Registered File Types

How to modify list

• Start up Windows Explorer (e.g. double-click My Computer), and select Tools > Folder Options from the Menu.
• Select the File Types tab.
• Scroll down the list as needed.
• Click Delete or Remove to delete type. Or use Advanced, select open and Edit and change the command to open to something safe (but Windows will not allow you to choose a non-existent program: use regedit to do that).
• If you get a confirmation dialog, select Yes, or Apply then OK.

NOTE that removing a type is hard to undo: you should use regedit to change the commands used, or rename the commands so they are not accessible, whenever possible. (Do this in each case, unless otherwise noted.)

Tasks

• Delete types:
  CHM Compiled HTML file
  JS JScript (JavaScript) Script File
  JSE JScript Encoded Script File
  REG Registration Entries type (use regedit instead, but not rename)
  SHS Scrap object
  SHB Shortcut into document
  VBS VBScript (Visual Basic) Script File (probably not there after you disable Windows Scripting Host)
  VBE VBScript Encoded Script File
  WSH Windows Script Host Settings File
  WSF Windows Script File
• Delete all types that use Internet Explorer iexplore.
• Delete all types that use Outlook, Excel or MSAccess.

Paul Szabo psz@maths.usyd.edu.au 30 Oct 03