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"Open with" function not working for Firefox.

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  • Last reply by itsukarine

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I want to use Firefox as the default browser for opening .gif and .swf files, plus probably more in the future, but when I right click open with and choose default program, Firefox is not only not there, but when I go and browse for it specifically in the folder it's installed to, doubeclick on firefox.exe/choose it in general it goes back to the dialogue without it being an option to click. I've messed with it before and couldn't figure it out, it's been a persistent problem for awhile but I don't know when it started.

I've troubleshooted a little bit on it, such as a fresh install and still nothing there, my OS is also on a different partition, so I experimented with moving the install onto the OS partition to see if that would fix it; it did not.

I want to use Firefox as the default browser for opening .gif and .swf files, plus probably more in the future, but when I right click open with and choose default program, Firefox is not only not there, but when I go and browse for it specifically in the folder it's installed to, doubeclick on firefox.exe/choose it in general it goes back to the dialogue without it being an option to click. I've messed with it before and couldn't figure it out, it's been a persistent problem for awhile but I don't know when it started. I've troubleshooted a little bit on it, such as a fresh install and still nothing there, my OS is also on a different partition, so I experimented with moving the install onto the OS partition to see if that would fix it; it did not.

All Replies (4)

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Open your file browser and locate one of these files. Right click on the file and select Properties.

Under General, click the Open With; Change button.

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That is what I am referring to not working.

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What do you mean by your OS is on a different partition ?

I do use multi boot Systems but normally the main Windows 7 OS and its program files are all on the same partition.

You appear to be posting from a 64 bit Windows 7 machine. Note the standard Firefox for Windows is a 32 bit application and by default in the location

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"

Is that where you now have Firefox ?

This article contains instructions for setting file associations https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/18539/windows-7-change-default-programs The actual associations will be stored within the Registry but that is outside the scope of this forum, and something you would need to take care with. You do not get second chances with Regedit and could break Windows.

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My OS is separate from most of my programs. So it would be in the D: drive. http://puu.sh/qq4aX/e1f9dd5d3d.png I only mention it because I think it may be relevant, though also putting it onto the same partition inside the C drive didn't fix anything.

I'm aware of how to set file associations, the issue is that Firefox doesn't come up in the dialogue even when browsed to choose firefox.exe.

I go to a flash, hit open with, http://puu.sh/qq4lx/cf9f17d3e6.png this comes up, as it should. Scrolldown list doesn't contain Firefox, as I expect, so I go to browse and look for it, and select it to open. http://puu.sh/qq4vj/678d02e357.png

When the dialogue comes back to the front of the screen, absolutely nothing is different, Firefox doesn't come up. With swfs this isn't a big deal because of my flash projector, but with gif files and maybe other filetypes it can be irritating when it wont open in anything else; not to mention I like to consolidate stuff like this to one browser so I don't have to use disgusting Chrome or something.

My Firefox installation is in something along the lines of "D:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\" with of course it's normal stuff inside it. I've tried a default installation on the C drive and it didn't work already; maybe something is messed up with Windows as you said, but it doesn't do this with Chrome which is also on my D drive so I assume it's related to Firefox.