How Do I Change My Default Player in Windows XP?

You can change your Windows XP file associations for your default player.

File associations are used to identify the program to open when you double-click a file on your Windows XP machine. Many media player applications prompt you to set the application as the default, but you can also change the program that opens for your media files using the file association process in the Windows property settings. This can be done for your default player, office applications or any other file on the machine.

Instructions

1. Right-click your Windows "Start" button and select "Explore." This opens your Windows Explorer, where you can view and edit your file associations.

2. Navigate to a media file, such as an MP3 or MPEG file. Right-click the file and select "Open With." This opens a properties window where you can select a new default player for your media.

3. Select the media program you want to execute when you open your file. If the program is not listed, click the "Browse" button and select the media player's executable file. For most media programs, the executable file is located in the "C:\program files\<program_name>" directory.

4. Press the "OK" button to save the settings. Close the properties window and double-click your media file. The program you indicated is now set as the default, and it will load each time you run your media file.

References

• Microsoft: To change which program starts when you double-click a file