Windows XP Professional Product Documentation > Windows basics > Core Windows tasks

To associate a file with a program

1.

Open My Computer

2.

Double-click a drive or folder.

3.

Right-click a file, and then click Open With. If Open With is not available, click Open.

4.

Follow the instructions under the option that matches the dialog box you see:

Open With--Recommended Programs list

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Under Programs, click the program in which you want the file to open, or click Browse to locate the program you want.

-or-

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Click the look for the appropriate program on the Web link to search the Web for a program to open your file.

Open With--No Recommended Programs list

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Under Programs, click the program in which you want the file to open, or click Browse to locate the program you want. You can also type a comment that provides information about the file type. This information will appear in the folder window under Details when you view the file in a folder.

-or-

•

Click the look for the appropriate program on the Web link to search the Web for a program to open your file.

Cannot open this file

Windows cannot find a program to open the file. In the Cannot open this file dialog box, do one of the following:

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Click Use the Web service to find the appropriate program. This enables you to search the Web for the program that will open the file.

-or-

•

Click Select the program from a list to choose a program to open the file in the Open With dialog box.

Note

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To open My Computer, click Start, and then click My Computer. 

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For some file types, you will right-click a file, point to Open With, and then click Choose Program.

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To ensure that Windows always uses the same program to open the file, or any other file with the same file name extension, in the Open With dialog box, select the Always use this program to open these files check box.

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Related Topics

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Associate a file name extension with a file type

•

Modify an existing file type

•

Open a file or folder

•

Using Internet Explorer


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