I have tried anothe local admin accout too. Same issue..
There is no ProgId in the reg. This mashine is a Win10 home.
Hi Irylen,
The Hash strings for each Program and/or file extension assigned to them are assigned by Microsoft's built in algorithm. They are created using a mix of the Computer name, The Application's name, and the Current Username (i.e. the name of user logged into System).
In theory you could probably calculate this HASH algorithm output and manipulate things, but given Microsoft assigned Special permissions to these Keys that would not only take much effort and time, but could potentially if done wrong corrupt the System and in a best case scenario may prove to be unstable anyway.
Microsoft is using these Hash strings to prevent internal manipulation of the UserChoice. Thus, if you for example went to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.pdf\UserChoice and then manually Modified the Hash and/or ProgID String Data Values, if the Defaults are Microsoft's recommended App (in this case Microsoft Edge) you will discover you cannot change the keys Data values as this alert will pop up:
If on the other hand you via GUI Default Programs had chosen Acrobat Reader and this had successfully worked, you can Modify both the Hash and ProgID strings internally. Then the
catch-22 strikes! As soon as you then attempt to open a PDF document Windows detects the change and the alert Irylen has been getting appears and Microsoft Edge is automatically set to Default app to handle the request.
This is where you start going ᕦ(ò_ó*)ᕤ or if you're more chilled ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ or maybe you just give up ٩(͡๏̯͡๏)۶
All perfectly human responses to a technical nightmare especially if you're trying to setup multiple users in a company. Fortunately, despite all this Microsoft did provide a few ways in (at least they have for now - that may change yet.)
While you cannot delete the Hash or ProgID, or modify it internally, you can delete the entire subkey .pdf, then write your own REG file and merge her in ('it in' if you feel the need for political correctness at this point
)
Note though: if you attempt to merge said file before deleting the existing subkey Special permissions will prevent the action taking place.
Getting back to your quote Irylen -
it is highly unusual that no ProgID is present when you queried those keys given you previously stated you had see such an App default was reset alert. This should have automatically written to the Registry key the ProdID for your Microsoft Edge browser.
Given that has not taken place I must confess I am now even more so leaning to both daveHC's comments and Troubles on this thread. You either have some third party utility actively trying to override the Special permissions built in, or your Profile is somehow corrupted - hence Troubles suggestion about creating a new Profile and testing whether the situation continues. If a new Profile also fails, then the problem is Global and that may mean doing an in-Place upgrade of the Windows OS to rid yourself of the issue once and for all.
One other possibility is we can consider editing the MicrosoftEdge key in the Classes hive. If this fails though you will need to either find the third party utility causing the issue and remove it, or consider the in-Place upgrade.
This will need to be done manually as I cannot control the HASHing code from my end as this is generated within your System based on your Computer name, your username, and the Program name.
If you are going to attempt this please first Create a Restore Point:
- In your Search/Cortana box type Create a restore point then press Enter
- In the window that opens:
- Verify System Protection for your partition windows is installed on is turned on
- Click Create button and follow prompts
Sample image below to demonstrate what I am talking about
Once and only if you have a new Restore point created then you can try the following in your Registry.
- Press Winkey + R to open Run Dialog
- Type regedit then click OK to open your Registry Editor
- Note: If prompted by User Account Control click Yes
- In the left pane of Registry Editor you need to Expand the Keys to following location:
Code:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER
> SOFTWARE
> Classes
> Local Settings
> Software
> Microsoft
> Windows
> CurrentVersion
> AppModel
> Repository
> Packages
> Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_25.10586.0.0_neutral__8wekyb3d8bbwe
> MicrosoftEdge
> Capabilities
> FileAssociations
Note: That Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_25.10586.0.0_neutral__8wekyb3d8bbwe subkey above may have a different version number subject to what build you are using at the moment.
There should only be one Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge_XXXX_neutral__8wekyb3d8bbwe (where XXXX is the version number) key present though so if it differs simply expand that one and continue to FileAssociations as above.
- Once you get to FileAssociation key left-click on the key to view its contents in the right pane
The image below is what you should be seeing. Note the status bar at bottom of registry window confirms your current location. Make sure it is where I told you to be.
- In that right-pane take a close look at the String: .html and its Data Value
In the image above you can see the Data Value is: AppX4hxtad77fbk3jkkeerkrm0ze94wjf3s9
- That Data Value is important so make a note of it now.
You could if you want to right-click on .html and select Modify. The window that opens will by default have Value Data highlighted. Simply press Ctrl + C to copy it, then click Cancel button and open a Notepad and paste it there by pressing Ctrl + V.
- Ok with this information noted we need to return to left pane and navigate to a new location
- In between the left and right panes click the Vertical slider and slide to TOP so that in the left pane you can see:
Computer
> HKEY_CLASS_ROOT
> HKEY_CURRENT_USER etcetera
- Now in left pane you need to expand keys to the following location:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER
> SOFTWARE
> Classes
> AppX4hxtad77fbk3jkkeerkrm0ze94wjf3s9
- Left-click on AppX4hxtad77fbk3jkkeerkrm0ze94wjf3s9 to view its contents in the right pane
You ought to see the following
- In the left-pane you need to:
- Right-click on AppX4hxtad77fbk3jkkeerkrm0ze94wjf3s9
- Select New > String Value
- In the right pane you will now see another ab string called New Value #1
- Right-click on New Value #1
- Select Rename
- For the new name type NoOpenWith then click away from String to remove focus so the new name sticks.
- Press F5 key to refresh registry
You will now see this if done correctly:
- So long as you are certain PDF files are not the cause of your issues you can close the Registry Editor window now. If it is at all possible it is the PDF file extension giving you the issue, then you can do the same steps above but you would be seeking the .pdf Value Data information so you can add the NoOpenWith string to the correct subkey.
- If you are ready then close Registry Editor window now
Finally, we return to where it all began. Setting Default Programs.
- Click Start > Settings > System > (in the left pane) Default apps
- In the right pane under Web browser a change
The change!
- If you click Choose a default you will see another change!
- As you can see you no longer have Microsoft Edge listed. Only any other browser currently installed on your computer under your username you are logged in with. Select the one you want.
- Happy Default Browsing
Final notes:
- If you suddenly change mind and wish you still could default to Microsoft Edge:
- Right-click Start > Control Panel > Default Programs
- Click Set you default programs hyperlink. Microsoft Edge is listed here still.
- Watch out for the next Microsoft Updates. Or if you do an in-Place Upgrade, or Clean Install, or Reset this PC, etcetera. All these actions will overwrite the Registry removing your modification. You'd then need to redo the modification if whatever is truly causing your current issue has not been resolved.
- COPYRIGHTS © 2016: This NoOpenWith tweak was created by Ramesh Srinivasan, former Microsoft MVP for Windows Desktop Experience. He has granted me permission via e-mail to post the relevant Registry tweaks here to help resolve this issue. Should anyone else view this content and wish to post it elsewhere online they must obtain Rameshs' permission to do so, otherwise they could face a REMOVAL order and any other legal actions available under his Copyright arrangements. Should you wish to obtain this permission send me an Inbox request for contact details for Ramesh.
OK, if you have not all ready fallen asleep reading this.
Happy Computing.
Regards,
Regedit32
