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After applying TO ALL (when I tried to open file with a custom app) icons to be opened with another program. Now when I double click Chrome or Skype they all fire up that app, but not itself. How do I undo that?

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Open Control panel and then go to Default Programs and then select the Set your default program and then select the Chrome and then click on the option Set this program as default. If it works then do the same for all other apps as well. But this method is on Windows 8, I'm not sure if its the same for Windows 7. Let me know out and I'll tell you after login to Windows 7. – avirk Dec 25 '12 at 12:54
1  
After applying TO ALL   Applying what to all? Where did you do this?   when I tried to open file with a custom app   Which app? What extension does that app use?   icons to be opened with another program   “Icons” as in .ico files?   Now when I double click Chrome or Skype they all fire up that app   Do you mean the shortcuts to Chrome or Skype or .html files and/or bookmarks?   but not itself   You mean clicking the link to the other program does not run that program?   How do I undo that?   At this point… no idea since it is not clear what the problem is yet. – Synetech Dec 25 '12 at 15:32
What is file association for .lnk files?   Explorer, but that’s not what you’re really asking. – Synetech Dec 25 '12 at 15:33
I agree, his question is confusing, but I think he opened a .lnk file with another program and checked "Always use the selected program to open the file" and now none of his shortcuts work. – ChrisN Dec 25 '12 at 16:41

closed as not a real question by Synetech, Simon Sheehan, techie007, 8088, TFM Dec 25 '12 at 20:40

It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, see the FAQ.

2 Answers

up vote 0 down vote

This article on sevenforums.com has registry files to reset many file extensions, including .lnk, to default.

Here is the applicable registry file - copy this and name it to default_lnk.reg and merge it.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk]
@="lnkfile"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellEx]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellEx\{000214EE-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellEx\{000214F9-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellEx\{00021500-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellNew]
"Handler"="{ceefea1b-3e29-4ef1-b34c-fec79c4f70af}"
"IconPath"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\
  74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,\
  00,68,00,65,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,2d,00,\
  31,00,36,00,37,00,36,00,39,00,00,00
"ItemName"="@shell32.dll,-30397"
"MenuText"="@shell32.dll,-30318"
"NullFile"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.lnk\ShellNew\Config]
"DontRename"=""

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile]
@="Shortcut"
"EditFlags"=dword:00000001
"FriendlyTypeName"="@shell32.dll,-4153"
"IsShortcut"=""
"NeverShowExt"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\CLSID]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Compatibility]
@="{1d27f844-3a1f-4410-85ac-14651078412d}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\OpenContainingFolderMenu]
@="{37ea3a21-7493-4208-a011-7f9ea79ce9f5}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}]
@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\DropHandler]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\lnkfile\shellex\IconHandler]
@="{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InternetShortcut]
"IsShortcut"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\piffile]
"IsShortcut"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\WSHFile]
"IsShortcut"=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Icons]
"29"=-

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.lnk]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.lnk]
"FileOperationPrompt"="prop:System.ItemTypeText;System.FileOwner;System.Author;System.Title;System.Subject;System.Comment;System.DateModified;System.Link.TargetParsingPath"
"FullDetails"="prop:System.PropGroup.Description;System.ItemTypeText"

[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.lnk]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.lnk]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.lnk\OpenWithProgids]
"lnkfile"=hex(0):
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Link-only answers are a no-no due to possible future link-rot; please include pertinent information in your answer. – techie007 Dec 25 '12 at 19:09
What should I do? Post the whole ~90 line .reg file? ;) – ChrisN Dec 25 '12 at 19:35
1  
I don't think the SU editor is limited to <90 lines, so why not? If it's applicable, and formatted nicely. :) – techie007 Dec 25 '12 at 19:37
Learned something new today :) – ChrisN Dec 25 '12 at 19:58
up vote 0 down vote

I believe this should help you reset all default Windows extensions, especially .lnk and .exe files, which seem to be causing you the most trouble.

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