Folder Options?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jerome Nadelhaft
  • Start date Start date
J

Jerome Nadelhaft

I use XP Home. I recently got an email (I use Outlook Express) with
attachments. When I tried to open them I got for each a message that it was
an Uknown File Type. When I clicked the Open tab the message read:

This file does not have a program with it for performing this action.
Create an association in the Folder Option Controls Panel.

I have no idea what any of that means. Where is the Folder Option Controls
Panel? How do I create an association? Etc.

Jerry Nadelhaft
 
Jerome said:
I use XP Home. I recently got an email (I use Outlook Express) with
attachments. When I tried to open them I got for each a message that
it was
an Uknown File Type. When I clicked the Open tab the message read:

This file does not have a program with it for performing this action.
Create an association in the Folder Option Controls Panel.

I have no idea what any of that means. Where is the Folder Option
Controls
Panel? How do I create an association? Etc.

Jerry Nadelhaft
Click to expand...

When data (a file) is created in a program (like MS Word), you need that
program to open the file (or a program with the ability to read files
created in a particular program the way that OpenOffice can read MS
Word documents). Windows uses the file extension to determine what
program is associated with a particular file type. To see the file
extension, go to the View tab in Folder Options and uncheck "Hide known
extensions". The file extension is the three letters after the "dot" in
a file name.

The error message you are getting is from Windows saying that you don't
have a program installed on your computer that can read the file (or
that Windows has associated with that file type). Things to do:

a. Post back with the file extension of the attachment and someone may
be able to help you.

b. Better solution is to look up the file extension yourself here:
http://filext.com/

c. Email your friend back and ask what they sent you. Please be aware
that one of the major ways of getting a virus is by clicking on
attachments that come in email.

After you know what program(s) can open that file type, you can see if
you have one installed on your computer. If you do, right-click the
file name and choose "Open With". If you don't have a program that can
open the file, you will need to get one that can. Some file types have
free viewers available, like for PowerPoint. It depends on what your
friend has sent you.

Malke
 
In Windows Explorer go to Tools, Folder Options, File Types tab. You can create a new association for the files you received, there. However, you must know what the file extension is, and what program to use to open them.
 
In
Jerome Nadelhaft said:
I use XP Home. I recently got an email (I use Outlook
Express) with
attachments. When I tried to open them I got for each a
message that
it was an Uknown File Type.
Click to expand...


Chances are you don't have a program installed for the type of
file sent. When you install a program that uses a particular type
of file, Windows creates an association between the extension of
the file name (the last three characters, after the dot) and the
program needed to open it Once that association exists, all you
need to do is double-click a file with that association and it
will open in the associated program. So, for example,
double-clicking a .txt file opens it in notepad and
double-clicking a .doc file opens it in Word (if you have Word
installed).

An unknown file type means that no association has been created
for the particular extension. That's why I say you probably don't
have the appropriate program.

When I clicked the Open tab the message
read:
This file does not have a program with it for performing this
action.
Create an association in the Folder Option Controls Panel.

I have no idea what any of that means. Where is the Folder
Option
Controls Panel? How do I create an association? Etc.
Click to expand...


The easiest way to create an association is to right click any
file with the particular extension, choose Open with, select the
program, and check "Always use this program..." However, as I
said, you probably don't have have the appropriate program. What
is the extension?

Over and above everything above, you are trying to open a file
attachment when you have no idea what it is. This is among the
most dangerous things you can do on your computer. Attachments
are *very* dangerous and can frequently carry viruses and other
forms of malware. Exposing yourself to such risks by clicking on
any attachment you get is foolhardy. Don't think that you are
safe because you may know the sender. Many viruses spread by
sending themselves to everyone in an affected person's address
book, so the sender may not have even known he was sending it. My
personal rule is that I never open E-mail attachments at all
except from a *very* few trusted sources, and even then, only if
I'm expecting them.
 
Jerome Nadelhaft said:
I use XP Home. I recently got an email (I use Outlook Express) with
attachments. When I tried to open them I got for each a message that it
was
an Uknown File Type. When I clicked the Open tab the message read:

This file does not have a program with it for performing this action.
Create an association in the Folder Option Controls Panel.

I have no idea what any of that means. Where is the Folder Option
Controls Panel? How do I create an association? Etc.
Click to expand...
The folder options control panel is located on the control panel.
Help & Support tells how to define a file type and how to associate a
program with a file type.

What the message means is that someone sent you an attachment which is
unknown, hence Outlook Express could not send it to the correct program for
processing.
The best place for such attachments is the trash barrel.
Jim
 
I know what is supposed to be in those files--documents I need to use. The
file ext. seems to be: sit

Following Malke's suggestion I looked it up at filext.com But then I got
lost. What opens 'sit'?

Jerry N
 
Jerome said:
I know what is supposed to be in those files--documents I need to use. The
file ext. seems to be: sit

Following Malke's suggestion I looked it up at filext.com But then I got
lost. What opens 'sit'?

Jerry N
Click to expand...
A file compressed by StuffIt
 
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