help = can't edit hosts file because it won't let me pick a program.

[Guest SlickRCBD]

I've just had something weird pop up. I tried to edit my hosts file, but

instead of being asked what program I want to use to open it with, I got

a dialog box telling me "This file does not have a program associated

with it for performing this action. Create an association in My Computer

by clicking View and then clicking Folder Options".

 

Something in the registry is probably messed up, how do I fix it so that

it goes back to giving me a list of programs so I can click on notepad?

[Guest MEB]

Re: help = can't edit hosts file because it won't let me pick a program.

 

 

 

"SlickRCBD" <spamyourself@127.0.0.1> wrote in message

news:NLqdnTNtfsdZn33anZ2dnUVZ_vamnZ2d@comcast.com...

| I've just had something weird pop up. I tried to edit my hosts file, but

| instead of being asked what program I want to use to open it with, I got

| a dialog box telling me "This file does not have a program associated

| with it for performing this action. Create an association in My Computer

| by clicking View and then clicking Folder Options".

|

| Something in the registry is probably messed up, how do I fix it so that

| it goes back to giving me a list of programs so I can click on notepad?

 

The HOSTS once created, has no extension. windows does, and likely you have

or the programs have, configured files to have extensions, and what program

is configured to work with it. Right click on the file and choose the editor

you want to handle files with no extensions. Make sure it is a text editor

NOT a full featured editor..

 

--

MEB

http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

--

_________

[Guest dadiOH]

Re: help = can't edit hosts file because it won't let me pick a program.

 

SlickRCBD wrote:

> I've just had something weird pop up. I tried to edit my hosts

> file, but instead of being asked what program I want to use to open

> it with, I got a dialog box telling me "This file does not have a

> program associated with it for performing this action. Create an

> association in My Computer by clicking View and then clicking

> Folder Options".

>

> Something in the registry is probably messed up, how do I fix it so

> that it goes back to giving me a list of programs so I can click on

> notepad?

 

Shift right click it and select "Open with". If Notepad isn't in the

list presented, browse to it. Be sure to check the box to "Always

open this program..."

 

--

 

dadiOH

____________________________

 

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...

....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from

LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.

Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

[Guest SlickRCBD]

Re: help = can't edit hosts file because it won't let me pick a program.

 

dadiOH wrote:

> SlickRCBD wrote:

>

>>I've just had something weird pop up. I tried to edit my hosts

>>file, but instead of being asked what program I want to use to open

>>it with, I got a dialog box telling me "This file does not have a

>>program associated with it for performing this action. Create an

>>association in My Computer by clicking View and then clicking

>>Folder Options".

>>

>>Something in the registry is probably messed up, how do I fix it so

>>that it goes back to giving me a list of programs so I can click on

>>notepad?

>

>

> Shift right click it and select "Open with". If Notepad isn't in the

> list presented, browse to it. Be sure to check the box to "Always

> open this program..."

>

Yes, but how do I get windows to go back to automatically presenting me

with a list of programs when I double-click on the hosts file like it's

been doing for years? That's the underlieing problem. I don't know what

changed, and want to put it back.

 

Also, I gave up checking the "always open this program" years ago. It

doesn't work for files with no extension.

[Guest SlickRCBD]

Re: help = can't edit hosts file because it won't let me pick a program.

 

MEB wrote:

> "SlickRCBD" <spamyourself@127.0.0.1> wrote in message

> news:NLqdnTNtfsdZn33anZ2dnUVZ_vamnZ2d@comcast.com...

> | I've just had something weird pop up. I tried to edit my hosts file, but

> | instead of being asked what program I want to use to open it with, I got

> | a dialog box telling me "This file does not have a program associated

> | with it for performing this action. Create an association in My Computer

> | by clicking View and then clicking Folder Options".

> |

> | Something in the registry is probably messed up, how do I fix it so that

> | it goes back to giving me a list of programs so I can click on notepad?

>

> The HOSTS once created, has no extension. windows does, and likely you have

> or the programs have, configured files to have extensions, and what program

> is configured to work with it. Right click on the file and choose the editor

> you want to handle files with no extensions. Make sure it is a text editor

> NOT a full featured editor..

