How to open downloaded files

Hi, there!
I hope I can explain this well. :-o
I have an Acer running Vista (XP was easier). Every file I download to my desktop cannot be opened. I keep getting asked what program I want open it.
I really have no idea what I am doing. I've had the computer since spring of this year.
Any suggestions?

Thanks, in advance.
John987

 

Thanks, plodr, for the response.

There are no file extensions. They just says Type: file .
I think I may be downloading things wrong! Maybe I need to try again?

The files were;
Synaptics Driver Patch (from Windows Updates) I have no idea what this program is.
Office List?
Retime Sewing Machine (someone sent me this to repair an old sewing machine)
Online Backup ( came with ZoneAlarm and I tried to download it)

Thanks, again, for your help.
John987

 

John do you have file extensions set to be shown? Follow Plodr's link and set them to show. That will help us figure out if they are completely downloaded or if there is a problem with incomplete downloads.

The Online backup should be a program or .zip file whereas the Retime Sewing Machine is probably a .pdf. Having extensions showing will let us help you figure out exactly what they are and how to open them.

 

Thanks, Sach2 and Plodr.

The computer is an Acer Aspire 5735-6694.

I did follow the link and did set the file extensions to be shown. Should I try to download the file again or should I be able to open the one on the desktop? I tried to open them and I am still getting the same thing.

Also, should I not have my computer set to automatic updates? I will check out the Acer site.

Thank you, again.
John987

 

So what is the extension on the Retime Sewing Machine file?

 

I don't know. All I see is Type: File 1.71 KB
Forgive me, I don't know what the heck I am doing with this machine!

Thank you,
John987

 

I found this in the original email from the sewing machine repairman. It is the attached file.
RETIME SINGER AND OTHER.rtf (2KB). Is that the right information?
Thanks, again,
John987

 

I'm confused about the extensions. Most people still use file naming conventions. So you should not be getting 5 files downloaded all with no extensions.

Try Start>All Programs>Accessories>Notepad
Create a new document type a few letters and then save to Desktop as newfile.txt
Look on your desktop and check that you see the whole name including the extension.

 

Yes, does it look like that on your desktop or does the name not include .rtf?

You should be open the .rtf document in Notepad. Or MS Word if you have it.

 

Ok. I was able to create the document with the notepad, save to desktop and open it.

The .rtf file doesn't say that on the desktop. It just says file. I was able to open it with WordPad. When I opened it with the notepad, it was in two really long sentences (hard to read). But it opened fine with WordPad.

Maybe I'm just not downloading things correctly?

Thank you,
John987

 

Double check your settings for showing extensions. Make sure you have UNchecked the box for "Hide extensions for know filetypes".

Oh, and in Notepad you can enable Word Wrap in the Format menu to display the text properly.

 

I double checked and "Hide extensions for known file types" is not checked.

Thanks for the tip on Notepad. I don't use Office since my trial is over. And Works can be difficult, although it's gotten better now that I was finally able to update it! I'm just not sure which program I'll keep. So, again, thanks for the tip.

Thank you,
John987

 

OpenOffice really has gotten quite good and is free. If you don't already own the MS Office products it worth a download and tryout.

It is possible that the other items you downloaded are also unusual extensions (rtf is not common BTW you can just change that to .txt and it will open alutomatically in Notepad or WordPad).

How about trying to download a .exe from here at MajorGeeks and see if it displays the extension on your desktop. Here is 7zip http://majorgeeks.com/7-Zip_d4603.html less than 1mb download size.

You can double click it and see if it starts the installation. You don't have to go through with the install just hit cancel.

Try this link http://images.google.com/hosted/lif...gsteen&hl=en&safe=off&imgurl=9a88ca70f06f9da0 and right click and select "Save Image As" and choose desktop.

If you are able to save both the .exe and the .jpg then you are probably not having problems with downloads being corrupted.

 

Sorry but I tend to disagree.

I remember when M.S. Office defaulted to using *.DOC files, but had the option to use *.RTF, known as Rich Text Format.
At one time *.RTF was always the correct format for attaching to emails,
because *.RTF was smaller (less bloat) and simpler - unable to incorporate Word Macros and so fully trusted as something that could be received from an unknown source and yet safely opened because it could not carry Word Macro Viruses.

Life was simpler then ! !

As of now my XP system will default to using Notepad for *.txt files, and Wordpad for *.rtf files.

I recommend that *.rtf should NOT be changed to *.txt because any format codes will totally confuse legibility.
If you must open a RTF file with Notepad you can always select the file and use the context menu to Open With Notepad.

Legibility confusion example using a *.RTF file:-
Wordpad will show a bold paragraph heading thus :-
MY EXPERIENCE

If that file is renamed as *.TXT, or otherwise "Opened With" Notepad, you will see
\par
\pard\nowidctlpar\li-8\ri15\tx712\tx1432\tx2152\tx2872\tx3592\tx4312\tx5032\tx5752\tx6472\tx7192\tx7912\tx8632\b MY EXPERIENCE: \par
\pard\nowidctlpar\li-8\ri15\tx712\tx1432\tx2350\tx2872\tx3592\tx4312\tx5032\tx5752\tx6472\tx7192\tx7912\tx8632\b0

and all the format control codes get far worse if there is a change of font style or colour etc.

Regards
Alan

 

Thanks alan! I did not realize the file would be displayed differently. I wrongly assumed Notepad would ignore the extension and analyze the file type. Thank you for explaining how it actually works.

 

sach2

An easy mistake to make.
Before XP the only obvious distinction between Notepad and Wordpad was that when clicking on a *.txt file there was a boundary (64 KB I think),
Below that you got Notepad,
and above that you got Wordpad.
Also any file that is created by Notepad will display correctly in Wordpad,
but that is not a reciprocal arrangement ! !

NB I am now retired but have been around the block and learnt several things the hard way.

Alan