Introduction
1. Choose the File Association You Wish to Change
Before changing the default program for opening a file, you need to identify which file extension you wish to change the default program for. The most common extensions are .exe, .doc, .txt, .pdf, and .jpg.
2. Open the Control Panel
To open the Control Panel in Windows 2000 (and all versions prior to XP), you need to click the Start button in the lower-left corner of your screen, then choose Settings > Control Panel from the drop-down menu.
3. Open the Folder Options Window
Once you’ve opened the Control Panel, locate the Folder Options icon and double-click it. The Folder Options window will appear on your screen.
4. Access the File Types Tab
In the Folder Options window, click the File Types tab to view a list of file types and their associated programs.
5. Identify the Program & File Type Association
Locate the file type that corresponds to the program you wish to change. In the example shown here, we’re changing the default program for opening .jpg files. Click on the “JPG” entry in the list and then click the Advanced button at the bottom of the window.
6. Change the Default Program for Opening the File
The Advanced Properties window will appear. In the Actions pane, select the action that you want to become the new default for this file type. Select the Set as Default button and then click OK.
7. Confirm Your Changes
Your changes have been saved. Click OK in the main Folder Options window to confirm your new settings.
Conclusion
Changing the default program for opening a file in Windows 2000 is a fairly straightforward process. By accessing the File Associations settings in the Control Panel, users can easily select the program they wish to use to open a particular file type. Once the new program has been selected, users simply need to click the Set as Default button to make the change permanent.