1.40 MP: Double-clicking .HIF file from Explorer opens file browser but not viewer

[Slappy_G]

XnView: MP 1.40 64 bit
OS: Windows 10 64bit 22H2

When XnView MP is associated with *.HIF files and a file is double-clicked, XnView MP opens, but displays the directory browser instead of viewing the actual file. Clicking on other file types (JPG, GIF, TGA, TIF, PNG) works as expected and opens the image in viewer mode (as set).

Effect: XnView MP simply opens the file browser with whatever starting folder it is configured to, completely ignoring the HIF file you double-clicked on.

To reproduce:
1. Locate a HIF file on your hard drive in Explorer.
2. Double-click the file.
Actual behaviour (bug): XNView opens as if you launched it from the Start Menu, and does not display the image.

Expected behaviour: XNView should treat the operation the same as any other file - a double-click should launch the viewer if that is how it is configured.

[xnview]

check your registry entry for .hif, it seems that you have a problem

[Slappy_G]

check your registry entry for .hif, it seems that you have a problem

That was my first stop unfortunately. I even tested on a fresh Windows 10 VM with no other changes and had the same behavior. Is there a way to force XnView to recreate the file associations?

[xnview]

i've tried on a fresh VM, and it works. How do you associate it? I've used 'open with>'