Last update caused all custom file associations to reset to defaults

Thanks, pjfarr. I've now tried that alternative Powershell procedure.

Get-AppxPackage –AllUsers returns a list that includes the Photo app, but when I use the full name to remove it, the app is not found.

If I use Get-AppxPackage without the qualifier (which I guess lists the packages for the current user) Photo isn't listed. Yet if I click on a .gif, it opens in Photo

I'll need leave it for now as I've other things to do - for the present, I'll manage without using the file associations, use right-click OpenWith, or open the App I want to use and browse to the file. Thanks for your help - I'll post here if I find out any more.

I ran Malwarebytes last night, for the first time in several weeks. It found some kind of Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP). I didn't recognize it, so I instructed Malwarebytes to move it to the virus chest.

After doing so, I received a bunch of those notifications saying that a program caused an error with file associations, so .jpeg, .pdf, etc.. were reset to default.

I don't remember ever changing any of the default associations since installing Win-10 in September 2015. Not a big thing, but it's curious how these "association resets" occurred after removed the PUP. Probably not a coincidence.

--- this is copied form my post
Network icon disappeared from Taskbar after Windows Update 1511 10586


RESOLUTION - uninstall KB3135173 and prevent

1. Uninstall the unwanted Windows Update.

In the settings window, search for "installed updates".
Right click on the unwanted update and uninstall.
Restart.

2. Prevent from being reinstalled.

Download and run "Show or hide updates" troubleshooter package
support.microsoft.com ... kb/3073930.


--- MY COMMENTS

It's the damndest thing. You would expect that the folks at Microsoft have tested this stuff before releasing it to the general public. I mean, they using are Win10 eh? What happens when their personal and work computers have these problems?

dalchina said:

From MS's point of view - can they possibly test all possible mixes of hardware, drivers and programs installed prior to releasing a particular update? No. But then there is the puzzle- I don't recall this ever happening in previous editions of Windows, which suggests some particular weakness in Win 10 or MS's testing..

> can they possibly test all ...
well no, it would be impossible for them to do it themselves

their customer service is SEVERELY lacking

at answers.microsoft.com, most of the responses from someone at MS are bad. the first thing they do is answer a question with another question. often the replies point to trouble shoot programs that are of no use

---
they could, and certainly should, use some sort of beta test

the best answers to problems are coming from other folks who experienced the same problem and have found solutions

equiplist said:

> well no, it would be impossible for them to do it themselves

I am also not expecting this, but the reset of file associations seem to happen randomly and is not dependent on any hardware configuration.

I see this happening randomly on really a lot of Windows 10 installations, specifically after the last patch day. Also Microsoft seems not to reset the associations to the defaults imported using XML, but they always reset to the default "modern" app. I recognize that Microsoft wants to push their modern apps but this is certainly ridiculous.

I also agree that Microsoft could reset the file association to something that works in case a default application is uninstalled but the process should be:
1. Reset the custom default set when the image was created (XML specification)
2. Reset to built-in modern apps if 1. is not available

And under no condition at all the associations should be rest if there is no problem with the user-selected application. In my case I use IrfanView x64 to browse pictures. Windows 10 claims that there was a problem with .png, .jpg, .jpeg... but does not tell anything what this problem is related to. Even more I am perfectly able to select IrfanView again without any problems.

So all this seems to boil down to a but where the only problem is not within the associated program but within Windows or within the mindset of Microsoft pushing modern apps. The latter is supported by the fact that Microsoft obviously "forgot" about the possibility to re-import the app associations from a backup to the CURRENT user account. First of all exporting the defaults require admin rights and re-importing is only possible to a Windows image and imports to the default user which only affects newly created user profiles - which get reset to default associations then on next patch day due to this bug. This is absolutely ridiculous.

The only way around this seems to be a group policy setting to enforce file associations. This enforces certain associations. But it's certainly a bad choice for shared PCs and does not provide the freedom of choosing custom applications by the user. So administrators can chose between users being auto-reset to Microsoft choice and forcing their own defaults. Both choices are dissatisfying for the user as in both choices the user can't use their own choices to persist.

pjfarr said:

My PC updated Windows 10 yesterday afternoon ("Cumulative Update for Windows 10 Version 1511 for x64-based Systems (KB3135173)". After rebooting, it completely screwed all my custom file associations (mostly for media files: photos, audio, and video).

i just bought a laptop a few days ago with the new 1511 on it
and had the same thing with the same kind of files...

even more... i can't change the icons...
i use VLC for mpeg files... did open with...
now everything i use it for is an mpeg file
i use MPC-HC for AVI... now everything is an AVI file...
i use irfan view for gif... now every image is a gif...

they want everyone to use their worthless apps...

You think this is what we have to put up with for Free upgrade?