Windows 7 and Windows Vista have a feature that makes user easier to association file extensions, file types and protocols with a particular program, that’s “Set Default Programs”, where the program showed in the menu list can be set as the default for all its supported and can open file extensions and protocols, or to selectively associate some of the file types and protocols to open with the programs from list of supported file types and protocols instead of full huge list of all file extensions and protocols.
However, not all programs will be listed and configurable via “Set Default Programs” control panel. Only some Windows Vista-aware applications, such as Firefox, QuickTime, Safari, Windows Media Player and etc have added themselves to the default programs list with corresponding supported file extensions and protocols. Most program opts to let user associate file extension associations from within the program, or right after installation, which may subject to failure or error while changing file type associations due to limited account restriction.
For user who wants to have foobar2000, a popular advanced audio music player for the Windows platform, to be displayed as an entry in the Default Programs folder, simply copy and paste the following registration entries file text, done by ManuelCalavera in Hydrogenaudio forum into a text editor, such as Notepad, and then save the file with any file name with extension .reg. Alternatively, simply download the fb2k_default_prog.reg (extracted from the ZIP format archive) (no longer available). Then, execute, run or double click the .reg file to install and merge the registry entries into the system to get foobar2000 listed in Default Programs menu.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.8SVX] @="8SVX Format Sound" "FriendlyTypeName"="8SVX Format Sound" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.8SVX\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\generic.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.8SVX\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.8SVX\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.8SVX\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.AIFF] @="AIFF Format Sound" "FriendlyTypeName"="AIFF Format Sound" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.AIFF\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\generic.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.AIFF\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.AIFF\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.AIFF\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.AU] @="AU Format Sound" "FriendlyTypeName"="AU Format Sound" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.AU\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\generic.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.AU\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.AU\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.AU\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.CDA] @="CD Audio Track" "FriendlyTypeName"="CD Audio Track" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.CDA\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\generic.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.CDA\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.CDA\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.CDA\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.CUE] @="Cue-sheets Image File" "FriendlyTypeName"="Cue-sheets Image File" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.CUE\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\cue.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.CUE\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.CUE\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.CUE\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.FLAC] @="FLAC Format Sound" "FriendlyTypeName"="FLAC Format Sound" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.FLAC\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\flac.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.FLAC\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.FLAC\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.FLAC\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.IFF] @="IFF Format Sound" "FriendlyTypeName"="IFF Format Sound" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.IFF\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\generic.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.IFF\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.IFF\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.IFF\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP4] @="MP4 Format Sound" "FriendlyTypeName"="MP4 Format Sound" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP4\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\mp4.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP4\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP4\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP4\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.M4A] @="MP4 Format Sound" "FriendlyTypeName"="MP4 Format Sound" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.M4A\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\m4a.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.M4A\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.M4A\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.M4A\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP1] @="MPEG layer 1 Format Sound" "FriendlyTypeName"="MPEG layer 1 Format Sound" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP1\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\generic.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP1\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP1\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP1\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP2] @="MPEG layer 2 Format Sound" "FriendlyTypeName"="MPEG layer 2 Format Sound" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP2\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\mp2.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP2\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP2\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP2\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP3] @="MPEG layer 3 Format Sound" "FriendlyTypeName"="MPEG layer 3 Format Sound" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP3\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\mp3.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP3\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP3\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MP3\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MPC] @="Musepack Format Sound" "FriendlyTypeName"="Musepack Format Sound" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MPC\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\mpc.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MPC\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MPC\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.MPC\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.OGG] @="Ogg Format Sound (Speex, Vorbis, FLAC)" "FriendlyTypeName"="Ogg Format Sound (Speex, Vorbis, FLAC)" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.OGG\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\ogg.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.OGG\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.OGG\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.OGG\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.PLS] @="foobar2000 Playlist" "FriendlyTypeName"="foobar2000 Playlist" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.PLS\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\pls.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.PLS\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.PLS\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.PLS\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.M3U8] @="foobar2000 Playlist" "FriendlyTypeName"="foobar2000 Playlist" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.M3U8\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\m3u8.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.M3U8\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.M3U8\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.M3U8\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.M3U] @="foobar2000 Playlist" "FriendlyTypeName"="foobar2000 Playlist" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.M3U\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\m3u.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.M3U\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.M3U\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.M3U\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.FPL] @="foobar2000 Playlist" "FriendlyTypeName"="foobar2000 Playlist" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.FPL\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\fpl.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.FPL\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.FPL\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.FPL\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.AAC] @="AAC Format Sound" "FriendlyTypeName"="AAC Format Sound" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.AAC\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\aac.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.AAC\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.AAC\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.AAC\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.Speex] @="Speex Format Sound" "FriendlyTypeName"="Speex Format Sound" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.Speex\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\generic.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.Speex\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.Speex\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.WAV] @="Wave Sound" "FriendlyTypeName"="Wave Sound" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.WAV\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\wav.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.WAV\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.WAV\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.WAV\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.WV] @="WavPack Format Sound" "FriendlyTypeName"="WavPack Format Sound" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.WV\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\wv.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.WV\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.WV\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.WV\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.WMA] @="Windows Media Audio file" "FriendlyTypeName"="Windows Media Audio file" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.WMA\DefaultIcon] @="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\icons\\wma.ico" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.WMA\shell] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.WMA\shell\open] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\foobar2000.AssocFile.WMA\shell\open\command] @="\"C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe\" \"%1\"" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\foobar2000] [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\foobar2000\Capabilites] "ApplicationDescription"="Foobar2000 is an advanced audio player for the Windows platform. Some of the basic features include full unicode support, ReplayGain support and native support for several popular audio formats." "ApplicationName"="foobar2000" "ApplicationIcon"="C:\\Program Files\\foobar2000\\foobar2000.exe,0" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\foobar2000\Capabilites\FileAssociations] ".svx"="foobar2000.AssocFile.8SVX" ".8svx"="foobar2000.AssocFile.8SVX" ".aiff"="foobar2000.AssocFile.AIFF" ".aif"="foobar2000.AssocFile.AIFF" ".aifc"="foobar2000.AssocFile.AIFF" ".au"="foobar2000.AssocFile.AU" ".snd"="foobar2000.AssocFile.AU" ".cda"="foobar2000.AssocFile.CDA" ".cue"="foobar2000.AssocFile.CUE" ".flac"="foobar2000.AssocFile.FLAC" ".fla"="foobar2000.AssocFile.FLAC" ".iff"="foobar2000.AssocFile.IFF" ".mp4"="foobar2000.AssocFile.MP4" ".m4a"="foobar2000.AssocFile.M4A" ".mp1"="foobar2000.AssocFile.MP1" ".mp2"="foobar2000.AssocFile.MP2" ".mp3"="foobar2000.AssocFile.MP3" ".mpp"="foobar2000.AssocFile.MPC" ".mp+"="foobar2000.AssocFile.MPC" ".mpc"="foobar2000.AssocFile.MPC" ".ogg"="foobar2000.AssocFile.OGG" ".pls"="foobar2000.AssocFile.PLS" ".m3u"="foobar2000.AssocFile.M3U" ".m3u8"="foobar2000.AssocFile.M3U8" ".fpl"="foobar2000.AssocFile.FPL" ".aac"="foobar2000.AssocFile.AAC" ".spx"="foobar2000.AssocFile.Speex" ".wav"="foobar2000.AssocFile.WAV" ".wv"="foobar2000.AssocFile.WV" ".wma"="foobar2000.AssocFile.WMA" [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RegisteredApplications] "foobar2000"="Software\\foobar2000\\Capabilites"