HELP!! VLC changes all .bin files to VLC media files

[deadz13]

I am using vlc 0.8.4a and once unknowingly while playing a .bin file i checked the box saying "always use this program to play this type of file".

Since then I have experienced some instability while using other applications and think that prolly the above is the cause of it.

I, therefore, unistalled vlc, deleted cache and preferences from the application data, cleaned up the registry using ccleaner and everything became normal again.

However, in order to view a video file of .bin type i installed vlc 0.8.4a again. I didn't assign any audio, video or other file types to vlc while installing, but the problem is back to haunt me. I don't know what to do.

Please help!

Any suggestions would be higly appreciated.

[DJ]

VLC doesn't install anything on your system, IE it doesn't change your system settings or add any DLLs. You can clean up the Registry if you want, VLC will still function.

There is a bug in VLC for playing VCDs or images (.bin) files. The simple work around is to remove the .cue file from the directory or play the .dat file directly. There is a trouble ticket on this and hopefully it will get fixed in later versions. It does not effect anything outside of VLC.

[deadz13]

My problem is that files in folder

C:\i386\DRIVER.CAB

appear with a vlc red cone. Naturally i assume that they have been assigned to vlc media player. It may or may not be the cause of system instability. However, I just want them to be back as they were (i.e. not assigned to any application in particular, and showing the message "windows doesn't know how to open this file" when someone clicks them)

Is there a method to revert to that original position, while keeping vlc installed?

Thanks

[klem]

Have you tried

Explorer....
Folder Options...
File Types (Tab)
Select .CAB
Click Restore (to restore it to it's default programme association)

?

klem

[DWM]

I did not opt to associate any files when I installed VLC. I used that player once, and I don't recall involving a .BIN file, but perhaps that was inevitable, and now all of my .BIN files are associated to VLC. I tried uninstalling including the VLC settings and cache with no luck. I verified
the config files were gone. This is a 'pita'.

[DJ]

VLC does not associate extensions by itself it needs user input to do this. Associations are stored in your registry not in preferences.

I'm not quite sure about the other comment here as to what .cab files have to do with .bin files, but is is very common for some file extensions to be used by other programs such as .dat and have a different icon associated with it. I have never seen this be a problem and oddly enough occurs quite often under a Windows environment. If this bothers you it can be reassigned to the original program in Explorer, Tools, Folder Options, File Types.

[BGDavis]

"VLC does not associate extensions by itself it needs user input to do this."
Absolutely untrue. Google "VLC changes .bin files to VLC media files" to see the many complaints, going back years, about this problem. No, VLC does not need user input to do this. Yes, VLC does associate extensions by itself.
I quit using VLC in the past due to this intrusive, hijacking behavior. I made the mistake of installing the latest VLC because I heard it had improved. Now I can't update my Panasonic camera firmware because this @#x&*! VLC program insists on turning the necessary .bin files into VLC media files. And no, I sure as hell didn't ask it to do that. I've uninstalled the VLC program and will never use it again. But that didn't solve the problem - fresh downloads of the required .bin file are still hijacked and rebranded as VLC Media files. There goes my day - trying to fix this problem.
...
For the benefit of those who are sure to have the same problem, here is one possible fix:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/win ... b58b594743
Scroll down for Win7/Win 10 solution.

[BGDavis]

Have you tried

Explorer....
Folder Options...
File Types (Tab)
Select .CAB
Click Restore (to restore it to it's default programme association)

?

klem

File types changes are not an option with Win 7...Win 10. This solution won't work with them.

[BGDavis]

VLC does not associate extensions by itself it needs user input to do this. Associations are stored in your registry not in preferences.

I'm not quite sure about the other comment here as to what .cab files have to do with .bin files, but is is very common for some file extensions to be used by other programs such as .dat and have a different icon associated with it. I have never seen this be a problem and oddly enough occurs quite often under a Windows environment. If this bothers you it can be reassigned to the original program in Explorer, Tools, Folder Options, File Types.

File types changes are not an option with Win 7...Win 10. This solution won't work with them.