>

For years, I've been double-clicking on my "hosts" file or an alias I

have on the desktop. After doing that, windows pops up with a dialog box

asking me what program I want to use to open the file.

 

Suddenly yesterday, when I double-clicked on the file, instead of

telling me it doesn't have an association and asking me to pick a

program, I'm presented with a dialog box that says "This file doesn not

have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an

association in My Computer by clicking "View" and then clicking "Folder

Options".

 

How do I make it go back to automatically showing me the list of

programs when I doule-click on the shortcut on the desktop, or the

original file in the C:\windows folder?

 

I'm aware of the problem of not having an extension, I just want to make

it go back to working the way it did before.

[Guest SlickRCBD]

Re: help = can't edit hosts file because it won't let me pick a program.

 

MEB wrote:

> "SlickRCBD" <spamyourself@127.0.0.1> wrote in message

> news:NLqdnTNtfsdZn33anZ2dnUVZ_vamnZ2d@comcast.com...

> | I've just had something weird pop up. I tried to edit my hosts file, but

> | instead of being asked what program I want to use to open it with, I got

> | a dialog box telling me "This file does not have a program associated

> | with it for performing this action. Create an association in My Computer

> | by clicking View and then clicking Folder Options".

> |

> | Something in the registry is probably messed up, how do I fix it so that

> | it goes back to giving me a list of programs so I can click on notepad?

>

> The HOSTS once created, has no extension. windows does, and likely you have

> or the programs have, configured files to have extensions, and what program

> is configured to work with it. Right click on the file and choose the editor

> you want to handle files with no extensions. Make sure it is a text editor

> NOT a full featured editor..

>

For years, I've been double-clicking on my "hosts" file or an alias I

have on the desktop. After doing that, windows pops up with a dialog box

asking me what program I want to use to open the file.

 

Suddenly yesterday, when I double-clicked on the file, instead of

telling me it doesn't have an association and asking me to pick a

program, I'm presented with a dialog box that says "This file doesn not

have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an

association in My Computer by clicking "View" and then clicking "Folder

Options".

 

How do I make it go back to automatically showing me the list of

programs when I doule-click on the shortcut on the desktop, or the

original file in the C:\windows folder?

 

I'm aware of the problem of not having an extension, I just want to make

it go back to working the way it did before.

[Guest Brian A.]

Re: help = can't edit hosts file because it won't let me pick a program.

 

"SlickRCBD" <spamyourself@127.0.0.1> wrote in message

news:NLqdnTNtfsdZn33anZ2dnUVZ_vamnZ2d@comcast.com...

> I've just had something weird pop up. I tried to edit my hosts file, but instead of

> being asked what program I want to use to open it with, I got a dialog box telling

> me "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this

> action. Create an association in My Computer by clicking View and then clicking

> Folder Options".

>

> Something in the registry is probably messed up, how do I fix it so that it goes

> back to giving me a list of programs so I can click on notepad?

 

What happens if you delete the shortcut you presently have and create a new one for

the HOSTS file?

 

--

 

 

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }

Conflicts start where information lacks.

http://basconotw.mvps.org/

 

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

[Guest MEB]

Re: help = can't edit hosts file because it won't let me pick a program.

 

 

Not sure where I got this from, so thank them if you run across them

somewhere.

 

_________ COPY below including blanks at end

REGEDIT4

 

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.]

@="file01"

 

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\file01]

@="No Extension"

"EditFlags"=hex:00,00,00,00

 

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\file01\Shell]

@=""

 

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\file01\Shell\Open]

 

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\file01\Shell\Open\command]

@="C:\\WINDOWS\\Notepad.exe %1"

 

______Copy above to an editor and give it a *.reg extension, run/install to

the registry.

 

Change the above *@=C:\\{path}* to the full path to what ever you want to

use.

There is a dot at the end, that's what this uses to assign the *no

extension* to the editor of your choice.

