unknown file types

[hot dog]

hey guys, I've got a floppy disk full of old files with unknown file extensions..They belong to my father and I'm just trying to figure out what program I should use to open the files, but I can't do that unless I know what file extensions I'm working with..

Using Windows XP, I'll right click on the files to see what the extensions are but nothing shows, only the name of the file shows... When I go into Folder Options, to make sure File Extensions are not hidden, the box is already unchecked...

[billrich]

Try to open a file with notepad.  Notepad will safely open most files.
Or
At the windows level, double click the icon for the file.  XP will find the correct program to open the file.
or
Point to the file icon, right click and choose open with . . .

To display hidden files and folders
Open Folder Options in Control Panel.
Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click Folder Options.
On the View tab, under Hidden files and folders, click Show hidden files and folders.

Is the floppy drive D: ?

copy  D:\*.*   C:\


C:\>attrib   *.*
A    R     C:\2line.bat
A    R     C:\2pdfdos.bat
A    R     C:\3
A    R     C:\a-hire.txt
A    R     C:\A.bat
A    R     C:\aaa.txt
A    R     C:\aaw7boot.log
A    R     C:\AcroRd32.exe
A    R     C:\anecho.bat
A    R     C:\ans.bat
A    R     C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT
A    R     C:\B.bat
A    R     C:\bat.txt


C:\>attrib /?
Displays or changes file attributes.

ATTRIB [+R | -R] [+A | -A ] [+S | -S] [+H | -H] [drive:][path][filename]
       [/S [/D]]

  +   Sets an attribute.
  -   Clears an attribute.
  R   Read-only file attribute.
  A   Archive file attribute.
  S   System file attribute.
  H   Hidden file attribute.
  [drive:][path][filename]
      Specifies a file or files for attrib to process.
  /S  Processes matching files in the current folder
      and all subfolders.
  /D  Processes folders as well.


C:\>attrib +R  *.*
Not resetting hidden file - C:\boot.ini
Not resetting hidden file - C:\dell.sdr
Not resetting hidden file - C:\hiberfil.sys
Not resetting hidden file - C:\IO.SYS
Not resetting hidden file - C:\MSDOS.SYS
Not resetting hidden file - C:\NTDETECT.COM
Not resetting hidden file - C:\ntldr
Not resetting hidden file - C:\pagefile.sys

C:\>

[hot dog]

OK, nevermind about the unkwown file types...

I downloaded Open Office Org and it opens the unknown files just fine...

We've already tried notepad, wordpad, and M$ Word...

chow, and thanks

[patio]

I'm left wondering why the file extensions were not reported...

[billrich]

Block wrote:

"OK, nevermind about the unkwown file types...

I downloaded Open Office Org and it opens the unknown files just fine... "

What did the "Open Office Org"  reveal as the extensions?

What were the files?  Love letters to his girlfriend?

[hot dog]

  sorry, I'll find out what they were and post back

[squall_01]

was going to say that if you click regulary it tell you, that it cant find a program to open it an try online from Micro site.

[BC_Programmer]

these files have no extension... so the web service would have nothing to go on anyway.

[billrich]

these files have no extension... so the web service would have nothing to go on anyway.

How do we know there is no extension?  I thought all files had a extention?

[Broni]

Pretty funny thread...
8 replies, and still:

I'm left wondering why the file extensions were not reported...

[quaxo]

How do we know there is no extension?  I thought all files had a extention?

I thought all files had a extention?

No, it is possible to make files without extensions. Inside my attachment is a file without an extension. (Sorry, had to put it in a zip since the boards won't allow me to upload it without an extension.)

Normally, a file with an unknown extension will give you the choice of using the web service or choosing from a list. A file without an extension will just go directly to the list. It doesn't offer the choice since going to the web service would be pointless anyway.

By default, Windows XP will show the extension of a file if the extension isn't associated with any program. If the file isn't associated and Windows isn't showing the extension, that's usually because there isn't one.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[billrich]

quaxo,

We are back to step one.  If there is no extention, how do determine if the file is .txt .doc . . .?  How do we open the file without an extention?

If we do determine the type of file, can we rename the file and add the extension?

Then the renamed file should open?
 
These questions may have been answered above? 

I Opened the sample file with notepad.  Would there be a problem when the file is not a .txt file?

[hot dog]

sorry about the hold up......I'll email my dad and get him to open some of the files so we can unravel the mystery 

he's 50 miles away at the moment

[quaxo]

Sure, you can add, remove, or change an extension. That file I attached was just a text file until I removed its extension, then Windows didn't know what to do with it anymore. If you added the .txt again, it would open in Notepad again. If you added some other extension, Windows would attempt to open it with a different program, even though that's not really what the file is. Like if you changed it to MP3, Windows would try to open it with the default MP3 player, but the player would come back saying the file was corrupt or something as it has an MP3 extension, but the contents of the file don't match what the program was expecting.

Determining what the file is without the extension is mostly trial and error. First place to start is usually trying to open it in Notepad or some other text editor.

[patio]

Well if it's a zip it has an extension...
Or am i missing the point ? .