Setting default file associations..

[MrBitey]

Hi there,

 

we have just upgraded our school network to Windows 7. We are using Server 2008 for user accounts etc.

The main issue I am having at the moment is that default file associations are not set for users on individual computers until they have opened the application once on that machine.

 

So, if I set up an Excel spreadsheet for a class of children to open, I want to put a copy in their home folder which they then double click to open.

At the moment, Windows complains that it doesn't know what to do with the file.

To get around this, the children have to open Excel itself first , let it do a bit of final setting up, close it and go back to the file they want to open (which will now open).

The same happens for Firefox shortcuts. Windows complains, they have to open Firefox, let it do its setup routine (ie copy bookmarks from Internet Explorer etc). They then have to agree to it being the default browser. After this routing, they can open the shortcut.

This would be ok if they just had to do it once, but every whenever they use a new machine, they must go through the routine. As we are a primary school, the younger ones have to be hand-held all through it.

 

Similarly, teachers are unable to open pdfs as they are not associated with Acrobat Reader.

 

Obviously, I have made all of these associations in the Admin account, but they need to be set up by each user too.

 

Our tech, who visits us once a week, does not know how to do this so I wonder if anyone can help me out!

 

cheers

 

MrB

[6Foot2]

You can set file associations with Group Policy:

 

http://i.snag.gy/JQdcg.jpg

 

Path:

 

User Configuration/Preferences/Control Panel Settings/Folder Options.

[MrBitey]

Thanks, Dave. Will give that a crack!

MrB