File Association Weirdness

First some system info:

I'm using an Acer Aspire 5738G notebook/laptop with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit SP1
CPU: Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo T6600 @ 2.20GHz, Penryn 45nm Technology
RAM: 4.00GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 398MHz (6-6-6-18)
Motherboard: Acer JV50 (U2E1)
Graphics: 512MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4500/5100 Series (Acer Incorporated [ALI])
HDD: 466GB Western Digital WDC WD5000BEVT-22ZAT0 (SATA)

The other day I noticed that some files didn't have the usual logo, in this case the VLC media player logo (but file-types associated with other programs may be affected too, I'm not sure of the scope of this). I tried opening one of them, a wav file, and got an error message which said: (paraphrasing from norwegian, my os language) "This file does not have an associated program for execution of this action". When trying to set a default program, both using "Standard Programs" (here all checkboxes already checked with existing associations were greyed out, which seemed weird) or right-clicking, choosing default program and checking the "always use..." box, seem to work for a second. I refresh the folder and the logo changes. I open the file and it pops up in the correct program. BUT, when I close the folder and open it again, everything is reverted, the logo is gone, the association is no longer valid and I get the same error message as before. Files still work properly, for example, dragging an unassociated file into VLC media player plays the file without problems.

So the problem seems to be that something has removed some, but not all, file associations, and attempts to set new associations won't stick.

From what I can see the affected file types are: mp3 wav wmv avi ogg (maybe more), but NOT mp4 or pdf, for example.

What is going on? It is hard to identify exactly what has caused this. I haven't had trouble with my laptop in ages. No strange behaviour or strange processes have been seen recently. I periodically run scans with Avast! Free Antivirus, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, SUPERAntiSpyware, Spybot - Search & Destroy, and I mostly get the result "No harmful objects detected". I also "Immunize" with Spybot - Search & Destroy and SpywareBlaster. So I think this is probably not a malware issue, which is why I posted here in the Software section.

I'd like to point out some recent changes, events and possible causes to this:

- I use CCleaner regularly and it is set up to delete more than the default settings. I also use the registry clean feature and back-up first. Maybe something happened with the registry? I have heard that registry cleaning is considered dubious by some.

- I recently went through the list of installed programs to remove any unneeded ones, and uninstalled Switch Sound File Converter (which I hadn't used in a long time), Windows Live Sync, and Microsoft Works (which seemed to be a remnant of an earlier attempt to uninstall it, got some error messages and finally just deleted the folder in Program Files(x86)), MyWinLocker which came with the OS (which I've earlier tried to uninstall and it still lingers in the program list). When I uninstall programs I either do it through the control panel or use CCleaner's Uninstall feature, then I look for remaining folders and files in C:\Program Files, C:\Program Files (x86), C:\ProgramData, C:\Users\"User"\Appdata, and delete them. I generally do a restart before running CCleaner's registry clean feature. Maybe something happened here?

- I recently updated iTunes from version 11.0.4.4 to 11.0.5.5. Using Apple Software Update gave an error message, and advised me to install manually, which I did. I also connected my Ipod Touch to my laptop, which I hadn't done in quite some time. It seems that mostly media files are affected, maybe iTunes did something? I also recently disabled the Bonjour service connected to Apple, to activate it only when I needed it.

- Just before I noticed this problem I was carrying my laptop and dropped it about 50 cm, maybe less, on the floor. It was in hibernation mode at the moment. Not sure if this caused anything, but worth mentioning.


I tried a System Restore to before I updated iTunes but that didn't change anything so I undid the System Restore back to 'now'.

I'm a bit confused and not sure how to approach this problem. Assistance is appreciated.

Sorry for being so wordy.

Thanks in advance,
Andy

 

Andy...

These seem to be all genuinely a possible cause of the problem. If it were me, I would take a look at CCleaner. The registry cleaner reminds me of trying to clean house with a street sweeper. Yes, I admit it, I have had run ins with the cleaners, so I don't use them for the registry. Also, I believe the registry itself has some mechanisms for cleaning itself, although, if it does, it doesn't work very fast. Anyway, I leave it alone, choosing to back it up automatically on boot using EruntGUI. So I would first uncheck the registry cleaning options in Cleaner.

Perhaps the best way to start with this problem is to run a chkdsk /r /f. If that doesn't work, I would try running sfc /scannow:

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/ht/sfc-scannow.htm

Is the CCleaner backup copy of the registry you have from before the incident? If chkdsk and/or sfc /scannow don't fix the problem, you could try to restore the registry, setting a restore point in System Restore first...

 

I will heed your advice about the registry. I have now run chkdsk /r /f and sfc /scannow, didn't find anything wrong as far as I could see. I'm afraid I don't have registry back-ups back to the relevant time. The problem persists.

 

This looks like it might be worth a try:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...op-icons/01cda25a-a7ca-457d-802b-6b62cef360e5

Looks like the manual fix for this is to add some registry keys. I would turn off the registry cleaner feature of CCleaner, as I know it can cause problems based on personal experience. This is your choice, but, as of present, there is no effective method that I know of to clean the registry...

 

That fix was a quite manual fix for .exe association. But I used something similar and it seems to have solved the problem. I used a combination of these tools:

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/unassociate-file-types-windows-7-vista/

http://general-changelog-team.fr/fr...tils-de-xplode/15-rstassociations-version-exe (french)

It was probably the last one that did it. Then I uninstalled VLC media player, rebooted and installed it again. Then I had to associate files to VLC yet again and this time it finally stuck, even after another reboot. So it would appear the problem is solved.