running windows 98. i can open programs by double clicking them. i cannot find the (open with) file on the computer at all. like if i right click on any file ( the open with -- will not show. can anyone tell me how to get that back. thanks a lot

hold down the shift key and right click on the file, then choose open with.

i tried holding down the shift key but all you can get is open or browse- it wont say open with

When you right click on a file, Open should be at the top when the box opens. If you left click once on the file to highlight it, then hold down the shift key and right click on it, 'open with' should show just beneath the Open option. On mine, 'browse' doesn't show there at all. You must either not be doing it right or that menu box is corrupted. When did this start happening?

Yes, it is important to highlight the file before continuing with budm's suggestion. DerekW

...correct, select item first, then hold Shift and right click for 'open with' option, also note some items like *.Bak, will automatically use 'open with' context menu by default,others like *.doc will default to word, could try changing folder options~ file types~ open settings... other options: use add on like 'open expert'~ www.baxbex.com/openexpert.html or put shortcuts to programs in windows 'send to' folder,

I don't remember where I found this but it does work. Open With patch A neat registry hack to have "Open With" always available in the right-click pop-up context menu is as follows: Open Regedit and go to the key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AllFilesystemObjects. Add a new key called Shell, add a new key to Shell called openas, and to openas add a new key called command. Now double-click on the Default icon in the command key and, in the Value data field, enter C:\WINDOWS\rundll32.exe shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1 and click on OK. Exit Regedit and you're done.