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Cannot associate xlsx files with Excel (Office 2010 Professional on Win7 Home Premium 64)

Client is running MS Office 2010 on Win7 Home Premium, and the file association for xlsx is broken. It shows "unknown program". xls association (2003 era) is fine.

When trying to select an application, MS Excel is not offered. Browsing to other programs also does not show Excel.

Manually going to \Program Files(x86\Microsoft Office\Office14\Excel.exe does not work.

I have done a Repair Install of MS Office 2010 and this did not fix it.

I have also fully uninstalled and reinstalled Office 2010

terencino

Can you go to Control Panel > Default Programs > Associate a file type or protocol with a specific program > scroll down and check if .xlsx is there?

...Terry

ziceman

ASKER

Yes, it is there. But when you select "Change Program", MS Excel is not on the suggest list or when you browse for other programs. Manually pointing at the Excel.exe program does not work either.

ziceman

ASKER

To further clarify, I have attached screen captures from the Cpanel area - one for the .xls extension, and another for xlsx.

terencino

Are you Ok to modify your registry to add Excel to the list in Set your default programs? This might fix your issue, it allows you to re-associate the default file type. Ignore the warning messages and install, although of course the usual caveats associated with modifying the registry apply.

Office 2010 Default Programs.reg

The source of this is Office 2010 not listed in default programs

ziceman

ASKER

I am OK with modifying the registry, but I guess my concern is whether this problem may be a manifestation of some other core issue. It seems a complete install Office 2010 should re-set the programs and extensions. Also, it is interesting to note that "Pastor Mike" was not having any issues with file associations.

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terencino

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ziceman

ASKER

For the moment i was able to go into the registry and change the (Default) key

Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xlsx

to "Excel.Sheet.12"

I just copied this from the registry on another machine that was working.

The files now open in Excel 2010, but the application still does not show up as an option under Default Programs.

terencino

Great. Did you try the registry hack I sent?

terencino

Also since you're in the registry, what value do you have at :
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Wow6432Node\CLSID\{00020830-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\DefaultExtension

ziceman

ASKER

Got me on the right track