theduffster
New Member
Hello, no0b here. 
I've got Vista Home, and somehow a few programs will not open with the correct program. When I double-click on them, I get the "Windows cannot open this file...." box. I try to select the program from the list of installed programs, but when I browse to the correct program, it will not show up in the list of installed programs, or my selection will not "stick", so I have to do this every time.
Here's the specifics: Adobe Reader files, or .pdf files. If I double-click on a .pdf file, I get the "windows cannot open this file...." message. I try selecting it from the list, and I make sure the "always use the selected program to open this kind of file" message box IS CHECKED.
But, although THE BOX IS CHECKED, it acts as if it is not. I still have to go through this each and every time.
SECOND example: I have a Palm Treo, and it uses .pdb files to install files to my phone. When I double-click on them, I should get an install message box to do so. Instead, I get the same "windows cannot open this file" box. This time, the proper program does not show up in the list of installed programs.
So, I browse to it, select it, and click ok. Then, the box goes back to the list of installed programs, but my chosen program isn't there!! Just the most common programs are still listed, like Internet Explorer, Adobe Reader, etc., but the one I just browsed to won't show!!
I've spent hours trying to figure this out. All that I read says things like, "just make sure the "always use the selected program to open this kind of file" box is checked. I DID. It won't stay checked.
Also, I keep reading "Just browse for your program" for the second issue. That doesn't work either!!
Incidentally, I ran Malware Bytes, scanned for a virus with AVG, etc. Nothing is showing up.
Thanks.
I've got Vista Home, and somehow a few programs will not open with the correct program. When I double-click on them, I get the "Windows cannot open this file...." box. I try to select the program from the list of installed programs, but when I browse to the correct program, it will not show up in the list of installed programs, or my selection will not "stick", so I have to do this every time.
Here's the specifics: Adobe Reader files, or .pdf files. If I double-click on a .pdf file, I get the "windows cannot open this file...." message. I try selecting it from the list, and I make sure the "always use the selected program to open this kind of file" message box IS CHECKED.
But, although THE BOX IS CHECKED, it acts as if it is not. I still have to go through this each and every time.
SECOND example: I have a Palm Treo, and it uses .pdb files to install files to my phone. When I double-click on them, I should get an install message box to do so. Instead, I get the same "windows cannot open this file" box. This time, the proper program does not show up in the list of installed programs.
So, I browse to it, select it, and click ok. Then, the box goes back to the list of installed programs, but my chosen program isn't there!! Just the most common programs are still listed, like Internet Explorer, Adobe Reader, etc., but the one I just browsed to won't show!!
I've spent hours trying to figure this out. All that I read says things like, "just make sure the "always use the selected program to open this kind of file" box is checked. I DID. It won't stay checked.
Also, I keep reading "Just browse for your program" for the second issue. That doesn't work either!!
Incidentally, I ran Malware Bytes, scanned for a virus with AVG, etc. Nothing is showing up.
Thanks.
