Fix File Association Error When Launching Windows Explorer in Windows 7

© Ramesh Srinivasan | Windows 7 | 2nd September 2010

When you click the Windows Explorer shortcut which is Pinned to the Taskbar, or when running explorer.exe directly in Windows 7, the following error message may be displayed with text "explorer.exe" in the title bar.

This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Please install a program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Programs control panel.

And using the WinKey + E key sequence causes "Unspecified error"

However, Windows Explorer may launch correctly when including additional switches such as /e or /n with explorer.exe, or double-click the (My) Computer icon. This problem occurs due to missing data in the "HKCR\Folders" registry key.

Registry Fix

To fix the problem download Folder association fix (via) unzip and run the REG file. You should be able to start Windows Explorer correctly!

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10 Comments

  1. osirisgothra
    said this on Thursday, December 22nd 2011 7:59 am

    Just an FYI,
    I did some digging around and came to find the root cause of this particular error is the absense of this value:
    Key: HKCU\Folder\shell\opennewwindow\DelegateExecute
    Type: REG_SZ
    Value: {11dbb47c-a525-400b-9e80-a54615a090c0}

    notice if you change this value in any way you will immidiately start getting the above said errors. This is useful for those who go around changing things and want to know what it was they did so they dont do it again :)
    -O

  2. Reinard
    said this on Sunday, October 9th 2011 7:57 am

    Thanks for tht registry. Now I can open explorer by CTRL+E. Thanks once more time!

  3. Ken McRae
    said this on Thursday, September 8th 2011 12:53 am

    At last my search for a solution to a pernicious Windows Explorer problem is solved — and so easily. I couldn’t find it on the Microsoft website, although many of us must have been afflicted by it.

    Thank you and thank you again

  4. prax
    said this on Tuesday, August 2nd 2011 8:40 pm

    guy u rock!!!!!
    u fixed that problem 4 which i’ve been searching for 4 month.
    gr8 thnx 2 u :)

  5. Jim
    said this on Tuesday, April 12th 2011 3:08 am

    This was driving me crazy, fixed the problem in 30 seconds, thanks so much!

  6. Andrew
    said this on Sunday, April 10th 2011 2:36 am

    Thanks for the registry file, it seems to have helped many users. I experienced the same issue although this fix did not work, it turned out that I did not have read permission to “HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\opennewwindow” – a key I had manually ‘hidden’ to reduce Context Menu clutter, it turns out that this is required.

  7. Bob Campbell
    said this on Tuesday, March 1st 2011 9:02 am

    Fixed it. I appreciate that you provided the exact screen clip of the problem. That assured me I was getting the right fix for my problem. Thank you. I’m running W7 SP1 32-bit.

  8. Sean
    said this on Tuesday, February 15th 2011 4:04 am

    I was looking for so long and tried so many other things that other fourms said would work but this simple reg file works. Thank God!!!!!!

  9. BMW
    said this on Wednesday, January 12th 2011 9:27 am

    thanks. you are a life saver. 10 gold stars for you:)

  10. Romeo
    said this on Thursday, October 14th 2010 2:24 am

    Love my life, thanks its because of u..!!!!!!

    Romeo

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