Solved File Association Manager???


wb0ldj

Member
Local time
7:56 AM
Posts
2
OS
Win 11 Pro
If I try to click to open a file with an unknown extension, I typically get a message that says "Download and install the latest version of File Association Manager?"

If I click on the "yes" box, I get sent off to an unknown site that tries to install a program "installer.exe" from an unknown source.

Is there really a problem with my copy of File Association Manager, or is this just one of those links that I really don't want to follow?

I don't see anything on the Microsoft web site download directory about an updated version.

Back on my old Win 7 machine (yeah, I know!), I just got a list of apps to pick from to try to open the file. Now I have to go through two or three windows to choose something like Notepad to see the contents of the file.

Your expertise is needed and appreciated.

Thanks!
Mike Harmon
 
Windows Build/Version
Version 21H2, Build 22000.978

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Micro Center
    CPU
    Intel CORE i5-12400
    Motherboard
    MSI Mag B660 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4
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    Corsair Vengeance LPX 32 GB
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    ?
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    AOC
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    Power Spec 650W
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    ThermalTake V100
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    ?
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    ?
    Internet Speed
    100 MBit
    Browser
    Firefox/MS Edge
    Antivirus
    McAfee
Window 11 normally behaves pretty much like Windows 7 when you open a file with an unknown extension.

As far as I know, there is no "File Association Manager" in Windows 11. A quick Web search shows at least one utility with that name. If such a utility is present, I'd uninstall it. If some other third-party utility is "helping" you by trying to get you to install File Association Manager, I'd uninstall that.

You may choose to do otherwise, of course.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Amd Threadripper 7970X
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte TRX50 Aero D
    Memory
    128GB (4 X 32) Kingston DDR5 5200 (RDIMM)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 4090 OC
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    none (USB to speakers), Realtek
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    Philips 27E1N8900 OLED
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    eVGA SuperNOVA 1600 GT
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    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo XL
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    Alphacool Eisbaer Pro Aurora 360, with 3 Phanteks T30 fans
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    Logitech K120 (wired)
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    Logitech M500s (wired)
    Internet Speed
    1200 Mbps
  • Operating System
    windows 11 22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    homebuilt
    CPU
    Intel I9-13900K
    Motherboard
    Asus RoG Strix Z690-E
    Memory
    64GB G.Skill DDR5-6000
    Graphics card(s)
    Gigabyte RTX 3090 ti
    Sound Card
    built in Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Asus PA329C
    Screen Resolution
    3840 X 2160 @60Hz
    Hard Drives
    WDC SN850 1TB
    8 TB Seagate Ironwolf
    4TB Seagate Ironwolf
    PSU
    eVGA SuperNOVA 1300 GT
    Case
    Lian Li 011 Dynamic Evo
    Cooling
    Corsair iCUE H150i ELITE CAPELLIX Liquid CPU Cooler
    Mouse
    Logitech M500s (wired)
    Keyboard
    Logitech K120 (wired)
I agree. There is no such app by that name as part of Windows. In Windows, file associations for different file types are set within settings-apps-default apps by file type-Sounds like you have acquired a piece of malware, or at the very least a very undesirable program. Run Malwarebytes to see if it locates the program. If it does quarantine or uninstall it.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
I had a sneaky feeling that that "link" to download the "latest" version of File Association Manager was a hoax -- that's the reason I never followed it all the way to the download process. It just was a little too wonky considering that the download was coming from an unknown source. I was a security admin in my prior life, and I'm pretty paranoid about Mystery Sources.

Mike, WB0LDJ
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Built by Micro Center
    CPU
    Intel CORE i5-12400
    Motherboard
    MSI Mag B660 Tomahawk WIFI DDR4
    Memory
    Corsair Vengeance LPX 32 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    ?
    Sound Card
    ?
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC
    Hard Drives
    (0) Samsung 500 GB SSD, (1-2) Seagate Barracuda 2 TB
    PSU
    Power Spec 650W
    Case
    ThermalTake V100
    Cooling
    ?
    Keyboard
    ?
    Mouse
    ?
    Internet Speed
    100 MBit
    Browser
    Firefox/MS Edge
    Antivirus
    McAfee
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