Master file types should be backed up!

nameless

I posted this suggestion a long time ago, but it seems some forum housecleaning has taken place since then. Oh well.

To reiterate, PowerArchiver (even version 9.0) does not back up the master file types it replaces under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT. So, what happens is that if you use PA to take over a file association from another archiver, then you disable that association through PA’s interface, you’re left with no association at all.

To be perfectly specific by way of example, here’s what can happen:

WinRAR installed, no PowerArchiver yet:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.zip
(Default) = WinRAR.ZIP

PowerArchiver installed, and configured to take over .ZIP associations from WinRAR:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.zip
(Default) = PAZIP

After going back into the PowerArchiver interface, and deselected the .ZIP association:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.zip
(Default) =

In case it’s not obvious, that’s a broken file association being depicted directly above.

I deem this inappropriate behavior. What should be done is a backup of the original value of (Default), with that value being restored if the association is undone in PowerArchiver. For example:

WinRAR installed, no PowerArchiver yet:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.zip
(Default) = WinRAR.ZIP

PowerArchiver installed, and configured to take over .ZIP associations from WinRAR:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.zip
(Default) = PAZIP
PA_BAK = WinRAR.ZIP

After going back into the PowerArchiver interface, and deselected the .ZIP association:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.zip
(Default) = WinRAR.ZIP

Gee whiz, it looks like it did before!

It’s about making user’s lives easier, not about helping out the competition. Sometimes, file associations can be handled by software that isn’t a direct competitor of PowerArchiver (such as PowerDesk).

Am I the only user on the planet who can test this sort of thing? I mean, come on now, how many users does PowerArchiver have? Why am I the only one pointing this out?

rev23dev

good point. if i want to open with another program i just use the xp open with context menu. i never remove the association.

i’m guessing the same thing happens on uninstall?

would be a good thing to see fixed. one more thing to add under that whole ‘certified for windows xp’ deal seems like it would be useful to restore old file associations.