>[ To modify the association ... View/Folder_Options/File_Types
>[ It's an agonizing process ...

I've been down that path.  There's a better way I learned from a system
type at Hewlett-Packard.

Here's an example which will break the association between RealAudio
and MP3 files.  Note that RealAudio supports other file types (RAM and
RM are two).  _All_ file types must have their association destroyed as
in the example below.

1. Go to START menu.  Select RUN.  Type "winfile".  This will launch
the _old_ windows file manager.

2. From the FILE menu (top menu bar), select "Associate".  A small
window pops up.

3. In the box labeled "Files with Extension"   type:   MP3

4. Click on the application shown in the "Associate With" window.
Backspace to blank that application name and empty the line.

 [ If the application doesn't show in the scrolling window then
 [ use "Browse..." to find the *.exe file.  -- Robbie

5. Click the "OK" button.  This breaks the association between MP3
and RealAudio -- or whatever application name was blanked.

6.  Repeat steps 1 through 5 for other file extension types as needed.

7.  Now, using Explorer, find an MP3 file.  Double click the file name.
Windows will complain that no application is associated with MP3 files.
Browse the application list which pops up for your preferred
application for MP3 files.

8.  Repeat step 7 for the other file extension types.

John Rhodes
Vancouver, WA