trying to set vlc player as default

I want the vlc player to be my default media player but when I go to Get Info>Open With and select VLC player it has an error that says "You cannot change the item X to always open in the selected application. The item is either locked or damaged or in a folder you don't have permission to change (Error -39)

Maybe I installed it wrong? Any ideas?

I just tried it on an avi file and it worked just fine.

Try reinstalling VLC and see if that fixes the problem.

I think I installed it the right way, I followed the directions in the folder. I ran the .dmg file, it created an icon on my desktop, opened it up and dragged the VLC Player icon to my applications folder. Still won't work.

OK, what exactly are you doing to set VLC as the default media player? What file are you getting the info on?

I'm right clicking on a avi file and going to Get Info, then to Open With: and change from Quicktime to VLC, and it gives me that error message. Otherwise VLC runs fine, it's just a major hassle having to right-click files all the time.

Have you tried any other video file to see if you get the same error?

just tried it with an MPG and still the same error

Could be a permissions issue. Download a program called Onyx and then Verify and Repair permissions. Restart and then try the VLC thing again.

It sounds like the file you are trying to open you don't have the right permission. In the get info dialog at the bottom where it says sharing & permissions, does it say you have read and write access?

Yes that was the problem. When I was trying to set vlc as the default player I was doing it with a file I was accessing over the wireless network. Tried it on an avi on my mbp's hd and it worked. Didn't need to download that app either.

Thanks!