Comments on: How do I make IE open files exactly like they open on my desktop?

Question: How do I make IE open files exactly like they open on my desktop?

alrightokay — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:58:55 -0800

How do I make IE open files as instructed? The way I view one type of file has been hijacked by another program.

I have two portals that I must use IE to access for a client - portal A and portal B.

From portal A I download .tif files and view them in MS Office Document Imaging. This is my preferred program for this action.

From portal B I download and view .fni files and view them with IDM Viewer. The IDM viewer is my only option.

However, the IDM Viewer that I downloaded to view the .fni files has now hijacked the way I view .tif files on portal A. Even though I've changed the file associations in XP, the IDM Viewer keeps popping up to open .tif files on portal A. I only want the IDM Viewer to work on portal B.

The only way I can stop the hijack is to remove the IDM viewer but I still need it to view files from Portal B. Anyone out there have trouble w/ IE like this? Is it trouble w/ IE? Maybe the viewer is just awful...

By: spinifex23

spinifex23 — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:18:43 -0800

Under Internet Options, go to Programs then Internet Programs. There, it should let you reassociate file extensions with specific programs.

By: qvtqht

qvtqht — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:53:36 -0800

You're on the right track, but change the association for the MIME type, not the file name extension.

By: KRS

KRS — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:09:51 -0800

If all else files, uninstall the misbehaving viewer. Then reinstall it, using the custom install option. During the installation process, it should ask whether you want it to be the default viewer for various kinds of files, and uncheck the box for .tif.