Wrong file extensions in windows 7.

Question

Windows 7. All my files & programs keep getting allocated a single extension, eg Adobe acrobat, win media player etc. Means I cannot open my programs, including DVDs. If I try "open with", Whichever program I choose applies this program to all files and programs. All taskbar icons are the same. How do I fix this please?

Answer 1

Not sure I follow 100%, but:

Set Default programs - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2630-default-programs-set-programs-default-associations.html *(*A default program is the program that Windows 7 uses when you open a particular type of file extension. This will show you how to set a program as the default for selected or all file types and protocols it can open.

These Default Programs association settings are a per user setting and not applied to all users.)

OR

Set Default associations - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/19449-default-file-type-associations-restore.html *(*The downloads below will allow you to restore the Windows 7 default registry entries and program associations of the selected file extension type. )

I think one or the other will hopefully do the trick

If Ive misunderstood, or that doesn't help, please post back with as much extra info as possible, and maybe post a screenshot to show the problem, and hopefully someone else will assist further.

Answer 2

Looks as though this is what I want, but as a beginner I don't understand the answer. To re-iterate, my problem (win 7) is that all folders open with the same ext. Once it was all Adobe, then all Media centre, now all in taskbar are blank. This is stopping me from being able to open some files - 'open with' does not include an appropriate ext, and doesn't help with DVD drive. But appreciate your attempt to help. Looks like a visit to the local PC doctor!