 

--

MEB

http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com

--

_________

 

"SlickRCBD" <spamyourself@127.0.0.1> wrote in message

news:x_WdnYqI24O-XH3anZ2dnUVZ_oHinZ2d@comcast.com...

| MEB wrote:

|

| > "SlickRCBD" <spamyourself@127.0.0.1> wrote in message

| > news:NLqdnTNtfsdZn33anZ2dnUVZ_vamnZ2d@comcast.com...

| > | I've just had something weird pop up. I tried to edit my hosts file,

but

| > | instead of being asked what program I want to use to open it with, I

got

| > | a dialog box telling me "This file does not have a program associated

| > | with it for performing this action. Create an association in My

Computer

| > | by clicking View and then clicking Folder Options".

| > |

| > | Something in the registry is probably messed up, how do I fix it so

that

| > | it goes back to giving me a list of programs so I can click on

notepad?

| >

| > The HOSTS once created, has no extension. windows does, and likely you

have

| > or the programs have, configured files to have extensions, and what

program

| > is configured to work with it. Right click on the file and choose the

editor

| > you want to handle files with no extensions. Make sure it is a text

editor

| > NOT a full featured editor..

| >

| For years, I've been double-clicking on my "hosts" file or an alias I

| have on the desktop. After doing that, windows pops up with a dialog box

| asking me what program I want to use to open the file.

|

| Suddenly yesterday, when I double-clicked on the file, instead of

| telling me it doesn't have an association and asking me to pick a

| program, I'm presented with a dialog box that says "This file doesn not

| have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an

| association in My Computer by clicking "View" and then clicking "Folder

| Options".

|

| How do I make it go back to automatically showing me the list of

| programs when I doule-click on the shortcut on the desktop, or the

| original file in the C:\windows folder?

|

| I'm aware of the problem of not having an extension, I just want to make

| it go back to working the way it did before.

[Guest SlickRCBD]

Re: help = can't edit hosts file because it won't let me pick a program.

 

Brian A. wrote:

> "SlickRCBD" <spamyourself@127.0.0.1> wrote in message

> news:NLqdnTNtfsdZn33anZ2dnUVZ_vamnZ2d@comcast.com...

>

>> I've just had something weird pop up. I tried to edit my hosts file,

>> but instead of being asked what program I want to use to open it with,

>> I got a dialog box telling me "This file does not have a program

>> associated with it for performing this action. Create an association

>> in My Computer by clicking View and then clicking Folder Options".

>>

>> Something in the registry is probably messed up, how do I fix it so

>> that it goes back to giving me a list of programs so I can click on

>> notepad?

>

>

> What happens if you delete the shortcut you presently have and create a

> new one for the HOSTS file?

>

Same thing, that was actually the first thing I tried, before posting. I

have the same problem when I opened c:\windows and double-clicked on

"hosts". There is no discernable difference (at least to the user)

between double-clicking on the hosts file and double-clicking on the

shortcut. I got the same unhelpful error dialog box instead of the

helpful "choose the application you want to open this file with".

[Guest SlickRCBD]

Re: help = can't edit hosts file - RESOLUTION

 

Re: help = can't edit hosts file - RESOLUTION

 

SlickRCBD wrote:

> I've just had something weird pop up. I tried to edit my hosts file, but

> instead of being asked what program I want to use to open it with, I got

> a dialog box telling me "This file does not have a program associated

> with it for performing this action. Create an association in My Computer

> by clicking View and then clicking Folder Options".

>

> Something in the registry is probably messed up, how do I fix it so that

> it goes back to giving me a list of programs so I can click on notepad?

Ok, I feel REALLY stupid for not trying this before asking for help. I

simply rebooted to "safe mode command prompt" and used "scanreg

/RESTORE" to restore to Sunday's backup.

 

I think I need to figure out what drivers I need to download so I can

reinstall windows. That's twice (different) things have gone FUBAR in

less than a week on this old machine, and twice it's been fixed the same

way.

[Guest mike]

Re: help = can't edit hosts file because it won't let me pick a program.

 

SlickRCBD wrote:

> I've just had something weird pop up. I tried to edit my hosts file, but

> instead of being asked what program I want to use to open it with, I got

> a dialog box telling me "This file does not have a program associated

> with it for performing this action. Create an association in My Computer

> by clicking View and then clicking Folder Options".

>

> Something in the registry is probably messed up, how do I fix it so that

> it goes back to giving me a list of programs so I can click on notepad?

 

Can't you just drop the file icon onto the notepad icon?

Or right click it and send to notepad?

