Where did file associations go in Windows Vista?

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Can I just ask, I have vista and my problem with the file associations is that when I reach the point where you have to choose the program, where would I go to find Microsoft Word 2007? I thought I had found it, but when I clicked on it, it didnt come up in the "Open With" box. Do you have any idea? Please help.

MS changes things just because they want to and/or to save users from their supposed stupidity... and this is a perfect example.

1. some file types are not even listed
2. ditto for programs, with NO way to select / browse to another one.
3. where did editing the context menu actions for a file type go?
4. or adding extra actions?
5. on top of that, say you want to work with several file types-- after you're done with each one that whole module closes...and back to clicking just to get to that module again.

Unbelievable!

As well, this CANNOT be accessed if CP is in classic view.

I think I might have a problem similar to Ada's. I am unable to associate Word 2007 (Winword) with .DOC files. I have tried the right click "open with" routine, and have also gone through Control panel to try and set Winword as the default program. Nothing works--seems to be a registry problem. I can open .DOC files from within Word, so they are usable that way but it's a pain. I can also create a new user profile and everything works fine that way--normal file associations and all. However, I am reluctant to copy all my files and settings over to a new UA without trying to find a solution first. Any thoughts? I would really appreciate it :)

found the association area and the option to 'change'. How to you change it to nothing or unknown program. I associated a .let extention to notepad and I don't have anything that will open the file and I don't want anything to associate to it.

To answer Grant, Michael and Andras:

The command "assoc .ext=" should remove the association for all .ext files. However, I wasn't able to get it to work.

I found the following GUI:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/231/1/An-utility-to-unassociate-file-types-in-Windows-Vista.html
The "Remove file association (User)" button didn't work either, I guess it just issues the command "assoc .ext=". I went the extra mile and selected "Delete file type," which solved my problem - removes the extension from the registry completely.

For you poor sods who've managed to associate critical file types to the wrong program (one unfortunate lady associated .exe with Adobe Acrobat, WOOPS!), there's a utility that will 'repair' those critical file types back to the way they should be:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/File-association-fixes-for-Windows-Vista.html

This solution is NOT THE SAME as the file type associations I knew and loved in Windows XP. How do you set multiple file associations that pop up as menu options when you right click on the file? How do you specify command line options for the programs in the file associations? (for example, to not display the "splash screen" for MultiEdit I have to specify "Mew32.exe /nosplash %1". How do you change the icons associated with the associations? None of these issues are addressed in the new "Windows Vista" way of associating files. Is there any way to gain this kind of control over file type associations in Vista?

How do I change file associations in vista through the command line?

Terrific technical discussion and comments! I will look into your newsletter!

Bob Smith

My customers often send me .ai files that need to be engraved and I use CorelDraw for my machines- there is no .ai extension in the Vista list and no CorelDraw extensions are to be found. Although Corel does recognize .ai files, I usually have to download to my XP laptop, put it on a disc (Vista won't recognize my PNY zip drive, either) and run it out to the computer in my shop to see if it will accept that. All things considered (Vista also won't let me use my HP scanner!), I sincerely and deeply hate Vista.

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