I upgraded, so why does double-clicking a .crv file still open the old version?

Why it happens

Each major version installs as its own program, side by side with the previous one. Windows keeps a record of which program opens .crv and .crv3d files. The official documentation explains that when the older major version is still installed while the new one goes on, Windows can fail to update that record, so a double-click keeps starting the old program. Nothing is wrong with your files or your license.

This matters because a file saved in the new version will not open in the old one (see the entry on files created in a newer version), so the double-click can end in an error that looks like a broken file.

How to fix it

Quick fix (no uninstalling):

1. Right-click any .crv file and choose Properties.
2. Next to "Opens with", click Change.
3. Pick the new version from the list and click OK.
4. Repeat for a .crv3d file if you use Aspire.

Documented fix (if the quick fix does not hold):

1. Back up anything custom from the old version first: post-processors and your tool database. Use File > Open Application Data Folder to find them.
2. Uninstall the previous version from Windows.
3. Reinstall the new version so it can rewrite the file association.
4. Use a Windows account with full administrator rights for the install.

How to confirm it is fixed

Double-click a job file, then check Help > About. The version shown should be the new one.

Pro tips

• You can always sidestep the problem by starting the new version first and using File > Open.
• Before removing the old version, bring your tools and settings across (see the entry on the Migration Dialog).
• If the file opens in the right version but still errors, see the entries on Code 1 and Code 3.