There are a few ways to change the default application associated with a file extension. Here is an example of the simplest way I know. I am saddled with Windows Vista right now, and while the images are a little different, the process is the same for XP.
1) Right click on a file with the extension you want to re-associate and select “Open With”…
2) This opens the “Open With” dialog box. In Vista, you are presented with the current default program. Click the little down arrow to view other options.
3) Scroll through that list to find the correct program. If you don’t find it in the list (it happens), click the Browse button to navigate to the file that contains the right program executable (i.e. WINWORD.EXE). Before clicking ‘OK’ to re-associate the file extension, be sure the box is checked next to “Always use the selected program to open this kind of file.”
Once you click OK, the all files with the extension of the one you selected will open with the program you chose.
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