File associations under Windows 11 not working with Total Commander

[nvisagie]

I have run into this little issue with Windows 11...

Error executing program! (31)
"No application is associated with the specified file for this operation."

Since I was trying to view a picture with Infranview, I figured that I did not add the file associations in Infranview, so I checked, and they were there. I then added the associations again, this time as an Administrator, but that did not solve the problem. I then figure that it must be because Total Commander is installed in the Program Files folder and that folder is heavily protected by the Windows UAC, so I uninstalled Total Commander and re-installed it in a root folder on my drive: C:/TOTALCMD. This is where it used to be in the beginning. That did not solve it either!

I then checked using Windows Explorer and everything works as it should in there! I can open any picture/file by simply double clicking on it, but not in Total Commander. In Windows 7, 8 and 10, I never had this issue, just in Windows 11. This problem is not just limited to pictures, but also to videos, but it works if I try to open Word files! I don't understand that one either!

Anybody has any ideas?

[Stefan2]

Hi and welcome 2nvisagie.

Which Total Commander version do you work with?
And, 32- or 64-bit?

It is no real matter where you have installed TC (ok, there are exceptions), as long as your wincmd.ini is writeable.
See menu Help > About TC.. where your INI is located.




 

[Horst.Epp]

Here under Windows 11 the applications start from TC as from Explorer.
If you don't want to spend much time on research make a TC internal association.

[nvisagie]

Hi and welcome 2nvisagie.

Which Total Commander version do you work with?
And, 32- or 64-bit?

It is no real matter where you have installed TC (ok, there are exceptions), as long as your wincmd.ini is writeable.
See menu Help > About TC.. where your INI is located.

Everything is in the same folder as Total Commander... Learned that one a long time ago! Spending months getting Total Commander just the way I like it and then upgrading my system, copying the Total Commander folder only to discover that the INI file was left someplace else and having to do all the setup all over again!

[nvisagie]

I think I have figured this one out and it is not related to Total Commander, but Windows 11...

The file associations in Windows 11 seem to be broken for non Microsoft Software. I use Irfanview as my Image Viewer and MPC-HC as my Video Player. I also tried VLC. but the problem remains the same. These are open source programs; non Microsoft supplied. I have been using these programs for years and I am completely fluent in them.

I have associated my file extensions with these programs, but when I click on a video or an image file in Windows File Explorer, it keeps asking me what program I want to use to open this file type. It always does that, even after clicking the box to remember the setting for the next time. That is why I think that something in Windows 11 is broken when it comes to using non-Microsoft software.

It is most likely this problem which is causing Total Commander to show the Error executing program! (31) "No application is associated with the specified file for this operation." error all the time when opening file types with non Microsoft software. Once Microsoft fixes this issue, Total Commander will be fixed as well.

If anyone else experience this issue with Windows 11, then now you know why.

[ghisler(Author)]

I have Windows 11 installed, and file associations work just fine, also with Irfanview.

Please run my registry info tool from here:
https://www.totalcommander.ch/win/tools/registryinfo.zip

Enter the file extension which gives you the error 31, and click "Check now!"
Then please paste the results here in the forum.

[nvisagie]

It gives me this for JPG files. No idea what it means.

