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I'm on Windows Vista. I've been using IDLE, the default Python IDE ever since installing Python.

I long enjoyed the functionality of right-clicking a .py file and selecting "Open with IDLE" until one day, this was gone. The .py association seems to have been lost at that same time, as double-clicking a .py file will now open it in Notepad by default, and the thumbnail changed from the Python thumbnail to some unrecognizable default looking one.

Hitting F5 on an unsaved window of IDLE used to prompt me to save it, and then it would run it. Now, the prompt is skipped and it the "Open" dialog appears. Open!

I am positive that I've never touched IDLE's settings. What is going on?

Chenmunka
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John
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1 Answers1

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A few things can be going on and I am not entirely sure which.

If this is a shell extension (the same way as you get 7-zip or other actions on every file), then this is separate to the open file. I am not sure why it would be wiped, but your best bet would be to reinstall IDLE. There are numerous reasons it could of been removed.

If however, it is not a shell extension but just the default action, it is possible you installed another program/notepad tool and then uninstalled it. Its uninstall process could simply revert everything it supports to notepad without regard for your previous settings.

Simply right click and choose Open With then do Choose Default Program - The recommended ones at the top should be the previously used ones. Simply select the old one and it should open in that.

Please leave feedback if neither of these helped and I will try to come up with more solutions for you.

William Hilsum
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