Lost "open with"

"Open with" has disappeared from my context menu. Does anyone
know how to get it back? I've searched support with no success.
Surely there's a registry tweak or perhaps all my files became
unregistered in some way or the other. I did notice in one of
the KB's that "open with" with was available for registered file
types only. Could regserver (sp?) restore the "open with"? If
so, how?

TIA.

Additional info: I believe at some point before I noticed "open
with" was gone, I got an error related to SHDOCVW.DLL. I'm
sorry, I don't remember the details. Could this be related to my
problem?

"Dave" wrote in message
...
"Open with" has disappeared from my context menu. Does anyone
know how to get it back? I've searched support with no
success.
Surely there's a registry tweak or perhaps all my files became
unregistered in some way or the other. I did notice in one of
the KB's that "open with" with was available for registered
file
types only. Could regserver (sp?) restore the "open with"? If
so, how?

TIA.

You should be aware that "Open With" doesn't always show on EVERY type of
file extension. Usually, the "Open With" option only shows when a particular
extension HASN'T already been associated. Once associated, the "Open With"
option should 'disappear' again.

If that isn't the case in your circumstances then it may be worth trying a
scanreg /fix to see if that resolves it - or better still AND only if
recent, a System Restore and roll back to before the problem started.

Good luck

Mart


"Dave" wrote in message
...
Additional info: I believe at some point before I noticed "open
with" was gone, I got an error related to SHDOCVW.DLL. I'm
sorry, I don't remember the details. Could this be related to my
problem?

"Dave" wrote in message
...
"Open with" has disappeared from my context menu. Does anyone
know how to get it back? I've searched support with no
success.
Surely there's a registry tweak or perhaps all my files became
unregistered in some way or the other. I did notice in one of
the KB's that "open with" with was available for registered
file
types only. Could regserver (sp?) restore the "open with"? If
so, how?

TIA.

What's the file extension?
Does "open with" appear if you hold shift and right click?
Did you check MS Support?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/258860/en-us


"Dave" wrote in message
...
"Open with" has disappeared from my context menu. Does anyone
know how to get it back? I've searched support with no success.
Surely there's a registry tweak or perhaps all my files became
unregistered in some way or the other. I did notice in one of
the KB's that "open with" with was available for registered file
types only. Could regserver (sp?) restore the "open with"? If
so, how?

TIA.

For all file extensions or just some and if so which?
--
Mike Maltby



Dave wrote:

"Open with" has disappeared from my context menu. Does anyone
know how to get it back? I've searched support with no success.
Surely there's a registry tweak or perhaps all my files became
unregistered in some way or the other. I did notice in one of
the KB's that "open with" with was available for registered file
types only. Could regserver (sp?) restore the "open with"? If
so, how?

TIA.

"Mart" wrote in message
...
You should be aware that "Open With" doesn't always show on
EVERY type of
file extension. Usually, the "Open With" option only shows when
a particular
extension HASN'T already been associated. Once associated, the
"Open With"
option should 'disappear' again.

This is just not true. Any Windows Millenium has 'open with' as
a default in the context menu for all file types. Check it out.


If that isn't the case in your circumstances then it may be
worth trying a
scanreg /fix to see if that resolves it - or better still AND
only if
recent, a System Restore and roll back to before the problem
started.

Did the scanreg fix with no success. System restore is not an
option. It was turned off, unfortunately.


Good luck

Mart


"Dave" wrote in message
...
Additional info: I believe at some point before I noticed
"open
with" was gone, I got an error related to SHDOCVW.DLL. I'm
sorry, I don't remember the details. Could this be related
to my
problem?

"Dave" wrote in message
...
"Open with" has disappeared from my context menu. Does
anyone
know how to get it back? I've searched support with no
success.
Surely there's a registry tweak or perhaps all my files
became
unregistered in some way or the other. I did notice in one
of
the KB's that "open with" with was available for registered
file
types only. Could regserver (sp?) restore the "open with"?
If
so, how?

TIA.

"Eric" wrote in message
...
What's the file extension?

All

Does "open with" appear if you hold shift and right click?

No

Did you check MS Support?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/258860/en-us

Yep, and the registry keys still show my prior selected 'open
withs'. That KB deals with removing entries from the 'open with'
area.



"Dave" wrote in message
...
"Open with" has disappeared from my context menu. Does
anyone
know how to get it back? I've searched support with no
success.
Surely there's a registry tweak or perhaps all my files
became
unregistered in some way or the other. I did notice in one
of
the KB's that "open with" with was available for registered
file
types only. Could regserver (sp?) restore the "open with"?
If
so, how?

TIA.

"Mike M" wrote in message
...
For all file extensions or just some and if so which?

All of them. I have Nirsoft's Shellexview installed and found
from that that shell32.dll most likely is the handler for open
with, at least that's what shellexview gives as its description.
I extracted a new copy of that dll and was thinking about
replacing it but I chickened out. The only difference I can see
between the two is that the installed (old version) does not have
a 'created date' on its file properties and the extracted version
does. I can only wonder if that makes a difference. I do not
remember ever seeing a file without a created date in under file
properties.

--
Mike Maltby



Dave wrote:

"Open with" has disappeared from my context menu. Does
anyone
know how to get it back? I've searched support with no
success.
Surely there's a registry tweak or perhaps all my files
became
unregistered in some way or the other. I did notice in one
of
the KB's that "open with" with was available for registered
file
types only. Could regserver (sp?) restore the "open with"?
If
so, how?

TIA.

This is just not true. Any Windows Millenium has 'open with' as
a default in the context menu for all file types. Check it out.

That's not actually strictly true. For example files with a COM, LNK or
URL extension to name but three have no right click Open With option..
--
Mike Maltby



Dave wrote:

"Mart" wrote in message
...
You should be aware that "Open With" doesn't always show on EVERY
type of file extension. Usually, the "Open With" option only shows
when a particular extension HASN'T already been associated. Once
associated, the "Open With" option should 'disappear' again.

This is just not true. Any Windows Millenium has 'open with' as
a default in the context menu for all file types. Check it out.


If that isn't the case in your circumstances then it may be worth
trying a scanreg /fix to see if that resolves it - or better still
AND only if recent, a System Restore and roll back to before the
problem started.

Did the scanreg fix with no success. System restore is not an
option. It was turned off, unfortunately.

It would appear that your copy of shell32.dll is damaged in some way.

Why not replace shell32.dll, you have nothing to lose. Extract a new copy
of shell32.dll from the Win Me cab files, it's contained in WIN_14.CAB
which is in the Win9x folder on a Win Me CD or in either the
c:\windows\options\cabs or c:\windows\options\install folder on your PC.
Rename it to shell32.new and place in your windows\system folder. Using a
Win Me boot floppy, boot to an A:\ DOS prompt and then execute the
following commands to replace the file:
REN C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SHELL32.DLL SHELL32.OLD
REN C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\SHELL32.NEW SHELL32.DLL

Remove the boot floppy and reboot in to Win Me. Hopefully this should now
fix the problem.
--
Mike Maltby



Dave wrote:

All of them. I have Nirsoft's Shellexview installed and found
from that that shell32.dll most likely is the handler for open
with, at least that's what shellexview gives as its description.
I extracted a new copy of that dll and was thinking about
replacing it but I chickened out. The only difference I can see
between the two is that the installed (old version) does not have
a 'created date' on its file properties and the extracted version
does. I can only wonder if that makes a difference. I do not
remember ever seeing a file without a created date in under file
properties.