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Computer newbies forum: Goofed! "Open File With" Chose the Wrong Program

by: ladytrickster April 30, 2012 1:21 PM PDT

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Goofed! "Open File With" Chose the Wrong Program

by ladytrickster - 4/30/12 1:21 PM

I recently downloaded a PDF file & from Download Manager, double-clicked to open the file, as I normally do. I got the small window that prompts for which program to use to "Open File With." There was no entry on the list for Adobe Reader, but there's a button to Browse & Add programs to the list. But once I located the program, there was no way to get the program added to the list! Clicking on the program only opened its files. I tried typing in the name Adobe Reader & that didn't work either. Then I made a Big Mistake. Not seeing that a program on the list was highlighted (gray) I clicked "Always Open File With This Program" thinking it would be the one I typed. OOOPS! The program is for image-editing, and is now 'permanently' the program selected to open PDF's - which of course doesn't work. I looked in Help, which said there's a place to click "Change" but I didn't find that button anywhere! And Now I'm Stuck!! I'm still a 'dummie' so I need some step-by-step help to 1) undo the wrong program for "Open File With" & 2) How to get Adobe Reader onto the list. (other option given is to go to the web to find the desired program - doing that doesn't work at all). HELP! please... I use PDF's often enough to need to fix this asap, I can't open any existing PDF's, and the same procedure of adding programs to The List might be needed in other situations. Thanks in advance!
older Dell 8400, Windows XP SP3, big HD & plenty of RAM.


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Adobe Reader May Be Listed As "AcroRd32.exe"....

by Grif Thomas Moderator - 4/30/12 4:45 PM

In Reply to: Goofed! "Open File With" Chose the Wrong Program by ladytrickster

Again, find a .pdf file, RIGHT click on it, choose "Open with", then select "Choose Program".. Once there, place a CHECK mark in the box next to "Always use the selected program to open this type of file". This time, if Adobe Reader isn't listed is the list of programs, then click on the "Browse" button and navigate to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 10.0\Reader, then double click on the "AcroRd32.exe" file listed there.. .It should open your PDF file and keep the associated program correct.

Hope this helps.

Grif


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and if you don't see the "Open with" selection

by ChuckT - 5/2/12 3:10 PM

In Reply to: Adobe Reader May Be Listed As "AcroRd32.exe".... by Grif Thomas Moderator

When you right-click on a file to see what other possible options you have, and if you don't see the "Open with" selection, then first hold down the [Shift] keyboard key before you right-click. That often will get the "Open with" to show, when it sometimes doesn't.


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And sometimes that doens't work

by flrhcarr - 5/4/12 6:50 PM

In Reply to: Goofed! "Open File With" Chose the Wrong Program by ladytrickster

I've had issues with XP SP-3 not letting me edit the open with, a few times. Right clicking didn't help. I had to actually uninstall the program in order for XP to "need to find what opens it" again.

Also, you can select some made up extension (PDG), R. click it, & go to the advanced area, & adjust which open s what. Changing PDF to what you'd like to open it with.

There are other ways, but these (mine & the two above mine listed) are the fast ones.


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In emergency

by richteral - 5/5/12 4:28 AM

In Reply to: Goofed! "Open File With" Chose the Wrong Program by ladytrickster

and as long as you are online, you could also upload the PDF file to PDFescape, which will display it. Google Docs Viewer will let you read any number of document formats straight off the web, if you supply the URL. Should Adobe Reader give you trouble, why not download the highly rated PDF-Xchange (look it up on CNET) and make it your default PDF viewer during the installation process. And we could possibly carry on.
One thing to keep in mind is that PDF documents may contain malware. Be careful with your sources.


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Use Right-click then Properties

by andrewbaggins - 5/5/12 10:15 AM

In Reply to: Goofed! "Open File With" Chose the Wrong Program by ladytrickster

Right-click on any .PDF file and select Properties. A box opens. In this box locate "Opens with" and click on the "Change" button right beside "Opens with". Now select the program you want to open .PDF files and check the box to "Always open with ...".


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One more tip

by zorba13 - 5/6/12 7:14 AM

In Reply to: Goofed! "Open File With" Chose the Wrong Program by ladytrickster

when you finally get to AcroRd32.exe" be sure that it has an ICON...in front


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