Can't open word, notepad, .pdfs, exel files with out right click and going to open with.

Question

end user Can't open word, notepad, .pdfs, exel files with out right click and going to open with. However once I uninstalled adobe reader, i can click on a .pfd and it will open in either edge or chrome.
However in order to open an .docx file or .txt file, i have to open word or notepad first and then go to file/ open / choose file and use it.

I have set default programs back to " Microsoft Defaults" that didn't help.
I ran a sfc /scannow and that didn't fix the issue.
Latest Updates no help...

any ideas?

Answer 1

Sounds like some profile corruption. Might try creating a new local user account and logon with the new account to test.

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

Answer 2

sadly its not, The end user had the issue first. I logged in with my profile, waited for windows to set my profile up for the first time and had the same issues the end user has...

Answer 3

Might try Settings\Apps\Default Apps, scroll to bottom, Reset All Default apps. For the office stuff you could try a repair install of Office.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/repair-an-office-application-7821d4b6-7c1d-4205-aa0e-a6b40c5bb88b

--please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

Answer 4

What happens when you double click the files? Do they open any app or do nothing? Note that I'm assuming here that you are showing file extensions and that the file (eg. mydoc.docx) is showing the full filename and not a filename with a dot in it (e.g. mydoc.docx.txt).

For Windows 10, go to Default Apps. Then go to bottom to find 'Choose default apps by file type'. Then scroll down to .docx. What file type does it show (e.g. Microsoft Word Document)? On the right side what program is associated with it? If it isn't Word then click on it and change it to Word.

If you made any changes then try double clicking the file in File Explorer again. If it doesn't open then right click the file. The default (bold) verb should be Open. If it isn't then something messed up your registry settings where this information is stored.

Answer 5

:
it acts like the files in on a removable device, in this case I click on a test.docx file i created on the desktop.. i get the error seen in the attachment.
if I right click and choose program and click word it opens.
also if i open word first and browser to the file it opens it without issue.]1

![250547-image.png][2]