winamp has made itself audio god of my comp

[otaku biru]

recently i tried to take back some files from winamp... this should have worked because when installing... i told winamp to associate compatible files, but not allow winamp to be the sole program for those files.

did i missread something??

i uninstalled winamp just today. all of my audio files were still associated with winamp after it had left. so... i had to use another program. my sistem seems to think that all of those files (.mid, .wav, .mp3) are just one type. the program i used to open a .wav with (i told it to always open with this program) automatically was set to be used to open .mid's and .mp3's.

now... i like winamp...
i mean, when real player made itself audio god, i uninstalled it faster then u could say "get the #&^$ off my computer, u $@*%&!", but when winamp did it, i thought "eh, what the heck."

i am not happy. im giving winamp another chance... im downloading the upgrade. but, if winamp is set to automatically screw up your system if u try to uninstall it... i will never use it, or anything related to nullsoft again. BUT, that wont happen because i probably just missunderstood something when i installed it. oh well... but my question is: if i uninstall the new version... is it going to do the same thing?

[DJ Egg]

Yes, you misunderstood!

You should've unchecked "associate with files" during setup.
Leaving this checked makes Winamp the default player for all compatible filetypes.

The way round it is to goto: Winamp Prefs (Ctrl+P) -> FileTypes.
Either click "Select None" or unselect the extensions you don't want associating.

If you leave "maintain file associations" checked during setup, this turns on the Winamp Agent, thus preventing other players (eg. Real) from stealing associations.
You can disable this optional security feature via:
Prefs -> Agent: uncheck all 3 options.

Close Prefs -> Exit Winamp -> Reopen Winamp (to make all changes take effect)

Now try associating your filetypes with other players!

btw, all filetypes associated with Winamp become known as "Winamp Media Files" in the description only. The relevant extensions are unaffected & always remain the same.

Winamp does not take over your pc like RealPlayer, especially if you tell it not to . . . and the main difference is it's easily fixable, unlike with RealPlayer where you end up having to edit the registry to fix its evilness.

[otaku biru]

hey! listen up u winamp weenie...

THANKU!

however, i do have one more question. i dont want winamp to do the file association at all. i want to go through my system (e.i. "open file with" and "always use this program for files of this type"). will winamp let me do this, or will it insist upon associating the files itself?

[DJ Egg]

I've already answered that question in my first reply!

If you uncheck "Associate with files", "Associate with AudioCD's" & "Maintain associations" during setup, then Winamp will not associate itself with any extensions & will freely let you do with them as you please.

If you forgot to uncheck these three options during setup . . .
To unassociate Winamp from all files at a later date:
Prefs -> Agent : Uncheck all 3 options
Prefs -> File Types -> Select None
Uncheck: "Associate with AudioCD"
Uncheck: "Register Files on Winamp start"
Close Prefs -> Exit & Reopen Winamp (for all changes to take effect)

You can then use "Open With..." for any unassociated filetypes.

You can use "Open With..." for Winamp too, if you would prefer to give each filetype its own description (instead of "Winamp Media File") and it's own icon, etc.
But bear in mind that you will then have to go into:
Windows' Folder Options -> File Types tab
and make sure the command line includes a "%1" at the end (eg. the way Winamp sets it up when you associate files via Winamp Prefs).
The correct command line for "Play in Winamp" is:
"C:\Program Files\Winamp\Winamp.exe" "%1"
(quotation marks & spaces required)
For "Enqueue in Winamp" it's:
"C:\Program Files\Winamp\Winamp.exe" /ADD "%1"

You can select different icons for each different filetype in here too.
Heck, that's the way I do it myself!

btw, you can make "Open With" appear at any time (even if some other program is already associated) by holding down the Shift key & right clicking any file of that type

[otaku biru]

ty kindly.