Vista - Change Html Editing 'shortcut' From Ms Word Back To Notepad

Using Vista Business.

I tried installing Microsoft Office on my laptop but it failed, can't remember why, I think it was just that I realised I couldn't find the registration key at the time, but it associated .html and .htm editing with Word (don't think it asked me, just did it) but now, even though I've uninstalled Office, every time I right click on .htm and .html files and choose the Edit option, I get this error message:

Try as I might, I can't find information on how to fix this without editing the registry or using a third-party application. Is it possible? I'd really rather stay out of the registry. I've done enough clever things to my computer environment lately and really don't want to have to do another repair if I mess up! Yes, I can edit registries; yes, I've done it before; no thank-you, I'd rather not this time if there's a foolproof or user-intended way.

 

Open Control Panel > Default Programs.

 

Well, no, not unless there's some trick I haven't found.

I'm aiming to be able to double-click on .htm and .html files and Windows opens them in my web browser but right-click and choose 'Edit' and Windows will automatically open it in Notepad, which it used to before my aborted attempt at installing Microsoft Office. Now, I have to go through 'Open with...' instead, which is more messing around than it needs to be.

Thanks for the suggestion, though.

EDIT: Just realised I've never mentioned that I'm signed in as Admin. (Standard, not super Admin, whatever that is with Vista because quite frankly, I've been out of the dealing with computer issues game for long enough that some of my knowledge is slipping.)

 

I'm using Windows 7 so it's probably a little different.
When you right-click and select your browser, ensure the box to always use that program is checked.

 

There should be an option when you use open with...

 

I think people might be missing the point. I have a problem with ONE aspect of opening .htm and .html files - being able to use the quickest method of opening them for EDITING.

This is what used to happen:

• Double-clicking on a .htm or .html file would cause it to open in Firefox (my default browser).
• Right-clicking on it and choosing Edit would cause it to open in Notepad.

I installed then uninstalled Microsoft Office. What happens now:

• Double-clicking on a .htm or .html file still causes it to open in Firefox (my default browser).
• Right-clicking on it and choosing Edit causes an error message.

(see first picture: EditIssuePic1.jpg)

To open a web page for editing, I now have to do one of the following:

• Open an empty Notepad, choose File -> Open; browse to the file I want to edit and choose Open.
• Open an empty Notepad then drag the file I want to edit into it - suffering the hassle of going between two windows with a touchpad that gets touchy (no pun intended - I don't usually use an external mouse because I don't have the room on my desk and the touchpad area plays up at times)
• Right-click on the file I want to edit, choose "Open with..." and then navigate my touchy touchpad to the Notepad option offered.

(see second picture: EditIssuePic2.jpg)

I want to revert Edit on the right-click menu to the default of opening web pages in Notepad, like it did before I installed and uninstalled Microsoft Office.

Hopefully, we're all on the same page now, a web page, of course!

 

Ok, now we (I) have it!
I just saved a .doc file as an .html file and when I right-clicked it and clicked edit... it opened in Word.

You have two options:
1. Install a word processor like MSO Word.
WPS Office is free.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/wps_office.html

2. Install a text editor like EditPad Lite or Notepad++.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/editpad_lite.html
http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/notepad.html

 

To fix the Edit command will require a registry edit.
Download the appropriate version of SystemLook for your operating system (32bit or 64) to your Desktop.
Double click to run SystemLook and copy/paste the content of the following code box into the edit window.

Code:

:reg
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\htmlfile /sub
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\IE.AssocFile.HTM /sub

When its finished, a log file will be created in the same directory that SystemLook is in.
Attach the log (SystemLook.txt) to your post.

 

Get this http://defaultprogramseditor.com/
Run > File Types >Context Menu> select htm (& html) >click Edit & select edit command.

 

I already have Notepad++ as a portable app and also OpenOffice Writer, along with AbiWord, FocusWriter and Jarte. (No, not overkill - I've been playing around with them all, deciding which I like.) Maybe the fact that they're all portable apps means they wouldn't mess with file associations.

Thing is, though, I _like_ using Notepad.

In view of the fact that I've just stupidly run SystemLook on the wrong computer and was about to upload the file... I think I'll stick with getting someone else to 'hold my hand' while I get this fixed! I could be wrong about the cause so uploading the information from the registry is probably a good idea. I've grabbed a copy of the program, though. Could be useful in the future. Thanks!

Darn! I hoped that wasn't the answer!

Log attached, as requested.

Thanks!

 

The Systemlook log isn't showing MS office where I'd expect. Before looking further in the registry, I'd suggest trying the stand alone editor that foogoo posted.
http://defaultprogramseditor.com/

 

Maybe this is a dumb question, but why should it show MS Office anywhere? If the uninstall did a (mostly) clean uninstall (mostly because it obviously didn't reset my Edit option), there shouldn't be any references to MS Office in the registry at all, should there?

Just like to clarify this before I try that other program. I did take a bit of a look at it but I suspect I'm going through another round of migraine-symptoms-sans-headache because I'm finding learning new things a bit of a challenge atm and goodness knows how many days this round will go on.

(I find migraines, with or without headache, tend to knock my brain askew. No, a migraine is not a headache. One symptom of a migraine is a headache and doesn't come with all migraines - unfortunately, I do know these things from what I've learned from all my medical visits and personal experience.)