Opening Word XML files in IE8?

[RBizzle]

Does anybody know how to make links to Word (2003) files that are clicked on in IE8 to open the actual MS Word Application rather than opening in the plug-in viewer?

My browser application displays links to local Word files and in IE6, clicking these links used to always launch Word and open the file in the application. Now, it only opens inside the browser in "plug-in". In XP, I was able to alter the File Associations to tell it to "Open in a New Window", but this option is no longer available in Win 7 file explorer, or I can't find it.

Anybody have an ideas on this? Driving me crazy that this is not mentioned anywhere on the web.

Thanks,
Randy