Setting default app across all users

[atds99]

On windows 10 we found that the photos was not working so have installed Windows Photo Viewer with registry changes but need to set this as default across all users.

Does anyone know how that would be done??

 

Thanks

[BKGarry]

Hello @atds99 and welcome to the forum.

 

I have a master machine where I set file defaults and export an XML file which is set in Group Policy

 

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/windowsinternals/2017/10/25/windows-10-how-to-configure-file-associations-for-it-pros/

 

You could also deploy the registry settings through group policy as well under Preferences > Windows Settings > Registry (can be done for either user or computer settings)

[themightymrp]

I've got this very same thing set up. However do you know of a way of allowing certain users to have a different default?

 

Example, I have PDF files set to open with Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, but on a small number of machines (mine included) we don't have the reader installed. Rather we have the full Adobe Acrobat DC. My file association to PDF keeps dropping back to a default of Microsoft Edge

[Arthur]

However do you know of a way of allowing certain users to have a different default?

SetUserFTA.

[Arthur]

Does anyone know how that would be done?

If you already have the additional registry settings in place, all you need to do is add the relevant "PhotoViewer.FileAssoc" ProgIds to your default associations file...

 

www.edugeek.net/forums/windows-7/134818-set-windows-photoviewer-default-group-policy-preferences.html#post1463375

[timbo343]

I've got this very same thing set up. However do you know of a way of allowing certain users to have a different default?

 

Example, I have PDF files set to open with Adobe Acrobat Reader DC, but on a small number of machines (mine included) we don't have the reader installed. Rather we have the full Adobe Acrobat DC. My file association to PDF keeps dropping back to a default of Microsoft Edge

 

I would possibly use a new group in AD and a new xml file just for your select few machines and add it to the DELIGATION tab of the policy,

[themightymrp]

I've managed to implement something similar to @timbo343 's idea (sorry didn't see @Arthur 's post first). It seems to be working for my machine so will just add the others to the same policy.

 

If I need to look at some more advanced setups then I'll take a look at the link above

 

Cheers

[witch]

Not to derail or anything

We are struggling to get pdfs to default to adobe. We have a standard policy to do it but..it doesn't.

Can anyone advise how we can get this sorted? If users choose "open with" Adobe all is well but they forget and then the whole printer queue gets jammed

Edited March 3, 2020 by witch

[themightymrp]

Just checking, have you got the following policy setting set to Disabled?

 

Users --> admin templates --> Microsoft Edge --> Always open PDF files externally

[witch]

@themightymrp

 

Microsoft Edge isnt in that list for us

[themightymrp]

Ahhhh, you need to get yourself the Edge admx templates then. You can grab them from here:

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/business/download

 

They add a lot more options! Choose the latest stable build and then use the 'Get policy files' link on the right. You'll need to extract them from the .cab file

[witch]

@themightymrp Where do I want to extract them to though?

[PyROm]

\\\sysvol\\Policies\PolicyDefinitions

[themightymrp]

OK. Do you happen to know if you use a central policy store for your group policies?

 

If you do, there will be a folder called PolicyDefinitions under \\domainname\sysvol\domainname\Policies

 

You would copy the admx file into here and then the .adml file from the en-US folder into the en-US folder inside the above Policies folder. Does that make sense?

 

If you don't have that central store, you will need to copy them to c:\Windows\PolicyDefinitions on each of your Domain Controllers. Again, the .adml file from inside en-US needs to go into the en-US folder within PolicyDefinitions

[witch]

I seem to have it but I didnt understand the rest

Do I extract it first?

Edited March 3, 2020 by witch

[sted]

Not to derail or anything

We are struggling to get pdfs to default to edge. We have a standard policy to do it but..it doesn't.

Can anyone advise how we can get this sorted? If users choose "open with" Adobe all is well but they forget and then the whole printer queue gets jammed

 

if you have copiers that need a code id be careful about defaulting to edge. Edge and as far as im aware all modern apps cat deal with printers that require a code and break the print server until somone deletes the offending job and restarts the spooler

[themightymrp]

Yes extract first. Here is what you'll need to do:

 

1) Extract all the files somewhere, such as a folder on your desktop.

2) Inside the extract are some folders, go into Windows --> Admx

3) Copy msedge.admx and msedgeupdate.admx into \\domainname\sysvol\domainname\policies\PolicyDefinitions

4) Back in your extracted files , go into the en-US folder

5) Copy msedge.adml and msedgeupdate.adml into \\domainname\sysvol\domainname\policies\PolicyDefinitions\en-US

 

That should be it. Edit a group policy template and you should have extra settings available for Edge.

[witch]

if you have copiers that need a code id be careful about defaulting to edge. Edge and as far as im aware all modern apps cat deal with printers that require a code and break the print server until somone deletes the offending job and restarts the spooler

 

Sorry - my mistake - what I want is for them to NEVER default to edge because it breaks our photocopiers

 

It's been a long couple of days

[witch]

@themightymrp

 

Thanks - edge now in the list but I cant find the setting you speak of?

I need to STOP it opening pdfs btw

Edited March 3, 2020 by witch

[Arthur]

We are struggling to get PDFs to default to Adobe. We have a standard policy to do it but... it doesn't.

Are you able to post the contents of your Default Associations file?

 

This is what the Acrobat section looks like in mine and I haven't had any issues with opening PDFs.

 

[witch]

I have a file associations policy pointing at something in netlogon but it doesnt look anything like yours and doesnt mention Acrobat.

[themightymrp]

I have a default file associations xml file in netlogon but its much shorter than Arthur's. The relevant line in mine is:

 

[Arthur]

I have a file associations policy pointing at something in netlogon but it doesn't look anything like yours and doesn't mention Acrobat.

I reckon if you add the relevant line(s) for Acrobat to your default associations file that should fix the issue you're having with Edge opening PDFs instead of Acrobat.

 

Are you using Acrobat DC or Acrobat Reader DC? If the latter, perhaps try what @themightymrp suggested above first.

[witch]

Well, I've added it - we shall see

[witch]

Sadly no go - default doesnt work it seems

Some pdfs are still opening in edge

Todays issue is that several people - some very trustworthy - swear that they saved the pdf and clicked "open with" Acrobat Reader DC and they still didnt print

 

Arrrggghhhhhh