Windows 7 default programs not working right

Question

I discovered I could set the default association for .gif files in Windows 7 to the Windows Photo Viewer program from Control Panel but it is not working right.

I go into Control Panel > Programs > Set your default programs, then click on Windows Photo Viewer and select Choose defaults for this program. .gif is unchecked on the list (Current Default is set to Internet Explorer), so I check it and Save but when I double-click a .gif it still opens in Internet Explorer. I go back to Set Default Programs and select Internet Explorer and Choose defaults but .gif is not on the list. I also cannot uncheck anything for either program (the checkboxes are grayed out) and checking Select All then unchecking it does not uncheck anything. I rebooted the computer but gifs still open in Internet Explorer and all the settings are where I left them.

I don't understand what's going on. If .gif files are available to be checked for Windows Photo Viewer then it should take and open with that by default and I should be able to remove Internet Explorer as the default; I also can't right-click the .gif file and select Open With... and set the default to Windows Photo Viewer as it is not on the list and I'm unable to find the right program in Browse. This appears to be totally broken.

Is there some way to fix this so I can just double-click a .gif file and view it? I don't even really care if it's animated, I just need an easy way to open the image file and cycle through all of the images in the folder with the arrow keys (I notice I can open a .png or .jpg file in the same folder and cycle through the .gif files as well, though they're frozen... strange I can't open the .gif files the same way). Thanks.

Answer 1

I read this is a permissions issue but I'm not sure how to change permissions to allow me to change defaults. 

Someone please give me some advice on this.

Answer 2

I had to change some things on the comptatibilty issue and set things to run a XP SP3 I didn't upgrade WMP but I have some sound problems..OS 7 Ult. You can also try Microsoft Fix It,it works a little.Hope I could help some.I will keep looking..

Please explain what you had to change and what XP SP3 has to do with this.

I am just trying to change the default programs for files and set Windows Photo Viewer as the default program for .gif files.

Answer 3

I had to change some things on the comptatibilty issue and set things to run a XP SP3 I didn't upgrade WMP but I have some sound problems..OS 7 Ult. You can also try Microsoft Fix It,it works a little.Hope I could help some.I will keep looking..