Hello and thank you for taking interest in my thread.

I am sick and tired of installing programs only to find out that the new program has stolen priority, to open programs with itself.

Take Windows Media Player as an example as being the default program to open your media, then when I installed say, ITunes, it steals the position and highjacks the default to open ALL media with itself. 

Then I had a file that needed VLC installed to run the file (I dont know what it means but it was the suggested player for this file), and that promptly stole priority to open everything as the default media player.

Now I know there must be somewhere that I can set my desired program to open my media, I just dont know how to do that!! 
Can some one tell me please, how to stop this happening all the time when I install a program?
and second, can you also tell me how to reset the default program, to say Windows Media Player.

Constantly frustrated by all this
Thank you ImnoGuru. 
Unfortunately there are tons of applications that do this when they're installed.  Some ask permission first (called File Associations during the install) some don't ask like Apple stuff.

VLC has a file association options menu that will allow you to un-checkbox what it has been told to play.  In VLC media player go to Tools, Preference, then with INTERFACE selected you will have a button called Association Setup.  Just go in and uncheck what you don't want VLC to play.  It will reset the CLASSES_ROOT registry entries for that file type.

To prevent this is a harder, you have to have something monitoring the registry for changes and know what should be changing and what should not be changed.  Most good spyware tools allow you to monitor changes like that. There is also a program called QuickAssociation from PCMag, though to get copy you have to be a subscriber to their download library. Haven't played with it but the review of the app sounds good.  There might be something else out there too.

All of these settings can be seen when you open My Computer, click on Tools, Folder Options, File Types. The Registered files type list is what everything on you PC has been told to open with. If you go in the list to MP3 it will tell you what application to open those with.  You can just change it easily to a different program using the Change button or more advanced, you can specify what exact BEHAVIOR you want with that file type.  Play MP3 with something, Edit with something else, etc.

Good luck!Total Uninstall is my app of choice for this task...
There used to be a FREE version although i think that's no longer true....There is very simple solution to it.
1. Always use custom install.
2. Read every installation page very carefully.Thankyou stlbob for you reply. And very informative too. Lots in there for all to learn.
An outstanding post thank you. 

Patio, thank you, I think a have a copy of total uninstall here somewhere. Its been a long time since IVE seen it though. WAY before I moved here.

and Broni, hello, Long time no see, Thanks for you too. Your input really puts things in perpective Quote from: Broni on December 16, 2009, 06:51:15 PM

There is very simple solution to it.
1. Always use custom install.
2. Read every installation page very carefully.

Unfortunately there are tons of applications that do this when they're installed.  Some ask permission first (called File Associations during the install) some don't ask.

you will have a button called Association Setup.

To prevent this is a harder, you have to have something monitoring the registry for changes and know what should be changing and what should not be changed. 

Quote

There might be something else out there too.

Unfortunately there are tons of applications....

To prevent this is a harder,

All of these settings can be seen when you open My Computer, click on Tools, Folder Options, File Types. The Registered files type list is what everything on you PC has been told to open with.
Good luck!