[SOLVED] Un-associate file type?

[Tsujack]

How do i un-associate a file type such as .pac ?

I accidentally associated it with a program and need to remove it.

command prompt and the basic settings default apps won't remove it.

Unless i'm putting a command prompt like in wrong?

I'm a near total newbie with command prompt.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

do you have an application you would like to associate it with or you just want any association removed so that it is an "unknown" file again?

 

[Tsujack]

do you have an application you would like to associate it with or you just want any association removed so that it is an "unknown" file again?

unknown file type.

The sheet of paper icon thing.

Here'es an image of what happened.


the command prompt line I used was:

assoc .pac=

https://i.imgur.com/NCzduOg.png

 

[Ralston18]

In the "Type here to search" box (usually in the lower left screen corner) start typing "Open file".

At some point a Window will open: "Choose a default app for each type of file" (System settings).

There will be a list of files types. Scroll down and change as required.

 

[Tsujack]

In the "Type here to search" box (usually in the lower left screen corner) start typing "Open file".

At some point a Window will open: "Choose a default app for each type of file" (System settings).

There will be a list of files types. Scroll down and change as required.

I did that and the list of file associations reset button wouldn't change it.

how do I remove the "associate always" thing with the .pac file type?

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

go to Windows > Settings > Apps > Default apps. at the bottom of the page there is a "Reset" button.
this should reset everything to the Microsoft defaults.

if trying this did not reset the particular file type;
maybe uninstalling the program that is currently associated with the file type will help.

 

[Tsujack]

I done that.

I don't want it associated with any programs and it is stuck with internet explorer.


Here's what it shows me.

https://imgur.com/C6kN8Oz

View: https://i.imgur.com/C6kN8Oz.png


And no, microsoft store has nothing to do with it.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

i've never seen an option to remove default app settings. resetting to defaults had always worked for me in this type of situation.

what is the exact issue you are facing? what is it that you want to do with this type of file that Internet Explorer is interfering with?

 

[Ralston18]

At the Command Prompt type "assoc" (without quotes).

There should be a long list of file associations.

Scroll down to .pac=

What is shown to the right of the equal sign?

 

[Tsujack]

I could send you a screen recording if needed. All I would need is a email or something to send the recording to.

 

[Ralston18]

No need for that. We are only looking at the .pac line

Just copy down what is to the right of the equal sign and post.

 

[Tsujack]

There is nothing after the equal sign.

That's what makes it "null" or unknown program right?

or do I have to associate it with the Bat file type?

 

[gardenman]

https://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-Tweak/Default-Programs-Editor.shtml

 

[Tsujack]

https://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-Tweak/Default-Programs-Editor.shtml

I'm not using a program editor.
Is there any way to do it through default stuff like comand prompt or registry editor?

i'm not downloading anything.

 

[Tsujack]

Gardenman I'm doing the opposite of that.

turning from the association back to unknown program. The white sheet icon.

 

[gardenman]

Which is what I did. Watch it carefully all the way through. I first assigned the extension to IE and like you did. Then I reset it. Sorry that it's on a loop and doesn't show the beginning/ending.

• Download Default Programs Editor and run it.
• Click on File Type Settings.
• Click on Delete an extension
• Type in .pac
• Select it from the list
• Click on Delete Extension
• Click on OK then Close.

Next restart Windows Explorer so the icons will reset (or simply reboot).

Default Programs Editor is safe and freeware. I've used it for years and recommended it before. You don't have to install it, just unzip and run it. Then delete it afterwards. Doing this without that program will likely be more difficult, maybe requiring reg edits (which is less safe than using the program).

 

[Tsujack]

Deleting internet explorer from the optional features menu solved the problem.

side effect of that:

my game launchers and Internet shortcuts re-routed to their file paths. Easy fix for that deleting and recreating the shortcuts.

 

[Nigel Spike]

You can use the command prompt command ASSOC, suggested by @Ralston18 above, to remove an association.

ASSOC .pac =<space>

Description in my link.

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

Deleting internet explorer from the optional features menu solved the problem.

side effect of that:

my game launchers and Internet shortcuts re-routed to their file paths. Easy fix for that deleting and recreating the shortcuts.

i never could stand Internet Explorer anyway. i've always had a better time using Firefox.

 

[gardenman]

When I was coming up with a fix, I tested the ASSOC command (using both normal and admin command prompt). It didn't work for me.

I just tried again with the space at the end, still didn't work for me. I wish it did, it would make things easier.

 

[Nigel Spike]

Sorry, both MicroSoft and I missed to mention, you have to run command prompt as Admin.

I just did it successfully in Windows 10, 1909 - 18363.720.

 

[gardenman]

I believe you and am not arguing, but it's not working for me. What am I doing wrong? I ran command prompt as admin. When adding a space after the command, it seems to actually register. But as you can see in this vid, the file type is still associated with IE.

Windows version: 1909 - 18363.752

 

[Nigel Spike]

Here is an odd observation.
I used ASSOC to list all associated files. There I found .xbm (a file type I don't use) associated with Irfanview. I ran the command, as admin. Again listing with ASSOC, now the line says ".xmb=", no listed associated program. So it worked. Here is when I wrote my reply.

I opened Total Commander, a program that lets you set associations, and .xmb had no associated program. It had worked.

I opened Irfanview, and under Set associations/extensions, XMB was ticked as associated. It had not worked !?!
I unticked the box, closed and reopened the program and then ticked it again. Associated in Irfanview.

In Total Commander now .xmb was associated.

In ASSOC it was still blank = not assocated.

Rebooted.

Associated in both Total Commander and in Irfanview, but still not in ASSOC.

In REGEDIT under HKLM\Software\Classes\.xbm, there was no key. Unfortunately I did not check this before removing the association, so I have no clue how it may have looked before.

As I don't have an .xmb file to test if it opens with Irfanview, I'm stumped.I don't really know if it worked or if it didn't. Sorry.

 

[gardenman]

I think Windows is just buggy when it comes to file extensions. It has been since an earlier update which made it difficult for people to control the associations with different programs.
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...-working/aa6f9fca-8f58-4711-a6ec-a831367c2d7f

After all, the underlined part of the help below obviously doesn't work (for me) as I've proven above.

The OP tried it also and it didn't work.

Anyway, the OP has fixed his problem, so I'll stop posting before we get yelled at.

 

[Ralston18]

I am still curious about it all.

Going out of my comfort zone a bit....

Actually .pac may be a special case.

Note the following link:

https://help.zscaler.com/zia/what-pac-file

The matter may not necessarily be an association per se.

As I understand it a specific .pac file association would be necessary only if one wanted to edit .pac files.

But if that was done then IE would never get the "ZEN" data which is necessary so any invocation of a .pac (i.e., test.pac) brings IE (being MS) in.

Remove IE and the issue would indeed be gone or moot.

Lots of information about .pac is available.

E.g.:

https://kb.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=KB67177&locale=en_SG&viewlocale=en_SG

And the mixed results could also, to some degree or another, depend on how aggressive any given app is about going out and claiming an association with any unassociated extension.

Toss in other browsers, JavaScript, etc. and the overall behavior is likely to vary.

May take more testing along the lines of what has been done by @Nigel Spike and @gardenman with other browsers and file types such as .xmb.

Rainy day project perhaps....