registry tweaks for file types

[RBCC]

Is there any registry tweaks that dictate what file is opened with which program? I know how to do it in Windows XP while it is running. Right click on my computer, folder options,file types... but how is this done as a registry tweak???

Thank you, John

[jrzycrim]

That information resides in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.

Look for the extension of the particular filetype.

To edit the default actions for a text file, for example, you would want to find HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.txt. Look at the default value for that key:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.txt]
@="txtfile" <--default value
"PerceivedType"="text"
"Content Type"="text/plain"

You would then need to find HKEY_CLASS_ROOT\txtfile\shell. This is where the default actions for text files are kept.

Just do the same for other file types. Here's a visual aid:

Screen shot

Your best bet is to export both the key for the file extension- all you need is the default value- and the key that the default value refers to. These might vary depending on what programs are set as default.

Basically, the default value of HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.ext refers to the key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT where the default actions for that file type are kept.