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.jpg]
@="IrfanView.JPG"
"Content Type"="image/jpeg"
"PerceivedType"="image"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.jpg\OpenWithProgids]
"AppX2jm25qtmp2qxstv333wv5mne3k5bf4bm"=hex(0):
"AppX43hnxtbyyps62jhe9sqpdzxn1790zetc"=hex(0):
"GIMP2.jpg"=""
"jpegfile"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.jpg\PersistentHandler]
@="{098f2470-bae0-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}"
=============================
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IrfanView.JPG]
@="IrfanView JPG File"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IrfanView.JPG\DefaultIcon]
@="D:\Program Files\IrfanView\Plugins\ICONS.DLL,14"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IrfanView.JPG\shell]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IrfanView.JPG\shell\open]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IrfanView.JPG\shell\open\command]
@=""D:\Program Files\IrfanView\i_view64.exe" "%1""
=============================
[Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.jpg]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.jpg\OpenWithList]
"a"="i_view64.exe"
"MRUList"="acb"
"b"="msedge.exe"
"c"="chrome.exe"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.jpg\OpenWithProgids]
"jpegfile"=hex(0):
"IrfanView.jpg"=hex(0):
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.jpg\UserChoice]
"Progid"="AppX43hnxtbyyps62jhe9sqpdzxn1790zetc"
"Hash"="zbBnSb0Gihc="
=============================
Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.jpg\UserChoice="AppX43hnxtbyyps62jhe9sqpdzxn1790zetc"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppX43hnxtbyyps62jhe9sqpdzxn1790zetc]
"NoOpenWith"=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppX43hnxtbyyps62jhe9sqpdzxn1790zetc\Application]
"ApplicationName"="@{Microsoft.Windows.Photos_2021.21110.8005.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe?ms-resource://Microsoft.Windows.Photos/Resources/AppFriendlyName}"
"ApplicationCompany"="Microsoft Corporation"
"ApplicationIcon"="@{Microsoft.Windows.Photos_2021.21110.8005.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe?ms-resource://Microsoft.Windows.Photos/Files/Assets/PhotosAppList.png}"
"ApplicationDescription"="ms-resource:AppDescription"
"AppUserModelID"="Microsoft.Windows.Photos_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppX43hnxtbyyps62jhe9sqpdzxn1790zetc\DefaultIcon]
@="@{Microsoft.Windows.Photos_2021.21110.8005.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe?ms-resource://Microsoft.Windows.Photos/Files/Assets/PhotosLogoExtensions.png}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppX43hnxtbyyps62jhe9sqpdzxn1790zetc\Shell]
@="open"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppX43hnxtbyyps62jhe9sqpdzxn1790zetc\Shell\open]
"ActivatableClassId"="App.AppX65n3t4j73ch7cremsjxn7q8bph1ma8jw.mca"
"PackageId"="Microsoft.Windows.Photos_2021.21110.8005.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe"
"ContractId"="Windows.File"
"DesiredInitialViewState"=dword:00000000
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppX43hnxtbyyps62jhe9sqpdzxn1790zetc\Shell\open\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{4ED3A719-CEA8-4BD9-910D-E252F997AFC2}"
@=""D:\Program Files\IrfanView\i_view64.exe" "%1""
=============================
OpenWithProgIDs(0)="AppX2jm25qtmp2qxstv333wv5mne3k5bf4bm"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppX2jm25qtmp2qxstv333wv5mne3k5bf4bm]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppX2jm25qtmp2qxstv333wv5mne3k5bf4bm\Application]
"ApplicationName"="@{Microsoft.ScreenSketch_11.2110.20.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe?ms-resource://Microsoft.ScreenSketch/Resources/AppName/Text}"
"ApplicationCompany"="Microsoft Corporation"
"ApplicationIcon"="@{Microsoft.ScreenSketch_11.2110.20.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe?ms-resource://Microsoft.ScreenSketch/Files/Assets/SnippingToolAppList.png}"
"ApplicationDescription"="ms-resource:AppDescription"
"AppUserModelID"="Microsoft.ScreenSketch_8wekyb3d8bbwe!App"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppX2jm25qtmp2qxstv333wv5mne3k5bf4bm\DefaultIcon]
@="@{Microsoft.ScreenSketch_11.2110.20.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe?ms-resource://Microsoft.ScreenSketch/Files/Assets/FileAssociation/FileAssociation.png}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppX2jm25qtmp2qxstv333wv5mne3k5bf4bm\Shell]
@="open"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppX2jm25qtmp2qxstv333wv5mne3k5bf4bm\Shell\open]
"ActivatableClassId"="App.AppX99naa8pv4a8nkjghzyt7drksgwxwbtsg.mca"
"PackageId"="Microsoft.ScreenSketch_11.2110.20.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe"
"ContractId"="Windows.File"
"DesiredInitialViewState"=dword:00000000
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppX2jm25qtmp2qxstv333wv5mne3k5bf4bm\Shell\open\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{4ED3A719-CEA8-4BD9-910D-E252F997AFC2}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppX2jm25qtmp2qxstv333wv5mne3k5bf4bm\Shell\ShellEdit]
"ActivatableClassId"="App.AppX99naa8pv4a8nkjghzyt7drksgwxwbtsg.mca"
"PackageId"="Microsoft.ScreenSketch_11.2110.20.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe"
"ContractId"="Windows.File"
"DesiredInitialViewState"=dword:00000000
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppX2jm25qtmp2qxstv333wv5mne3k5bf4bm\Shell\ShellEdit\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{4ED3A719-CEA8-4BD9-910D-E252F997AFC2}"

[ghisler(Author)]

This one is the relevant association:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.jpg\UserChoice]
"Progid"="AppX43hnxtbyyps62jhe9sqpdzxn1790zetc"

