How to Change dll Association

[Pat B]

In a fit of stupidity, I associated my Windows XP.dll
files with a program. Now, whenever I click any .exe file,
I launch not that file but the associated program. When
the computer re-boots, it launches 19 copies of the
associated program, reflecting, I guess all of the other
programs and applets in the start process. This has also
had a strange effect on my user status(I am the only user
and, thus, the administrator). It seems that I can work
around the launch problem by right-clicking an .exe and
selecting :"Run As", then unchecking the box that
says "Protect my Computer and Data" Pressing OK launches
the correct Application. Why this works is a mystery.
System Restore will not work because when it goes to
reboot, it launches this damn associated program-not
whatever restore files it needs. I have tried Folder
Options to change the association but the dll extension
does not appear on the list of files that can be changed.
I have never edited the Registry, but would be happy to
try.Anything to avoid a reinstall of XP. I also have a
clean backup copy of my previous Registry.Could I
reinstall this and how?

[Thorsten Matzner]

"Pat B" <briodyREMOVE@sprynetDOTcom> wrote:

>In a fit of stupidity, I associated my Windows XP.dll
>files with a program. Now, whenever I click any .exe file,
>I launch not that file but the associated program.

See "How to Restore the Operating System to a Previous State in
Windows XP" (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306084).

--
(tm)

[Thorsten Matzner]

"Pat B" <briodyREMOVE@sprynetDOTcom> wrote:

>In a fit of stupidity, I associated my Windows XP.dll
>files with a program. Now, whenever I click any .exe file,
>I launch not that file but the associated program.

See "How to Restore the Operating System to a Previous State in
Windows XP" (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=306084).

--
(tm)

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

By default, DLL files are not associated with any particular program.
Click Start, Run and enter REGEDIT Go to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dll

In the right pane should be the Default value and Content Type values:

Default: dllfile
Content Type: application/x-msdownload

Then one subkey called PersistentHandler. This key has only the Default
value of:

{098f2470-bae0-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}

Next go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile

This key should contain:

Default: Application Extension
AlwaysShowExt: (this entry is blank)
Edit Flags: 01 00 00 00
InfoTip: prop:FileDescription;Company;FileVersion;Create;Si ze
NoOpen: (this entry is blank)
TileInfo: prop:FileVersion;FileDescription

Then there are the following subkeys and values:

DefaultIcon
Default: %SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,-154

There should be no Shell or shellex subkeys, by default. If they exist, you
can right click the Shell subkey and select Delete. The shellex subkey
would only contain extensions for the right click context menu, so it could
be left or deleted, as you choose.

You can remove any value or subkey by right clicking on it and selecting
Delete. You can also create a backup of the appropriate Key or subkey by
right clicking on it and selecting Export.

If you prefer, you can automatically delete both of these keys, and recreate
the default settings with a REG file. Go to
www.dougknox.com/xp/fileassoc/xp_dllfile.zip and download the ZIP, extract
the REG file inside and double click it. Answer yes to the import prompt.
REG files can be viewed in Notepad to see what they contain, and what
Registry keys/values they affect.

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows XP/ Windows Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Associate Expert
ExpertZone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Pat B" <briodyREMOVE@sprynetDOTcom> wrote in message
...
> In a fit of stupidity, I associated my Windows XP.dll
> files with a program. Now, whenever I click any .exe file,
> I launch not that file but the associated program. When
> the computer re-boots, it launches 19 copies of the
> associated program, reflecting, I guess all of the other
> programs and applets in the start process. This has also
> had a strange effect on my user status(I am the only user
> and, thus, the administrator). It seems that I can work
> around the launch problem by right-clicking an .exe and
> selecting :"Run As", then unchecking the box that
> says "Protect my Computer and Data" Pressing OK launches
> the correct Application. Why this works is a mystery.
> System Restore will not work because when it goes to
> reboot, it launches this damn associated program-not
> whatever restore files it needs. I have tried Folder
> Options to change the association but the dll extension
> does not appear on the list of files that can be changed.
> I have never edited the Registry, but would be happy to
> try.Anything to avoid a reinstall of XP. I also have a
> clean backup copy of my previous Registry.Could I
> reinstall this and how?

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

By default, DLL files are not associated with any particular program.
Click Start, Run and enter REGEDIT Go to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.dll

In the right pane should be the Default value and Content Type values:

Default: dllfile
Content Type: application/x-msdownload

Then one subkey called PersistentHandler. This key has only the Default
value of:

{098f2470-bae0-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}

Next go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\dllfile

This key should contain:

Default: Application Extension
AlwaysShowExt: (this entry is blank)
Edit Flags: 01 00 00 00
InfoTip: prop:FileDescription;Company;FileVersion;Create;Si ze
NoOpen: (this entry is blank)
TileInfo: prop:FileVersion;FileDescription

Then there are the following subkeys and values:

DefaultIcon
Default: %SystemRoot%\System32\shell32.dll,-154

There should be no Shell or shellex subkeys, by default. If they exist, you
can right click the Shell subkey and select Delete. The shellex subkey
would only contain extensions for the right click context menu, so it could
be left or deleted, as you choose.

You can remove any value or subkey by right clicking on it and selecting
Delete. You can also create a backup of the appropriate Key or subkey by
right clicking on it and selecting Export.

If you prefer, you can automatically delete both of these keys, and recreate
the default settings with a REG file. Go to
www.dougknox.com/xp/fileassoc/xp_dllfile.zip and download the ZIP, extract
the REG file inside and double click it. Answer yes to the import prompt.
REG files can be viewed in Notepad to see what they contain, and what
Registry keys/values they affect.

--
Doug Knox, MS-MVP Windows XP/ Windows Smart Display
Win 95/98/Me/XP Tweaks and Fixes
http://www.dougknox.com
--------------------------------
Associate Expert
ExpertZone - http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
--------------------------------
Please reply only to the newsgroup so all may benefit.
Unsolicited e-mail is not answered.

"Pat B" <briodyREMOVE@sprynetDOTcom> wrote in message
...
> In a fit of stupidity, I associated my Windows XP.dll
> files with a program. Now, whenever I click any .exe file,
> I launch not that file but the associated program. When
> the computer re-boots, it launches 19 copies of the
> associated program, reflecting, I guess all of the other
> programs and applets in the start process. This has also
> had a strange effect on my user status(I am the only user
> and, thus, the administrator). It seems that I can work
> around the launch problem by right-clicking an .exe and
> selecting :"Run As", then unchecking the box that
> says "Protect my Computer and Data" Pressing OK launches
> the correct Application. Why this works is a mystery.
> System Restore will not work because when it goes to
> reboot, it launches this damn associated program-not
> whatever restore files it needs. I have tried Folder
> Options to change the association but the dll extension
> does not appear on the list of files that can be changed.
> I have never edited the Registry, but would be happy to
> try.Anything to avoid a reinstall of XP. I also have a
> clean backup copy of my previous Registry.Could I
> reinstall this and how?