Associated helper application does not exist

GeekPolice,

I'm receiving an error message when I'm attempting to download a file on mozilla firefox. The error message box reads" c:\users\charles\appdata\local\temp\filename could not be opened, because the associated helper application does not exist. Change the association in your preferences.

Can a technical consultant advise me how to change the association in windows vista home premium so that i can have this file opened with the associated program? thank you for your assistance

after research, i have found the solution- The "associated helper application does not exist" message can mean the application the Mozilla program thinks should open a specific type of file is no longer installed [1]. It can also mean that the application has either been updated or reinstalled and is now in a different location. [2] In such cases, the Mozilla program cannot find the application for that file type in the expected location and will issue the error.

You can usually fix the problem by telling the Mozilla application where to find the program you want to use for the file type (see below for a solution if the dialog does not help). To do this, first find the File Actions dialog.

* Firefox 2: Tools -> Options -> Content / File Types -> Manage
* Firefox 3: Tools -> Options -> Applications
* Thunderbird 2: Tools -> Options -> Attachments / Download Actions -> View and Edit Actions

Select the entry in the "Download Actions" or "Applications" list for the file type you're trying to open and change the action to the application that you want to handle that type. (Alternately, remove the action (or change the action in the Firefox 3 drop-down menu to "Always Ask"). The next time you download that type of file, select your preferred application in the "Opening" dialog that will appear. See this article for details.
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