I'm trying to make my python scripts run in python 2.6 by default when run from the command line. This is paired with adding certain scripts to the PATH variable and .py to PATHEXT for convenience.

But I'll be damned if I can get the file type association to work. In the default programs dialog (found in control panel) I find .py, and click "Change Program." This gives me the same dialog as clicking "Open with..." on a file's context menu. I search for python. Tell it to use python, but it doesn't add it to the list of programs I am allowed to use. I tried making a shortcut to python in Program Files, but that won't work either. If I copy python into a folder in Program Files, then that works. But why can't I just point it at C:\python26\python.exe (which is in the PATH variable) in the first place? Is there a way around this, or do I have to just reinstall python into Program Files?