Windows

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[Fix] Explorer.exe Error “This file does not have an app associated”

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file explorer shortcut association error

When you click the Windows Explorer or File Explorer shortcut Pinned to the Taskbar, or when running explorer.exe directly, the following error message may be displayed:

This file does not have an app associated with it for performing this action. Please install an app or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Apps Settings page.
file explorer shortcut association error
Windows 10: File Explorer Pinned Taskbar shortcut error.

And the same error occurs when using the Win + E shortcut or running explorer.exe manually.

In earlier Operating Systems (e.g., Windows 8 and below), the following error is displayed:

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 Win + E key sequence causes “Unspecified error”

However, Explorer may launch correctly when including additional switches such as /e or /n with explorer.exe, or double-click the This PC icon. Also, all other shortcuts for other applications Pinned to the Taskbar may work fine, thus implying that this is not a Shortcut (.lnk) file association problem.

Cause

This problem occurs due to missing data in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folders registry key. The File Explorer pinned shortcut located at the following path is a special shortcut that references a value under the “Folder” registry key:

%AppData%\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar

Information in this article applies to Windows Vista through Windows 10.Read more

How to Remove Pin to Taskbar Option For a Particular Application in Windows 7?

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If you have a host application that you don’t want to be pinned to the Windows 7 taskbar, you can do so by adding a registry value in the application registration area. By default Windows prevents the following host processes from being pinned to the taskbar.

  1. RUNDLL32.EXE
  2. MSHTA.EXE
  3. DLLHOST.EXE
  4. APPLAUNCH.EXE
  5. HH.EXE
  6. WINHLP32.EXE
  7. MMC.EXE

… and other file names defined in the following registry key in string values HostApps, AddRemoveApps and AddRemoveNames

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ FileAssociation

To remove the Pin to Taskbar (and "Pin this program to taskbar") context menu options for a particular application, use these steps:Read more

How to Add a Right-Click Menu Option to Run a Program Elevated

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From the Windows Taskbar, you can start a program elevated by holding the Ctrl & Shift keys and then clicking on a pinned shortcut. To launch a program elevated from the right-click menu, you can add custom entries and launch it using a script or using the NirCmd utility. Earlier we wrote about the new elevate command-line argument in NirCmd, which you can implement in the context menu.

This article tells you how to add a right-click menu option to run a program elevated.

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Error “Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file” When Playing DVD Movies

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When you insert a DVD media in the drive, right-click on the drive and choose Play from the context menu, the following error may occur. Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item. However, you may be able to play DVD movies via … Read more

How to Run System File Checker (SFC) Offline in Windows 10/11 & Earlier

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The System File Checker (sfc.exe) is a useful tool that lets you scan the integrity of Windows system files and repair corrupt or missing system files. Numerous cases have been resolved by running the sfc.exe /scannow command.

However, there are situations wherein a corrupt or missing system file prevents Windows from booting normally or prevents Command Prompt and console programs like Sfc.exe from being launched. In such cases, Sfc.exe can be run offline via the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) in all versions of Windows, including Windows 11.Read more

How to Use Resource Monitor to Find Which Process Has Locked a File

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Many folks use Process Explorer from Windows Sysinternals to gather information about running processes and their open handles. In addition, there is an excellent but less familiar utility in-built with Windows 7 and higher (including Windows 10/11).

The built-in utility is Resource Monitor, which provides complete details of running processes, their associated handles, and associated modules (for example, DLL files).Read more

[Fix] Currency, Stock or Weather Gadgets Not Updating in Windows 7

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Did the Currency, Stock, or the Weather Gadget got stuck and stopped updating in your Windows 7/Vista computer all of a sudden? Clearing the Sidebar Gadgets cache using the following steps might help. Clear the Windows Sidebar Cache Folder Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC to bring up the Task Manager. Exit Sidebar.exe process via Task Manager. Instructions for … Read more

Fix Event Log Service Error 4201 The Instance Name Passed Was Not Recognized

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One of our readers faced a problem where the Windows Event Log failed to start, and as a result, a couple of other services failed as well. Attempting to start the Windows Event Log service manually via the Services MMC resulted in error 4201. The complete error message is provided below:

Windows could not start the Windows Event Log service on Local Computer.

Error 4201: The instance name passed was not recognized as valid by a WMI data provider.

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Fix Libraries are Hidden and Showing Up Empty in Windows 7

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When you open Windows Explorer on your Windows 7 computer, the Libraries folder may be completely empty. Also, nothing may happen when you right-click the “Libraries” link in the navigation pane, and choose Restore default libraries. This can happen if the library files are hidden inadvertently by the user. To restore/unhide the libraries, you need … Read more