After seeing reports of Nokia Video Manager wiping out the Set Your Default Programs list in Windows Vista, I tried to replicate the problem to check if it was really caused by Nokia Video Manager. I installed the latest version of Nokia PC Suite and Nokia Video Manager in my Windows Vista PC. Then I uninstalled Nokia Video Manager, which in fact wiped out the Default Programs programs list completely. This certainly is caused by a glitch in Nokia Video Manager’s uninstaller.
I used the current stable builds (version numbers are below) of the following Nokia software:
Nokia Video Manager adds a registry value to the RegisteredApplications key when installed. The uninstall process deletes the entire RegisteredApplications branch, rather than deleting the Nokia Video Manager specific registry value. The RegisteredApplications is located here:
The above location is where the Default Programs gets the list of registered applications from.
You may be able to restore the original settings using a System Restore rollback. If that’s not a feasible solution for you, then you may use the registry fix below to restore the standard entries to the Default Programs dialog.
REGISTRY FIX
To restore the system default entries to the Default Programs dialog, download registeredapplications.reg and save to Desktop. Right-click on the file and choose Merge. This should restore the following entries to the applet:
- Internet Explorer
- Windows Address Book
- Windows Mail
- Windows Mail (News)
- Windows Media Player
- Windows Media Center
- Windows Calendar
- Windows Photo Gallery Viewer
- Windows Search
If you have Mozilla Firefox installed, you can restore the Firefox entry using firefox.reg.
SEE ALSO
- Outlook 2003 not listed in Default Programs
- Windows Mail missing from the default programs listing
- Register Windows Live Hotmail with the Default Programs tool in Windows Vista
Editor’s note: After installing Nokia PC Suite and Nokia Video Manager, I opened the System Restore dialog where I saw 7 System Restore points created by Nokia installer. Sounds absolutely unnecessary! This is another glitch in their install/uninstall routine. Check this screenshot:
If you have any questions on Nokia software, you may post in Nokia Support Discussions board.
Related Posts
- Fix: Places Bar in Open/Save as (Common Dialog) Box Is Empty in Windows XP
- Restore Missing Windows Media Player to the Set Default Programs List in Windows Vista
- Outlook 2003 Not Listed in Default Programs
- Fix for Application Not Found Error When Opening an URL
- Scan for Affected Programs – New System Restore Feature in Windows 7
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed! We feature Tips, Troubleshooting information, Scripts and Utilities for Microsoft Windows Operating Systems!
Prefer an E-mail subscription?
Your a genious Ramish!!! this actually worked for me.
Even Microsoft couldnt solve this for me .
Thanks so much.
Thanks for the reg fix.. worked a treat
I’m just trying to add IE7 back to my default program list, however, this registry fix did not work. Does anyone have any other ideas?
Ramesh, thanks.
It turned out that something about Default Programs ate the installation location key itself on a folder full of portable apps when I renamed the folder. Each time I tried to restore, it wouldn’t take. I had to go back in and recreate the key. Bug, I guess.
Martin
@Martin: Pls note that “OpenWithAdd” does not register programs with “Default Programs”. If you’re using it to register applications with the “Open With” dialog and getting the error, see if removing the quotes from the file name helps.
As for the Nokia registration fix, you don’t have to delete the “Registered Applications” key.
Ramesh,
I tried OpenWithAdd to restore a problem I had, and I’m getting the error “Specified File Is Missing.” But it’s right there in the folder, and OWA picked up on it!
I’m wondering two things:
1. Could this be because I’m using spaces and parenthesis in the exe name?
2. Worst case, if I want to run this Nokia solution as a fix, do I first delete my existing RegisteredApplications key, and then merge this reg file, or can I just overwrite the old one by merging?
Thanks!
Excellent my default program list is back! I think that my problem was actually caused by uninstalling the Nokia Applications Updater Software (?), so the problem may be more widespread in their software suite….
Thanks a lot! That registry fix worked great.
Damn you Nokia… Who knows how their OS software still works!!