changing/applying a file extension

[drmsucks]

She went on to win the competition.

[truenorth]

Carbon, I do agree awsome--however my personal taste runs to something less frentic--but there is no doubt about her ability and talent. I had only been to the utube site once before and had forgotten all about it. I imagine it is a difficult site to leave once you start watching what there is there. ain't technology wonderful?truenorth

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Indeed it is

[Broni]

4.The option to "open with" window appeared.
5.[...] I used both WMP and VLC successfully to play the file.

Did you actually associate .wmv file with ONE of those programs, by putting a checkmark in "Always open...." box?

[drmsucks]

4.The option to "open with" window appeared.
5.[...] I used both WMP and VLC successfully to play the file.

Did you actually associate .wmv file with ONE of those programs, by putting a checkmark in "Always open...." box?

Do we HAVE to go back on topic?

[Broni]

Well, that part is unclear...

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Indeed it isn't

[truenorth]

Broni,Thanks for bringing us back to topic.The answer to your question is no i did not. I know that the result of not doing so will likely cause me to have to go through the process i did again until i do mandate an association. However my reasoning was now that i do know how to do it  i am leaving my options open to chose the player i want in each instance. I understand that i could have made a selection and changed it at some future instance if i so desired. I may yet do that. As stated earlier it does mystify me as to why no association takes place in O/E. truenorth

[Broni]

why no association takes place in O/E

You should establish association, first, and then, maybe, OE will open those attachments.
I don't use OE, so I'm not talking as experienced user.

[truenorth]

Broni,Given your suggestion and your earlier assistance i just went back to the location i had saved the WMV file (my documents) and decided to take your advise and chose a program (WMP) to be the "always open with..." .The option is not available to select an association with anything as while the choice is there (with a check already in the box) it is not executable as the option is greyed out. Also it does not matter which of the available choices i choose (VLC,etc.) the option always remains greyed out. Indeed a puzzlement. truenorth

[Broni]

Interesting...
Try this:
1.  Start a registry editor (e.g., regedit.exe).
2. Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer
registry subkey to configure the computer for all users or navigate to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
registry subkey to configure the computer for the current user. If either subkey
doesn't exist, open the Edit menu and select New, Key to create it.
3. From the Edit menu, select New, DWORD Value.
4. Enter the name NoFileAssociate.
5. Set the value to 1 to disable the user's ability to change file associations (this
setting doesn't affect Power Users and Administrators); a value of 0 or a missing
value enables the user's ability to change file associations.
6. Click OK.
7. Close the registry editor.
8. Restart the computer for the changes to take effect.

[Broni]

Automatic fix: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm - #314

[truenorth]

Broni,Thank you for the "fix".However just to make certain that you would still reccommend it i want to make sure that you understand the "problem". The failure to associate with an opening program was unique to those 2 file i mentioned at the outset.It may well be that it was because they shared a common origin (from 2 different e-mail buddies however) in that they were both from U-tube.Normally i don't experience any problem with opening attachments in my O/E. So just in case you thought that i had a general overall problem with file associations in O/E --i don't. Given this do you still reccommend the "fix"? If so i will try the link method. thank you,truenorth

[drmsucks]

Truenorth - Take a look at: http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,62390.0.html another OE file association problem.

[truenorth]

drmsucks,Most interesting.While the error message during the time of attempted access in o/e 6 (which i am also using) is identical the file extension causing the problem is not a .pps it is a .wmv. I too was having a problem opening .pps files but it was caused by not having a Power Point Viewer (which now i do). Additionally when trying to create a permanent association file type/always open with association the presence of the option there but greyed out is very mystifying. I am awaiting Broni's further comment re my immediate past posting before proceeding further. However if the results of the member's attempts and result with the .pps file is indicative i don't hold out much hope.i may just have to use the option of accessing those particular files via the "save as" route. Which of course is not the end of the world and very minor given the myriad of problems that computers can generate.Thanks for the input. truenorth