 

--

Return address is VALID!

[Guest SlickRCBD]

Re: help = can't edit hosts file because it won't let me pick a program.

 

mike wrote:

>

> Can't you just drop the file icon onto the notepad icon?

> Or right click it and send to notepad?

>

Yes, but that's a work around, not a fix. I wanted it fixed so it went

back to working the way it did before. I'd been doing it that way for

years, over a decade if you count other computers (and using Win95),

then suddently it doesn't work anymore, and only on that one older

computer? Something is obviously wrong, and I wanted it fixed, not

resorting to ignoring the problem and finding ways around it. That will

do when I don't have time to deal with it, but I still would want to fix

the problem.

[Guest Brian A.]

Re: help = can't edit hosts file because it won't let me pick a program.

 

"SlickRCBD" <spamyourself@127.0.0.1> wrote in message

news:FPOdnR1X36fqen3anZ2dnUVZ_tGonZ2d@comcast.com...

> Brian A. wrote:

>

>> "SlickRCBD" <spamyourself@127.0.0.1> wrote in message

>> news:NLqdnTNtfsdZn33anZ2dnUVZ_vamnZ2d@comcast.com...

>>

>>> I've just had something weird pop up. I tried to edit my hosts file, but instead

>>> of being asked what program I want to use to open it with, I got a dialog box

>>> telling me "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing

>>> this action. Create an association in My Computer by clicking View and then

>>> clicking Folder Options".

>>>

>>> Something in the registry is probably messed up, how do I fix it so that it goes

>>> back to giving me a list of programs so I can click on notepad?

>>

>>

>> What happens if you delete the shortcut you presently have and create a new one

>> for the HOSTS file?

>>

> Same thing, that was actually the first thing I tried, before posting. I have the

> same problem when I opened c:\windows and double-clicked on "hosts". There is no

> discernable difference (at least to the user) between double-clicking on the hosts

> file and double-clicking on the shortcut. I got the same unhelpful error dialog box

> instead of the helpful "choose the application you want to open this file with".

 

See if anything here helps:

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/OpenWith.htm

 

Also check out some of the links at the bottom of the page.

 

--

 

 

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Windows Desktop User Experience }

Conflicts start where information lacks.

http://basconotw.mvps.org/

 

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

[Guest AlmostBob]

Re: help = can't edit hosts file because it won't let me pick a program.

 

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\openas\command]

@="C:\\WINDOWS\\rundll32.exe shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL \'%1\'"

 

http://www.mvps.org/serenitymacros/rightclick.html

 

 

--

-- -- -- -- --

Adaware http://www.lavasoft.de

spybot http://www.safer-networking.org

AVG free antivirus http://free.grisoft.com/

Etrust/Vet/CA.online Antivirus scan

http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx

Super Antispyware http://www.superantispyware.com/

Panda online AntiVirus scan http://www.activescan.com

Panda online AntiSpyware Scan

http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/spyware/test/

Catalog of removal tools (1)

http://www.pandasoftware.com/download/utilities/

Catalog of removal tools (2)

http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/newsinfo/collateral.aspx?CID=40387

Trouble Shooting guide to Windows http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/

Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts file

http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

links provided as a courtesy, read all instructions on the pages before

use

Grateful thanks to the authors/webmasters

_

"SlickRCBD" <spamyourself@127.0.0.1> wrote in message

news:5Yidne6c7sRfhn_anZ2dnUVZ_sednZ2d@comcast.com...

> mike wrote:

>

> >

> > Can't you just drop the file icon onto the notepad icon?

> > Or right click it and send to notepad?

> >

> Yes, but that's a work around, not a fix. I wanted it fixed so it went

> back to working the way it did before. I'd been doing it that way for

> years, over a decade if you count other computers (and using Win95),

> then suddently it doesn't work anymore, and only on that one older

> computer? Something is obviously wrong, and I wanted it fixed, not

> resorting to ignoring the problem and finding ways around it. That will

> do when I don't have time to deal with it, but I still would want to fix

> the problem.

[Guest Franc Zabkar]

Re: help = can't edit hosts file because it won't let me pick a program.

