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Q: I am unable to download Windows 10. Even thought Microsoft keeps asking me to update every time I try I get “Windows 10 couldn’t be installed” “Error found Code 80070005”. Looking at my update history I see, upgrade to Windows 10 Pro, version 1511, 10586, Security Update for Microsoft Visual C ++ 2008 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package (KB2538243) and Microsoft Silverlight (KB3126036) failed to update.

– Randy O.
Niceville, Florida

A: I performed the Windows 10 update on a bunch of computers, and most went off without a hitch. I did have one that had a problem quite similar to yours. It turned out that, despite the little Windows icon appearing in the toolbar, there were some prerequisites that needed to be installed first. These should have downloaded and installed automatically, but there was a security problem during the installation, and I had to do some manual operations to force it to install. After that, the Windows 10 automated update did its thing (eventually) and the system went happily on its way. In fact, I am using that very same system to write this column.

Either fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, your problem is similar to mine. The error code you mentioned (which is actually 0x8007005, by the way) translates to “Access Denied” – a simple permission error. More specifically, it means that you need to have Administrator privileges to perform the task you were trying to perform. Both of the updates that you cited can be downloaded as an installation package instead of being installed automatically from the web, or by Windows Update. Search the Microsoft website for the KB numbers that you specified, and locate the downloadable installer. Once the installation file is on your computer, you can right-click it, and select “Run as Administrator” from the context menu. If you’re not logged on with an account that has administrator privileges, you’ll be prompted for credentials. Once you successfully launch the installer as Administrator you wont get the error, and the installation will proceed normally. Then, like me, once you get all the prerequisites installed, the Windows 10 installation will proceed as intended.

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Q: When using Windows live mail and then clicking on a feature that will open a file from the email, I get a window that states that “This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Please install a program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Programs control panel”. This problem suddenly appeared. The file referenced is a http file, if that helps. I am not very computer literate and don’t have a clue what to do. I did go to the default programs control panel but was overwhelmed by all of the file suffixes that were listed. Please help.

– Richard G.
Crestview, Florida

A: File associations are a basic Windows concept, and knowing how they work is fundamental to having a healthy relationship with your computer. The proper name for what you are calling file suffixes is file filename extensions. Once upon a time these were limited to three characters, but no more. In modern versions of the operating system, everything to the right of the right-most period in a filename is considered to be the extension. Most programs still use three letters, but some very common programs, such as the Microsoft Office Suite use four letter extensions. Regardless, the association refers to the relationship between applications and files that have a given filename extension. When files with a known extension are double-clicked, or otherwise launched (such as from within an e-mail) the application that is associated with that file’s extension is launched, and the name of the clicked file is passed on the command line. The application then automatically opens the specified file.

Now that we’ve discussed filename extensions and what they do, I have to tell you that HTTP is not a filename extension. It is a protocol used by web sites to transmit data to web browsers. It is the reason many Internet addresses start with “HTTP” – the browser knows from these letters that the requested file will be delivered using HyperText Transfer Protocol. If you have a filename that has the extension of HTTP, then someone has probably named this file improperly. Having said that, a common filename extension for files that get sent via HTTP is either .htm or .html. Such files should have associations with your web browser application, so that when the file is activated, the browser is launched and the file is passed-in to be rendered and displayed.

It’s it’s pretty easy to associate or re-associate a filename extension. In your case, go to the Windows Control Panel and select “Default Programs”. Click on “Set your default programs”. In the list of programs, find your web browser and select it. Click “Choose defaults for this program” then click “Select All” followed by “Save”.