Installing software is only one part of software management. Often
after you install software, you’ll need to make configuration changes to
your computer or the software itself. You may want files of a certain type
to open in the software when you click or double-click the files in
Windows Explorer. You may need to reconfigure, repair, or uninstall the
software. Alternatively, you may need to resolve problems with the way the
software starts or runs. I discuss all of these tasks in the following
sections.1. Assigning Default ProgramsWhen you install productivity applications, such as
Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop, the installation process may
configure your computer so that certain types of files automatically
open in the application when you click or double-click them in Windows
Explorer. The installation process may also configure your computer so
that when you insert media containing music, video, or pictures, the
media is opened and played automatically using a particular
application. Associating an application with particular file types and running
an application for certain types of media are separate features. You
make files with a specific extension or type open in a specific program
by associating the file extension or type with the program. You make
media on CDs, DVDs, or portable devices open and play in a particular
program by making a program the default for AutoPlay. You configure file associations and default programs either only
for yourself or globally for all users of your computer. Your individual
default settings override global default settings. For example, you
might want Apple iTunes to be your default audio player, but the global
default for all users could be set to use Windows Media Player. 1.1. Setting your default programsYou can configure your default programs by completing the
following steps: Click Start and then click Default Programs. Click “Set your default programs.” As shown in Figure 1, select a
program you want to work with from the Programs list. If you want the program to be the default for all the file
types and protocols it supports, click “Set this program as
default” and click OK. Skip the remaining steps. If you want the program to be the default for specific file
types and protocols, click “Choose defaults for this
program.” As shown in Figure 2, select the file
extensions and protocols for which the program should be the
default.
1.2. Setting global default programsYou can configure global default programs—default programs for
all the users of your computer—by completing the following
steps: Log on to your computer using an account with administrator
privileges. Click Start→Default Programs→Set Program Access and Computer
Defaults. Choose a configuration from one of the following
options: - Computer Manufacturer
This option is available only if your computer came
preinstalled with a customized version of Windows. This
restores the manufacturer’s original defaults for web browsing,
sending and receiving email, playing media files, instant
messaging, and Java Virtual Machine support, as well as
whether you have access to other programs. - Microsoft Windows
Sets the currently installed Microsoft Windows
programs as the defaults for web browsing, sending and
receiving email, playing media files, instant messaging, and
Java Virtual Machine support. Enables access to other programs. If you’ve installed
other programs, you can configure your computer to use the
currently installed program for a particular task. For
example, if you installed Microsoft Office, Microsoft
Outlook is configured automatically for use as your default
email program. To change this, you would click the
“E-mail program” list and choose Windows Mail
or another program. - Non-Microsoft
Sets the currently installed non–Microsoft Windows
programs as the defaults for web browsing, sending and
receiving email, playing media files, instant messaging, and
Java Virtual Machine support. Removes access to Microsoft Windows programs if you’ve
configured non–Microsoft Windows programs as the defaults.
For example, if you installed Mozilla as your web browser
and set this as the default, the Non-Microsoft option
removes access to Internet Explorer. - Custom
As shown in Figure 3, enables
you to choose programs as the defaults for web browsing,
sending and receiving email, playing media files, instant
messaging, and Java Virtual Machine support. Each program available to use as a default has a
related “Enable access to this program” checkbox. If you
clear this checkbox, you remove access to the program when a
viable alternative is installed.
Click OK to save your settings.
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