Error: This File Does Not Have an App Associated With It

[raywood]

I am using Everything 1.4.1.935 x64 on Windows 10 Pro 1809. I search for *.wmv. A list of .wmv files appears, with an unfamiliar icon next to each. I double-click on one. I get an error:

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.

I go to Win-I > Apps > Default Apps. It says my video player is set to MPC-HC. If I use Windows File Manager to open the folder containing the .wmv file, the MPC-HC icon appears next to it; and if I double-click on the .wmv file in that folder, the .wmv video plays. Win-I > Apps > Default Apps > Choose Default Apps by File Type confirms that MPC-HC is the default player for .wmv files. This is also the situation for .mp4 files. It is not the situation for .flv or .mpg files.

This is a new problem; I have been using these programs for years without this problem. Possibly the upgrade to 1809 is responsible, but I don't seem to be getting this problem with other filetypes, though I haven't yet checked them all.

[therube]

Are you using the Everything Service or are you running as Administrator?
Tools | Options -> General


I'm guess that you're Admin, & the Admin account (for whatever unfathomable reason in Win10) doesn't know how to handle .wmv files?

[horst.epp]

There is nothing special with Windows version 1809 or now actual 1903.
If the account used has an player for .wmv files it will play started from Everything.
In may system its registerd for VLC.
But as therube said you may running Everything not with your normal account
which is a general mistake by the way.
You should always run the Everything service and have not ckecked the "Run as Administrator" option in the settings.

[NotNull]

On Win10 .wmv is not bound (binded?) to an application on system level, meaning that administrator doesn't know how to handle these files.

If you *have to* run Everything as administrator - horst.epp is right: just don't .. - , you can start CMD with that administrator account and run

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openwith.exe "c:\path to\your wmvfile.wmv"

and choose the right application.

[therube]

openwith.exe

What OS is that on?

[horst.epp]

openwith.exe

What OS is that on?

Windows 10
User Everything and you find it

[NotNull]

openwith.exe

What OS is that on?

Windows 10
User Everything and you find it

(spoiler alert: it's in system32)

[therube]

(No 10 here. Nor openwith.exe. [Google] search "indicated" it was on other OS too, but not on my Win7 or XP.)

[horst.epp]

(No 10 here. Nor openwith.exe. [Google] search "indicated" it was on other OS too, but not on my Win7 or XP.)

So you have to go thru the Explorer context menu for this file type and select always open with ...
One more reason to stop XP and W7

[NotNull]

I just fired up an old Win7 machine. No openwith.exe here (as expected).
On Win7 you can do a:

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rundll32.exe  shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL yourfile.wmv

(leave the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file box checked)

[therube]

No issues on XP or Win7.

It is Win10 that conveniently forgets file associations.
It is Win10 (1809) that (still) does not remember Win+RUN history?
Every computer I have every used, Win+RUN has at the least, CMD in its' history.
Every time - on Win10, I have to manually type in, CMD. Unbelievable.

Rundll32 works (in XP too).

Anyhow, either through your wanted media player, or from context-menu, Open With, you set things once (well except for Win10), & you're done.
Just works (well except for Win10). Amazing.

Open an Admin prompt - in Win10 (with a perfectly valid filename):

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C:\> C:\COPY\HOME\EUDORA\ATTACH\2009.wmv

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The system cannot find the file C:\COPY\HOME\EUDORA\ATTACH\2009.wmv.

Well, gee, that's mighty helpful - for a perfectly valid path/file. NOT.

You would expect (well I would, but I'm sure that's asking too much) OPENWITH /? to provide some sort of help, but no.
OPENWITH will accept wmv & also .wmv.
Suspect that 'wmv' would not lead to correct results, but that .wmv would?

https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/file_types_manager.html shows .wmv (in Win10), not that I'm sure what that's supposed to infer.

[NotNull]

Microsoft is trying to get rid of the 'old' file association mechanism (.txt => textfile => Shell\Open\Command=notepad.exe) as applications 'stole' too many file extensions. And malware of course: associate .txt with malware.exe and let the party begin.

The new mechanism registers the associated programs unde HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurVer\Explorer\fileext and after you choose the application, it can no longer be tampered with (protected by encrypted hashcode and ACL) Furthermore: you can define anything you want using the 'old' mechanism, but it will be ignored. Something to be aware of.

I agree: it's a bit of a mess.
Starting your wmv file through Win-R gives a differen result from CMD (Win-R also looks at MIME types: the associations used in Internet Explorer/Edge )
In CMD, try

start "" "c:\path to\video.wmv"

It is Win10 (1809) that (still) does not remember Win+RUN history?

That's a privacy setting:
- type launch in the Settings app
- That will bring you to Let Windows track app launches to improve Start and search results
- Enable it.