Pointing to:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppX43hnxtbyyps62jhe9sqpdzxn1790zetc\Shell\open]
"ActivatableClassId"="App.AppX65n3t4j73ch7cremsjxn7q8bph1ma8jw.mca"
"PackageId"="Microsoft.Windows.Photos_2021.21110.8005.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe"
"ContractId"="Windows.File"
"DesiredInitialViewState"=dword:00000000
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AppX43hnxtbyyps62jhe9sqpdzxn1790zetc\Shell\open\command]
"DelegateExecute"="{4ED3A719-CEA8-4BD9-910D-E252F997AFC2}"
@=""D:\Program Files\IrfanView\i_view64.exe" "%1""

This looks strange - on one side, it should open the Microsoft.Windows.Photos app, on the other, Shell\open\command points to
"D:\Program Files\IrfanView\i_view64.exe" "%1"

I guess that this is enough to break the ShellExecuteEx function used by TC to open the file...

[nvisagie]

Thanks! I will give it a go!

[JacquesR]

I am having the same problems, but with Microsoft's own Microsoft Word.
Works fine from Explorer, but not in Total Commander.
Here is the registry information tool output:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.docx]
"PerceivedType"="document"
@="docxfile"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.docx\OpenWithList]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.docx\OpenWithList\WordPad.exe]
@=""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.docx\PersistentHandler]
@="{D3B41FA1-01E3-49AF-AA25-1D0D824275AE}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.docx\ShellEx]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.docx\ShellEx\PropertyHandler]
@="{5985FC23-2588-4D9A-B38B-7E7AFFAB3155}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.docx\ShellEx\{8895b1c6-b41f-4c1c-a562-0d564250836f}]
@="{84F66100-FF7C-4fb4-B0C0-02CD7FB668FE}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.docx\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}]
@="{355822FC-86F1-4BE8-B5F0-A33736789641}"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.docx\Word.Document.12]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.docx\Word.Document.12\ShellNew]
"NullFile"=""
=============================
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\docxfile]
@="OOXML Text Document"
"AllowSilentDefaultTakeOver"=""
"EditFlags"=dword:00200000
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\docxfile\DefaultIcon]
@=""%ProgramFiles%\Windows NT\Accessories\WORDPAD.EXE",2"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\docxfile\shell]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\docxfile\shell\open]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\docxfile\shell\open\command]
@=""%ProgramFiles%\Windows NT\Accessories\WORDPAD.EXE" "%1""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\docxfile\shell\print]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\docxfile\shell\print\command]
@=""%ProgramFiles%\Windows NT\Accessories\WORDPAD.EXE" /p "%1""
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\docxfile\shell\printto]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\docxfile\shell\printto\command]
@=""%ProgramFiles%\Windows NT\Accessories\WORDPAD.EXE" /pt "%1" "%2" "%3" "%4""
=============================
[Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.docx]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.docx\OpenWithList]
"a"="WINWORD.EXE"
"b"="ab"
"MRUList"="acb"
"c"="msedge.exe"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.docx\OpenWithProgids]
"Word.Document.12"=hex(0):
"docxfile"=hex(0):

[ghisler(Author)]

That looks like a mess too - there seem to be two entries "docxfile" and the not shown "Word.Document.12".
The Explorer may be using "Word.Document.12" due to OpenWithProgids, but there is no UserChoice entry, so ShellExecuteEx seems to fail.

[JWKauffman]

I've noticed that the current version of Win 11 will occasionally lose all my file associations and revert to MS defaults. I haven't found the trigger for this yet, but I've seen it happen after installing new applications (but not always). I think MS may have broken something in file associations when they made it harder to set any browser but Edge as the default.

[ghisler(Author)]

I have seen something similar too - it probably happens when you install a program which adds certain registry keys. Then Windows lets you choose how to open a file which you had chosen previously. But this has always worked well, Total Commander showed the dialog as well as the Explorer.

If it doesn't, you can try using the right click menu - open with. The last item lets you choose to always open a file with a certain program.

[torgar]

Guys this thread is really important. I'm facing the same issue with PDF files. They open fine from within windows explorer but when trying total commander nothing happens. If I open Acrobat reader first and then click on a pdf file no prob everything works as should, but if adobe reader is not running nothing seems to work. However I noticed that if opening taskmanager and going to details tab Acrobat.exe (the adobe reader) is running with 2 instances.

Haven't encountered this issue before and been using total commander for almost 20+ years now in all Microsoft OSs. Don't consider this as a major issue but it's definitely an annoying one.

It seems the issue has been resolved. On 9/1/2022 Intel released a new driver version that seems to be running normally from within Total Commander

[Horst.Epp]

The problem with Adobe is normaly a security setting in Adobe which must be changed.