobruce]

Take your pic (my version is a older one that works fine)

https://www.softpedia.com/get/Office-tools/PDF/PDF-XChange-Editor-Portable.shtml

https://portableapps.com/apps/office/pdf-xchange-editor-portable

https://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?id=2832

https://www.fcportables.com/pdf-xchange-portable/

I have no problem running the portable application, then opening a .pdf file within it. There is no 'default' for .pdf files that I ever saw.
I looked at that Registry key with file associations and the .pdf is assigned to PDF x extension ok.

 

[NotHereToPlayGames]

59 minutes ago, videobruce said:

There is no 'default' for .pdf files that I ever saw.

There isn't supposed to be.

A true "portable" will *NOT* be associated.

If you want the association, you should probably be using the "regular" version instead of the "portable" version.

"Portable" versions are generally for people that do *NOT* want the file associations.

 

Your list does *NOT* narrow things down for me, they all do not create the "bin" / "profile" the same way.

But if you do not have any issues running the program THEN opening a .pdf, then your "bin" / "profile" SHOULD be okay (ie, not corrupted).

 

Again, if you want OS-Level ASSOCIATIONS, you technically shouldn't be using the PORTABLE version.

Because there are "mime types" and GUIDS and CLSIDS and ProgIds and namespaces and file PATHS and other things to also "associate" above-and-beyond a simple "OpenWithList".

ie, things that over-simplified "registry cleaners" would have wiped clean and all you are trying to bring back is the "OpenWithList" - won't *always* be enough (sometimes it is).

Edited Monday at 07:22 PM by NotHereToPlayGames

[videobruce]

I realize Portable  programs won't and CAN'T automatically have associaton w/o manually setting them. I've done that for a decade or more, no big deal.

What I did just tried, I have a 2nd W7 Pro O/S as a backup (I've run a 2ndbackup drive for some time now, just in case).
I went to that drive (I'm using it now) and tried the same test. At the time nothing was assigned in that drive for .pdf files, I went thru the process and presto, it worked as it should. No errors or non reaction.
And this is using the exact same program, portable in the exact same backup partition that my main drive (O/S uses, the ONLY difference it's another W7 Pro x64 install.

I find it hard to believe I never opened a .pdf file in my main O/S in 3 months, so it may look like the problem was actually from 3 months ago based on the fact the backup image has the same problem.

I've never had a problem as this as long as I can remember other than fighting M$ with their forced on you defective Browsers. But, there is a workaround for that too.

Edited yesterday at 03:00 PM by videobruce

[NotHereToPlayGames]

There *MUST* be something different between the two OS Registries (not to state the obvious, as I'm sure you already know this).

Many associations are much more complicated than "OpenWithList".

I guess all I can suggest at this point is to search for any-and-all pdf ocurrences in that 2nd W7 Pro's registry and compare to the computer where you are having the issues.

There's (obviously) something different between the two and it basically "has to be" at the registry-level.

 

ps - I can't help but "laugh" when BACKUPS contain issues that the backup was resorted to in order to FIX the non-backup.

not laughing "at you", laughing because this happens at work *ALL THE TIME*, "backups" are never TESTED and when they go to get USED, the department finds them to be *USELESS*.

[NotHereToPlayGames]

On 12/14/2025 at 5:21 PM, videobruce said:

When I choose the program, the pop-up box with all the other 'assigned' programs shows, but the one I tried to add doesn't get added to the list.

Here's where I would go next "if it were me".

The pop-up box contains a list of programs that are PROPERLY embedded within the OS Registry.

Scan that list for something that should be "rare" within the OS Registry, search for THAT PROGRAM in the OS Registry.

You should be able to find WHAT populates that pop-up list.

Now you know WHERE to ADD your preferred pdf file "handler".

 

edit - I kind of have to assume that you have a PATH issue, you are associating pdf files with an EXE (with spaces in the name!) but nowhere is the PATH (also containing spaces!) to that EXE being defined.

