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Most applications are .ink files. So earlier today i was opening up a program and I wanted to open in firefox. I did not realize that it was a .ink file and now all my applications try to open in firefox lol :s. When i click open with i cant choose anything that would open my applications. Any idea how to fix this?

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See if this works for you

use at your own risk.

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]
"Command"="rundll32.exe appwiz.cpl,NewLinkHere %1"

I accidentally linked Internet explorer to .lnk before in a VM.

I learned something interesting from that dumb mistake -- Windows doesn't have a way to unassign or revert file associations through the GUI. You can only modify the association to another app. Stupid design decision especially for .lnk filetype. Hopefully we can see that design flaw fixed in Windows 8. I tried the registry and resetted some and eventually all instances of .lnk associations but it didn't seem to affect it. The account always had IE linked to .lnk, but other accounts were fine.

KJ, I don't know which version of windows you are talking about, but 2000 and xp both can. There is a utility called folder options, and within folder options there is a tab called file types. The file types are listed alphabetically (L is somewhere in the middle between A and Z), you click on the file type that you don't want associated to anything, then you click on the delete button (this doesn't work for all files like doc, as it will assume wordpad as the default doc reader)

Most applications are .ink files. So earlier today i was opening up a program and I wanted to open in firefox. I did not realize that it was a .ink file and now all my applications try to open in firefox lol :s. When i click open with i cant choose anything that would open my applications. Any idea how to fix this?

Stop eating the candy, put the keyboard down and go outside. You dont deserve a computer.

Also, I dont believe you.

If you have made shortcuts of everything, check the properties of the shortcut to find out where the file is located and open it yourself first, then any target document from the application, instead of relying on the path to the original program to be correct.

Everything should be where it was in your Program Folder where it has been since you installed it.

Poor guys he was only asking for help

Whilst I agree he was only asking for help, if you check back through some of his previous created threads you would see that this sort of thing isn't that uncommon.

I actually have to praise the patience of budman and others with their help for him.

Where would I put/run this?

See if this works for you

use at your own risk.

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]
"Command"="rundll32.exe appwiz.cpl,NewLinkHere %1"

The reg file is probably still a .reg.txt file, double check it and remove .txt if necessary... Then try again. It should work. If not, go to config panel, folder options, view, uncheck hide extensions for most common filetypes (or something that looks like that), press apply, try again. Good luck.

I accidentally linked Internet explorer to .lnk before in a VM.

I learned something interesting from that dumb mistake -- Windows doesn't have a way to unassign or revert file associations through the GUI. You can only modify the association to another app. Stupid design decision especially for .lnk filetype. Hopefully we can see that design flaw fixed in Windows 8. I tried the registry and resetted some and eventually all instances of .lnk associations but it didn't seem to affect it. The account always had IE linked to .lnk, but other accounts were fine.

Actually you can assign file associations through the GUI...

Showmypc.com pm me the password that it gives u.

Just trying to put this topic to rest.

Why? Another one will show up in a few days.... Something like I re-cabled all my network and nothing works.... We'll ask for IP address's and they'll all be 169.*.*.* and explain how DHCP works and how to connect something to a switch and blah blah blah.

Just let this one keep going then at least we won't have more random stuff.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
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