Change the program that starts when you open a file

Many file types in Microsoft Windows XP and Windows 2000 are registered to be opened by a particular program. For example, Notepad starts when you want to open a text (.txt) file. You can change the program that starts when you open a file of a certain type.

1. In My Computer or Windows Explorer, click the Tools menu, click Folder Options, and then click the File Types tab.
2. In the Registered file types list, click the file type you want to open with a different program, and then click Change.
3. In the Open With dialog box, select the program you want to use, and then click OK.
4. Click OK in the Folder Options dialog box.