VKB-SIM

I foolishly made PDF the default app to flash my T-rudder on my desktop and find no way to fix it. The plan is to flash it with my laptop instead. Is there any method or available app to restore the correct file naming to the desktop?

What file have you made pdf from? Exe? Or configuration file .cfg or .vkb?

Give this a try:

Right-click the file you want to change the file association and click Properties. In the file Properties, click the Change button next to the "Opens with" option. After clicking Change, you'll be given a list of programs to open the file. Select the program you want to use and then click Apply and then OK.

Seems I cannot find the problem file now and all VKB applications function on the desktop. Now to find why my aging T-Rudders IV cannot be detected by Z-Bootloader. I'll try reset or use my other black (orange) box.

Best practice is to keep all files related to the VKB devices in a common folder. That way you don't have to go hunting around for them. You haven't said which file it is you messed up. It's it Devconfig, Bootloader, a firmware or profile? That info would help.

The file was "Mk2_BlackboxT-rudder v2_02_5." I was able to double click said file via ZBootloader-C into the configurator. I'll delete the dangling problem file. The very good news is after unplugging and re-plugging all the Black Box connections, the rudder was detected and flashed. Thank you for bearing with me as I plunge into the unknown.

Ok that's a firmware file. You'd never execute that with anything but the bootloader from within Devconfig. If you simply renamed that file as a pdf, you could either rename it back to the proper extension (not at my PC but I think it's .vkb) or download it again. As I said before, don't try to run that file by itself. Bad things can happen! As you found out.

I had all configured on my laptop, but when I plugged into the file mix-up desktop nothing. VKBDevCfg-C freezes and will not load. My plan was to reset the black box or last resort just reload new windows. I've tried four ways to revert file names to .vkb, but no luck. I'm thinking the reset on the black box is the + and- pins on the black module. Is that correct? Thanks for your help.

Please don't do that, your Black Box is perfectly fine; there's only some software you're running on your laptop that's interfering with VKBDevCfg. Try to restart you laptop in Safe Mode, then do this:
1. Delete all previous VKB files you have on your laptop;
2. Download the configurator;
3. Download the Bootloader;
4. Download the firmware for the rudders (attached at the bottom of this post);
5. Have all the 3 files mentioned above in the same folder; unzip them there;
6. Open VKBDevCfg, navigate to Tools, then press the Bootloader button;
7. In the new window press the ... button and navigate to the folder where the file from point 4. above is;
8. Select that file and flash it;
9. When flashing is finished open again VKBDevCfg, navigate to Test/Axes, then to Tools tab and click on the Start Calibr button;
10. Calibrate your rudders moving them up and down a few times;
11. When done click the End Calibr button and you're good to go.

At it today. Rudders show as a connected device, will work on axis and buttons later after reading the t-link manual again. Joystick will not show as a connected device. Would a calibration of the joystick in windows controllers cause a problem? If so, can it be undone?

One should never use Windows' tools to calibrate any VKB devices and now you know why
Under Tools tab click on the MakeRegFile button. Navigate to the folder where the native software is and launch the reg file. Recalibrate afterwards using VKB software.

MakeRegFile button doesn't respond.

Got it.

Back working on the joystick/ rudder today. Seeking help again:
1. Config window only shows T-rudder, why not the Joystick GF III? Must I config the rudders first for the Joystick to appear?
2. I have the Mk2 blackbox. Does config file _BlackBox _TRudder_v2_0_5 override using the _BlackBox_MK2_TRudder_v2_02_5? Its stated somewhere to use Mk2 version for the newer blackbox.
3. When I make a new RegFile, where is the folder for the native software located in order to launch the new RegFile?
4. Is it possible to flash the joystick/Rudder on my other computer and then connect to the gaming PC? Is it possible to ConFig the combo and be able to use the combo on any other computer? I had both configured before, but no joy with my desktop PC.

Please use the Black Box which shows the rudders name in the software for rudders and flash the other black box for your grip; you didn't mentioned which grip you have, so here are tutorials for flashing and calibrating each VKB grip: MCG Pro/U, SCG, F-14, KG12.
If you want to use the rudders in the same black box with the grip and base, then plug the rudders in black box which has been flashed for the grip, together with the base and grip. The 2 devices won't work together in the rudders' black box.
You don't have to use the reg file unless you previously used Windows' calibration.
It is possible to flash and calibrate the rudders or joystick on a computer and then use them on another computer; all the info is stored inside the black box and not on the computer.