SPACES have a way of "breaking" things if not properly accomodated for.  Why "all of this" is just now hitting your setup is definitly a mystery.  My assumption is a "registry cleaner" was used, but that is just an assumption.

Edited yesterday at 03:42 PM by NotHereToPlayGames

[videobruce]

No Registry cleaner used, I haven't use on of them for years now.

It's almost impossible to "test" all possibilities in a O/S image file. Apparently, there was the problem that I obviously wasn't aware of. It's not as there weren't portable programs on the list.

You did mention something I've never heard of discussed. 'Spaces' in the names of program exe's. I've noticed numerous times, but not all, that some companies/writers/programmers will add punctuation marks between words in the exe. Never had a known issue with spaces.

You are suggesting to 'add' the name of the exe as it appears in the program file to that Registry entry?

[NotHereToPlayGames]

Try this.

1) Open FILE EXPLORER (even if you have alternative file manager, please open FILE EXPLORER) and navigate to your "PDF-Xchange Editor v6 Portable" folder.

2) Click ONCE inside the address bar so that the entire folder PATH is highlighted.

3) Do CTRL-C on keyboard to copy that hightlighted PATH.

4) Now open a COMMAND PROMPT WINDOW *AS ADMIN*.

5) Type "cd " (c d SPACE) without the quotes then CTRL-V then hit ENTER.  ie, an ADMIN COMMAND PROMPT from the directory CONTAINING your "PDFXEdit v6.exe" file.

6a) Now do *BOTH* of the following (no!, the second one does not 'replace' the first one, the first one MUST  be executed to establish LOCAL MACHINE registry configuration).

6b) In that ADMIN COMMAND PROMPT, enter and execute the following INCLUDING the quotes around the .exe file name:
"PDFXEdit v6.exe" /fileassoc:user=no

6c) AFTER doing the above, do the BELOW in that ADMIN COMMAND PROMPT (this sets CURRENT USER registry configuration that is USELESS without the LOCAL MACHINE registry configuration also in place):
"PDFXEdit v6.exe" /fileassoc:user=yes

7) REBOOT YOUR COMPUTER - *required* for additions to LOCAL MACHINE and CURRENT USER registry hive changes to *take effect*

8) double-click on a .pdf file and (fingers crossed), it SHOULD launch PDF-Xchange Editor *and* open the file you double-clicked

 

Edited yesterday at 09:06 PM by NotHereToPlayGames

[TSNH]

Try modifying the entries with this program https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/file_types_manager.html
it's more advanced than the default open with gui.

Maybe try this pdfxedit on another computer/VM look up how it's getting automatically set there and if it works replicate that config

[WalksInSilence]

The two programs I use for this area of trouble, usually to un-associate a program I've accidentally used forgetting to uncheck the, annoyingly, Windows checked by default 'make default' tick box rather than what is described here as being the problem are:-

https://defaultprogramseditor.com/

and

https://www.softpedia.com/get/System/OS-Enhancements/Unassoc.shtml

I was thinking that you could try to un-associate everything already associated with opening a .pdf then with that clean slate trying to associate the program wanted. I find it a bit unusual that a 'proper' PDF viewer like Adobe Reader, Sumatra or Foxit are not amongst the options as usually, arrogantly, Adobe will assign itself by default to open any .pdf file type. So even if you use something else you'd expect to see it in the list.   

Whether these programs will help in this case I do not know but they're useful tools to have particularly as they both work with XP and Win7.

[videobruce]

I tried W10 3 years ago and decided to stay with W7. Things change usually for the worse so I decided to try W10 again. I have a number of images of that O/S I made that I tweaked (instead of spending days tweaking) I will try again.

Anyway, I did try that Portable using one of those images and things worked fine.

The funny thing is it's shown in the Registry as enabled, but the 'dumb' O/S doesn't see that which apparently why I can't add it since it's already there, but just doesn't show within a 'right click' dialog box.