After installing Adobe PDF reader, it opens files with the .PDF
file extension. Ones' default web browser opens .html
files and notepad opens .txt
files, etc.
Where exactly in the registry are these filetype – program associations stored in the registry?
In other words, how does Windows know with which software/program it must open a certain file(type)?
Best Answer
The open with associations are all stored in
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
.This is a special registry hive that combines the local user's associations in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes
with the system's associations inHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes
.Here's a shot from my registry for the PDF association you mention in your question: