Solved "Open with" option showing generic exe icon and will not open, reverts back to list

Went to open a movie in Cyberlink PowerDirector 365 using Open With and got an error msg. Closed explorer, and updated PowerDirector. Now, it shows a generic exe icon and won't open at all. Ran sfc /scannnow and did a restart, don't know what else to do. Program works fine if you open it first and then open the file from there, but Open With is not working at all. All other Open With option show correct icon and open, only problem is with PowerDirector. Oh, and it was opening fine with PowerDirector prior to this.

check the steps listed here, but for cyberlink


check cyberlink's entry (entries) here

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Applications

you can also check a specified file type

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\file_extension (.mp4, etc)


EDIT: you can use this .reg to remove powerdirector from your open with flyout. then just open with, choose powerdirector manually and from now on when you use the flyout entry it should work properly.

Somehow, it was pointing towards a phantom PowerDirector, by using the Choose from, it redirected it to the correct .exe file.

It's an association problem in the end. You met an unknown filename and associated it with a certain program. You have to choose: "Only once" or "forever" You choose "forever" Well now things are clear. It will open that specific program from now on.... You deinstalled the old version, and installed the new one. Now an error.... Just one letter in it's name or location is enough to give you an error. You have to re-associate the "link" to the new location. Looks like you're done that already and solved the problem.

Fixing it? No worries.. Just not choose "Open" but "Open with" If will than allow (now) you to point at the right App to be associated with. Sometimes even does programs not register them self correctly (Powerdirector does!) There is always an second option to search for the .exe program to open it with. Once done Windows will open it with the correct program. Just doubleclick on the file.....

And for people to give you advice to change your registry settings? Ignore them. Solutions can sometimes be so simple if you understand the problem. (and the underlying system beneath it) Understanding the issue and why it presented itself to certain people. Every PC on the planet has different circumstances. It just the feel how to fix things without understanding their complete situation. The solution can be sometimes so easy. You even found it....

hader said:

And for people to give you advice to change your registry settings? Ignore them.

Click to expand...

well good luck removing the dud entry from the open with list without doing so via registry.

I first tried uninstalling the program, but the phantom PowerDirector still remained in the list. I went to regedit, deleted the PowerDirector entry, but it still showed in the menu. I then used Choose from to manually select the proper PowerDirector .exe and now all is back to normal.

Yes. Some programs (the most of them) leave traces behind them. If you de-installed the program an run a registry cleaner after that it would picked up such "garbage" and remove it. I have it so seen so often,. No wonder that third party's jump onto that wagon. MS sucks. And Adobe is the worst "leave behind" ever....