When a computer loses association to an extension, usually this is caused from viruses or malwares. Sometimes even with the malwares removed, file association can still be broken. No need to be panicing, a simple registry fix can help restore any file extension.

Below are all the file association fixes from dougknox.com site:

– Batch File Association Fix (Restore the default associations for BAT files)
– CAB File Association Fix (Restore the default associations for CAB files)
– CHM File Association Fix (Restore the default associations for CHM files)
– COM File Association Fix (Restore the default associations for COM files)
– CPL File Association Fix (Restore the default associations for CPL files)
– Directory Extension Fix (Restores defaults to HKCR\Directory)
– Drive Association Fix (Restores default settings for hard drives)
– EML File Association Fix (Restores defaults for EML files)
– EXE File Association Fix (Restore default association for EXE files)
– Folder Association Fix (Restore default associations for File Folders)
– GIF File Association Fix (Restore default associations for GIF Files)
– HLP File Association Fix (Restore default associations for HLP files)
– HTA File Association Fix (Restore default associations for HTA Files
– HTM/HTML Associations (Restore the default associations for htm/html files)
– ICO File Association Fix (Restore the default association for ico files)
– INF File Association Fix (Restore the default assocation for INF files)
– Internet Explorer Desktop Icon Fix (Restore the default behavior for the Desktop IE icon)
– JPE/JPG/JPEG Association Fix (Restore the default associations for jpe/jpg/jpeg files)
– LNK (Shortcut) File Association Fix (Restores Default Shortcut Behavior)
– MPG/MPEG File Association Fix (Restores default associations for MPG/MPEG files)
– MSC File Association Fix (Restore default associations for MSC files)
– MSI File Association Fix (Restore default associations for MSI files)
– MSP File Association Fix (Restore default associations for MSP files)
– REG File Association Fix (Restore default associations for REG files)
– SCF File Association Fix (Restore default associations for SCF files)
– SCR File Association Fix (Restore default associations for SCR files)
– TXT File Association Fix (Restore default associations for TXT files)
– TIF/TIFF File Association Fix (Restores default associations for TIF/TIFF files)
– URL File Association Fix (Restores default associations for URL – Internet shortcuts)
– VBS File Association Fix (Restores default associations for VBS files)
– ZIP Folder Association Fix (Restores default associations for ZIP Folders – REG File)

visit http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm to download the registry file.

Tips:

* Normally, malwares and viruses target .exe, .reg and .lnk extension. So download these three will fix majority of your problem.

* Most of the files are zipped, you will need to uncompress it first

* If the .reg file extension doesn’t work on your computer, you will need to start the ‘REGEDIT’ command under the ‘RUN’ option and then use the ‘IMPORT’ feature to import .reg files.

* To run the ‘REGEDIT’ program, the .exe file extension need to be working