Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Cuireadh an snáithe seo sa chartlann. Cuir ceist nua má tá cabhair uait.

Why does firefox hijack the file association of *.xps files and cannot open them?

  • 4 fhreagra
  • 3 leis an bhfadhb seo
  • 4 views
  • Freagra is déanaí ó repairs

more options

XP OS (don't ask why). File manager shows *.xps files are associated with microsoft xps viewer.exe. if file is double clicked in the file manager your Fire fox browser opens and will not open the file. I can not find a way to stop this behavior other than ripping out firefox by the roots.

XP OS (don't ask why). File manager shows *.xps files are associated with microsoft xps viewer.exe. if file is double clicked in the file manager your Fire fox browser opens and will not open the file. I can not find a way to stop this behavior other than ripping out firefox by the roots.

Réiteach roghnaithe

I think that I remember that this is an issue in Windows XP that has been reported in the past. XPS file might be associated with Firefox, but Firefox can't handle this file type. IE should be set to open XPS files instead.


Very old bug about XPS files.

  • bug 358297 - MS-Windows: XPS Viewer incorrectly redirects to firefox (Vista, XP)
Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (4)

more options

Firefox shouldn't assign itself to open .xps files. If you right-click a .xps file and choose Properties, does the "Type of file" and "Opens with" look sensible or does that fail to match what you expect for a .xps file? I don't have XP handy, but I'm attaching what I see in Windows 7 for reference.

Athraithe ag jscher2000 - Support Volunteer ar

more options

Yes, it got me thinking. I attempted to open the xpsviewer to see if it would open the xps doc that way. Their is not an XPSViewer.exe (as is listed in the "open with" context menu. I found that the viewer is actually part of the .NET stuff and opens in IE. Went to IE and the file opens normally. I am guessing it is actually associated with the default browser and this is the real problem. Firefox does not support the file type yet it is associated by being the default.

   Thanks for your time, will try for a work around on this old os. 

Mike

more options

Réiteach Roghnaithe

I think that I remember that this is an issue in Windows XP that has been reported in the past. XPS file might be associated with Firefox, but Firefox can't handle this file type. IE should be set to open XPS files instead.


Very old bug about XPS files.

  • bug 358297 - MS-Windows: XPS Viewer incorrectly redirects to firefox (Vista, XP)
more options

apparently early xp did have a stand alone "XPSViewer.exe" and still shows up in the context menu when "open with" is selected and can be selected to always open with. This now associates the file type with the default browser. You need to associate it directly with IE and NOT the "XPSViewer.exe" option.

Thanks all that responded, helps to click the old mind!