This post explains how to prevent the modern Photos app from taking over the defaults for all image files types. We saw how to prevent Edge from taking over the PDF and HTM association settings. The same method can be used for the Photos app, or for any other app for that matter.Read more
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How to Restore Missing “Pin to Start” in Windows 10
Summary: “Pin to Start” Option missing and “Show more tiles” Option Locked in Personalize window, due to Policy settings. In Windows 10, when you right-click on a folder, .exe file, or a shortcut to a .exe file, the option Pin to Start may be missing. Also, when you right-click an item in the Start menu, … Read more
Fix Open with “Choose another app” Error Program Not Associated
When you right-click a file, and select Open with… in a Windows 10/11 computer, the following error may appear:
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.
[Fix] Music, Pictures, Videos or Downloads Folders Merged Accidentally and Point to the Same Location
This post talks about a problem where two special folders such as Music, Pictures, Videos, or Documents get merged or combined and point to the same folder. Because the special or shell folders are merged, they show up with the same name but different icons.
Additionally, restoring the default location via the Location tab for one of the folders would show a similar warning as below:
Do you want to redirect folder "Music" into another system folder "Videos" located at "c:\users\{username}\videos"?
If you proceed with redirection you will not be able to separate them or restore default location. Do you still want to proceed with redirection?
Or, the following error may occur:
Can’t move the folder because there is a folder in the same location that can’t be redirected
Since the special folders have merged, using the Restore Default or Move option does not help.
This post tells you how to fix the user shell folder paths in the registry, if you’ve accidentally merged them.Read more
Clicking a Hyperlink in Outlook Prompts to Select a Browser, With IE set as default
When you click a hyperlink in Outlook 2007 or 2010 with Internet Explorer set as the default, the Open With window (“How do you want to open this?” dialog) appears with the list of browser choices. This is an issue in Windows 10 with Outlook 2007 or 2010 installed, and Internet Explorer set as the default browser.Read more
How to Hide Extension for a Specific File Type
The Folder Options setting Hide extensions for known file types turns on or off the display of file extension for all registered file types. To hide or show the extension for an individual or specific file type in Explorer, you can do it by adding the NeverShowExt (REG_SZ) registry value in the file type’s ProgID. Here are a couple of examples, which should work in all versions of Windows.Read more
Windows 10/11 User Shell Folders Restore Default Paths
This post provides you with the list of User Shell Folders in Windows 10/11 and their default paths. If you’ve moved a shell folder earlier, you can restore it to the default location via the folder properties Location tab in most cases.
However, there are situations where the Location tab option can’t be used — i.e. when two special folders such as Music and Videos become merged and point to the same location. In that case, clicking Restore Default in the folder properties Location tab causes an error.
In such cases, resetting the respective shell folder path(s) in the registry is the only possible solution. This article provides the .reg files needed to revert to the default shell folder paths quickly and also includes the list of shell folders and their default path for your reference. This article applies to Windows 10 and Windows 11.
NOTE: Before proceeding, please stop OneDrive sync/backup option for the corresponding shell folder — e.g., Documents, Desktop, Pictures Folders.
Personalize Settings Says “Some settings are managed by your organization”
If the Personalize settings page show the red text message Some settings are managed by your organization at the top, it means that some of the settings in that particular page are locked down by an administrator in that computer, via Group Policy Editor or through the registry. For classic Control Panel items, you may see the message One or more of the settings on this page has been disabled by the system administrator if one or more Policies are set for that page.Read more
How to Show Only Quick Access in the Navigation Pane in Windows 10
We saw how to remove Quick access and other Shell Folders from File Explorer in one of my previous articles. This post something similar. In this, I’ll tell you how to remove all Pinned items in the navigation pane except Quick access.Read more
Homegroup and Libraries Icons on the Desktop – How to Add or Remove?
The Homegroup and Libraries icons aren’t present on the desktop by default in Windows 10. Here is a quick tip on how to add these folders on your desktop if you use these folders frequently. Instructions apply to Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11. Add or Remove Homegroup and Libraries Icons on the Desktop Open … Read more