The VideoLAN Forums

Hi,

I'm using the version 0.9.8a of VLC under Windows Vista 32Bit, Ultimate. I recently started the Windows Media Player (I know... I did not want to, it was more like an accident ) and that bad thing from hell changed all my file type associations. Before that, I played all files via VLC, like *.avi, *.mpg, *.mp3 etc. Now, all media file types are assigned to the Windows Media Player.

I did not find an option to manually re-assign the file types to VLC within the VLC settings (is there such a function?), but I thought by myself: "hey no problem, I just reinstall VLC and let the setup re-assign all media file associations to VLC" - but I had no luck. VLC Setup was not able to redo those file type assignments, all media files are still linked to the Windows Media Player.

So, before I start and change all media file type via the Windows Explorer (I just don't want to ), I ask you, is there a better way to restore those file associations? Why can't the VLC setup re-assign the file types to VLC? Is there a function within the VLC settings to manually re-assign them? Do you have any other ideas?

Thanks a lot for your help!

You restarted computer after VLC install and you selected File association and Context menu items from installer?

File associate thingy is in Tools -> Preferences... Interface and Association Setup.

I restarted the computer after the VLC setup, and I selected file association and context menu items from within the installer. I also tried to manually re-assign the file association from the VLC preferences - nothing works. The Windows Media Player stays "dominant". I think this is a Vista-specific "bug", somehow VLC is not able to set the file associations when the Windows Media Player has set those association before.

Maybe there is a workaround, without setting all those file association manually via the Windows Explorer?

There isn't manual file association change option in Windows Explorer under Vista. And if the VLC's File associate thingy won't do it, I doubt any manual registry tweak will make it better.

Now I managed to reassign those associations via the Windows Vista functionality to set default programs for file types. There, I can select VLC as the application, then Vista suggests the file types (surprisingly Vista knew about all VLC's media file types), and I only had to accept the changes.

You restarted computer after VLC install and you selected File association and Context menu items from installer?

File associate thingy is in Tools -> Preferences... Interface and Association Setup.

Hi. I'm new at the forum, I've just arrived here searching for that solution.
The problem is... "Association Setup" isn't visible when the option "All" at "show Settings" is selected. I've been searching for that button for a few hours... or a few days

Excuse my bad writing but i'm from Buenos Aires, Argentina i haven't got too much practice writing in English.
Thanks for VideoLAN team for the greatest video player.