 

On Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:32:28 -0600, SlickRCBD <spamyourself@127.0.0.1>

put finger to keyboard and composed:

 

>For years, I've been double-clicking on my "hosts" file or an alias I

>have on the desktop. After doing that, windows pops up with a dialog box

>asking me what program I want to use to open the file.

>

>Suddenly yesterday, when I double-clicked on the file, instead of

>telling me it doesn't have an association and asking me to pick a

>program, I'm presented with a dialog box that says "This file doesn not

>have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an

>association in My Computer by clicking "View" and then clicking "Folder

>Options".

>

>How do I make it go back to automatically showing me the list of

>programs when I doule-click on the shortcut on the desktop, or the

>original file in the C:\windows folder?

>

>I'm aware of the problem of not having an extension, I just want to make

>it go back to working the way it did before.

 

If I r-click a file that has no extension, the only action I'm

presented with in the context menu is "Open With".

 

A .txt file gives me Open (bold), Print, Quick View.

 

A .reg file gives me Edit (bold), Merge, Print.

 

What do you see in your context menu? What do you see for your HOSTS

file in the Type column of Explorer (I see File)?

 

Try creating a test file such as filename.xyz. What do you see in your

context menu for this new file type (I see Open With)? Does Explorer

behave the same way when you double-click this file?

 

Is there an entry in your registry that corresponds to files without

an extension, ie ...

 

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.

 

(the trailing period is important)

 

- Franc Zabkar

--

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

[Guest Lee]

Re: help = can't edit hosts file because it won't let me pick aprogram.

 

Re: help = can't edit hosts file because it won't let me pick aprogram.

 

On Mar 20, 3:11 am, SlickRCBD <spamyours...@127.0.0.1> wrote:

> mike wrote:

>

> > Can't you just drop the file icon onto the notepad icon?

> > Or right click it and send to notepad?

>

> Yes, but that's a work around, not a fix. I wanted it fixed so it went

> back to working the way it did before. I'd been doing it that way for

> years, over a decade if you count other computers (and using Win95),

> then suddently it doesn't work anymore, and only on that one older

> computer? Something is obviously wrong, and I wanted it fixed, not

> resorting to ignoring the problem and finding ways around it. That will

> do when I don't have time to deal with it, but I still would want to fix

> the problem.

 

AlmostBob has posted the registry key that should fix you up.

Repeated below.

 

REGEDIT4

 

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\openas\command]

@="C:\\WINDOWS\\rundll32.exe shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1"

 

 

This is what I have and double clicking on my HOST file brings up the

Open With box as you would like, if I understand correctly.

[Guest Franc Zabkar]

Re: help = can't edit hosts file because it won't let me pick a program.

 

Re: help = can't edit hosts file because it won't let me pick a program.

 

On Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:34:52 -0700 (PDT), Lee <melee5@my-deja.com> put

finger to keyboard and composed:

>On Mar 20, 3:11 am, SlickRCBD <spamyours...@127.0.0.1> wrote:

>> mike wrote:

>>

>> > Can't you just drop the file icon onto the notepad icon?

>> > Or right click it and send to notepad?

>>

>> Yes, but that's a work around, not a fix. I wanted it fixed so it went

>> back to working the way it did before. I'd been doing it that way for

>> years, over a decade if you count other computers (and using Win95),

>> then suddently it doesn't work anymore, and only on that one older

>> computer? Something is obviously wrong, and I wanted it fixed, not

>> resorting to ignoring the problem and finding ways around it. That will

>> do when I don't have time to deal with it, but I still would want to fix

>> the problem.

>

>AlmostBob has posted the registry key that should fix you up.

>Repeated below.

>

>REGEDIT4

>

>[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Unknown\shell\openas\command]

>@="C:\\WINDOWS\\rundll32.exe shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1"

>

>

>This is what I have and double clicking on my HOST file brings up the

>Open With box as you would like, if I understand correctly.

 

I was curious as to what would happen if I broke the above key in my

own registry.

 

As a test, I temporarily changed "command" to "comman_" and was able

to reproduce the OP's error message. The context menu for the HOSTS

file contained a single Open With action.

 

Changing "Unknown" to "Unknow_" resulted in no response when

double-clicking the HOSTS file. There was also no Action in the

context menu.

 

- Franc Zabkar

--

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.