Opening video files from computer

[jyeh74]

For some reason, under properties I have set my video files i.e. mpg, mp4, avi to open with WMP when launched. But I find it always defaults to winamp. I always have to right click, go to properties and open with WMP everytime I readd the external HDD. Is there a way to go around this so it remembers?

[edDV]

For some reason, under properties I have set my video files i.e. mpg, mp4, avi to open with WMP when launched. But I find it always defaults to winamp. I always have to right click, go to properties and open with WMP everytime I readd the external HDD. Is there a way to go around this so it remembers?

WinAmp has reset your file associations.

To fix right click "Open with" then "Choose default program".

The naming may be somewhat different in XP.

You may need to browse to the player's exe file.

[jyeh74]

yes, I right click and open with and choose default program. I need to do this almost every single time. Trying to figure out how to delete the winamp settings so it does not reset defaults.

[edDV]

yes, I right click and open with and choose default program. I need to do this almost every single time. Trying to figure out how to delete the winamp settings so it does not reset defaults.

There should be a check mark to permanently change the association. If that doesn't work, uninstall WinAmp.

[jyeh74]

edDV, thanks, I noticed mine is already checked but it is greyed out. So there isn't even a way to uncheck it. So now I'm scratching my head because if it is already checked, then why does winamp take over when I set it to automatically open using WMP?

By the way, how do you print a screen shot in the forums like you did above?

[edDV]

edDV, thanks, I noticed mine is already checked but it is greyed out. So there isn't even a way to uncheck it. So now I'm scratching my head because if it is already checked, then why does winamp take over when I set it to automatically open using WMP?

By the way, how do you print a screen shot in the forums like you did above?

You can also change file associations in Explorer "View" "Options". See Windows Help.

In this case I just used Print Screen and cropped in Windows Paint. I usually us Gadwin Printscreen but it isn't installed on this computer.

[Ai Haibara]

Go into Winamp's settings, and alter the file associations there, clearing everything you don't want it to open. (For anyone reading this, if you're running under Vista/Win7, you'll also need to run Winamp as an admin.) If you used the default Winamp install, it also includes "Winamp Agent," which attempts to make sure the settings stick (if you have something set to open with Winamp, and another program tries to change it, it'll reset it to open with Winamp, again).

(I'm not at a system with Winamp installed, at the moment, so I couldn't tell you the exact settings to check. )

Edit #2, after checking a system with Winamp installed...
Go to Options > Preferences. Click on File Types, under General Preferences, in the left-hand pane of the Preferences window. On the right, you can choose or clear which file extensions you want Winamp to load (or not), or click the "Audio Only", "Video Only" (which still leaves .mp4 checked, I believe), or "None" buttons. You'll probably also want to make sure the "Restore file associations at Winamp start-up" checkbox is cleared.

Next, open WMP and change the file association settings there. (If they're already properly checked, all you have to do is open WMP and probably close it, again. But it's always a good idea to check the settings, anyway.)

Edit: edDV - for Vista, at any rate, you can always use the Vista Snipping Tool, for screen/window captures, too. Not sure if something similar is in Win7.