Links to .xml files begin download of .smi files of same name

[mousynona]

When I attempt to view a Web page that ends in .xml(

http://www.w3schools.com/xsl/cdcatalog.xml),

IE6 displays a File Download prompt asking me to Open or Save an .smi file of the same name (cdcatalog.smi). This happens with any xml file on the Web.

It may have been caused by installation of some program, maybe multimedia (RealPlayer) b/c .smi extensions are used by multimedia apps too. I've tried several things with no effect each time....
Uninstalled all apps for editing xml.
Uninstalled RealPlayer, camcorder sw, digicam sw.
Removed xml and smi File Types.
Installed SP1 for IE6
Uninstalled SP1, then edited registry for IE6 to indicate IE6 was not installed per MS instructions.
Installed IE6 from MS site.

I don't understand why xml files are suddenly associated with smi files, nor how to remove the association.

Any help is much appreciated.

 

[gargouille]

Look in Windows Explorer/View/FolderOptions and hit the View tab and add the radio button show all files and uncheck the button below it about hiding file types?
Having done that go to the FileTypes tab and highlight the first file association and scroll thru them looking for .smi and .xml...and make sure the association is correct.
Never seen any .smi files on my computer...researching them they're either mac files OR Self Mounting Images, basically a "self mounting" version of DiskCopy .img files.
Neither of which you really want, right?
Note: you can delete any (hit remove) file association you don't want. You can also choose edit and then edit again and see what properties are assigned to the filetype and what application is set to open it. Unless you have some Lindows thing going on here...you shouldn't need a mac extension.
.xml files default action should be to open with Internet Explorer. If it isn't you can copy the action from .html files and paste it in the .xml sections.
You did the right thing (IMHO) uninstalling RP...but it's tenacious and may only respond to regcleaner.exe (depending on your OS) or a sweep with regedit (IF you're familiar with its workings).
Did you do it thru AddRemovePrograms?