Can't open downloads with proper program

[dshahen]

When I want to download music it is being opened by my word processor. I tried holding down the shift key and then right clicking so it would read 'open with' but that isn't happening. Any ideas. Please remember to use 'dummy' language as i am a computer novice. Thanks and Merry Christmas

 

[TonyKlein]

Hi,

You need to highlight the file first, and only then rightclick it with the Shift key depressed.

Don't you get the 'open with' option at all in your right mouse menu?

 

[TonyKlein]

And what type of file are you trying to open here?

Has your Word Processor hijacked other filetypes as well, or just one or two.

And is the option 'open with' missing from the context menu of other file types as well, or just this one.

Check whether this is the case with lets say textfiles (*.txt), or gifs as well.

 

[dshahen]

so far this is the only problem i am having with my word processor(Easy Word) putting my music downloads into a 'zip file'. haven't downloaded anything else to know if it is a problem, this is the only place it is happening. also when i have been playing music on real player my computer system becomes unstable and i have to shut down and restart. I do not get the 'open with' at all when depressing the shift key and right clicking.

 

[lilhlfpint]

what operating system are you running? for example, in windows 2000, you can open up your windows explorer, go to tools - folder options, click on the file types tab, scroll down until you see your file type (in this case, i would assume .mp3?) and you can then associate it with the correct application.

 

[TonyKlein]

You can do that in Win 98 and ME as well.

Win98: Explorer/View/folder options/file types
or Start/Settings/folder options/file types

ME: Control Panel/folder options/file types.

Check the file associations for the file type you're having problems with.

Good luck,

 

[dshahen]

I did as suggested and any audio or video opens with either 'real player' or 'quick time'. I have windows 98.

 

[TonyKlein]

What happens if you rightclick a file you want to download, and choose 'save target as'?

 

[dshahen]

It will still save it in my Easy Word program.
I found this while I was looking for Windows Explorer, don't have any idea if it helps you solve my problem. It was listed under EventLog as an error.


12/18/2001 18:45:13.310 Event System 4097 The COM+ Event System detected a bad return code during its internal processing. HRESULT was 80080005 from line 39 of D:\n3\private\es\tier1\eventsystemobj.cpp. Please contact Microsoft Product Support Services to report this error.

 

[TonyKlein]

Also, go back to Folder options, to the file type you've been having problems with downloading.

On the File Types tab, click the appropriate file type in the Registered File Types box.

Click Edit, and verify that the 'Confirm Open After Download' box is checked.

If it isn't, put a check mark there.

Click OK twice.

Good luck,

 

[dshahen]

I tried to open a .zip file to hear a music video after checking the box 'confirm after download'. Wasn't sure which files to check that on so i did all audio and video files that i thought i could find. This is so hard when you have no clue what you are doing. But i must say your suggestions are very easy to file. Anyway when i clicked download it opened again in EasyWord.

 

[TonyKlein]

I'm glad you find my directions easy to follow.
However, I would be even happier if they'd solve your problem...

What version of Internet Explorer are you running?

Do you have the option of repairing IE?

- Click Start , point to Settings , click Control Panel , and then double-click Add/Remove Programs .

- On the Install/Uninstall tab, click Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 , click Add/Remove , click Repair the current installation of Internet Explorer , and then click OK .

Good luck,

 

[dshahen]

i have IE6. I did IE repair and actually did it earlier today but to no avail. the 'midi' music is still being opened by the 'zip, in Easy Word'
Would it make any sense to go to IE default settings, don't know if that would help.

This is the site I am trying to play music from, maybe this will give you more info about the type of file, which i can't even begin to understand.

http://waho.hypermart.net/mid/midi.html

 

[Gnosisless]

The clarifications:

1. From what I can find out, Easy Word is a DOS program (that is, it opens in a DOS window and has the old-style text and menu options). I have never seen a DOS program that created file associations, so could you be more specific about that program? Where did it come from?

2. When you say the downloaded file is OPENING, do you mean:

a) Easy Word starts and comes up with garbage displayed on the screen or crashes (which is what everyone here is assuming)

b) do you mean Easy Word opens a window with the name of the ZIP file displayed

c) do you mean the ZIP file is being put into the Easy Word folder?

BTW, ZIP files are files that "contain" other files which have been compressed to take up less space on your system. They have to be UNZIPPED first before you can use them. Unzipping (also called extracting files) is just a matter of having an unzipping program, opening the file in it, and then saving the uncompressed files to the folder of your choice.


The suggestions:

If (a), above, then the other posters are on the right track to help you solve the problem, but I would suggest downloading and installing a ZIP program. This program will create file associations in Windows98 for ZIP files and should "take over" when you download or double-click one. You might try this program (I've never used it, but it's free), but there are better (pay) choices. http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10097-100-6005213.html?tag=st.dl.10001-103-1.lst-7-1.6005213

If (b), maybe Easy Word has the capability to unZIP files? You would know this because the window that comes up with Easy Word should have some options listed to EXTRACT the file. If this is the case, you will need to check your Easy Word documentation to see how to unZIP the file. You will then pick a folder to unzip the MIDI file to, which should then play on your MIDI player when you go to it in Windows Explorer (not IE) and double-click it. You could also try the same solution for (a).

If (c), the file is just being saved to the Easy Word folder, you just need to tell IE6 what folder to put the file into when you are downloading. When you click the file at the midi site, if you get a window that says "OPEN, SAVE, CANCEL", pick SAVE, and change to the folder you would like to have the MIDI file in. Then go to that folder in Explorer and double-click the file name to play it. (If you don't get that "OPEN SAVE CANCEL MORE INFO" window, then downloading and installing a ZIP program should help.

Hope this helps. If not, or if it raises new questions and/or hope that we're "getting" what the problem is , then please reply and I'll write another book-length reply.

 

[SavvyLady]

music files can't be played until they are in the right file type.... no zip file will play as an audio file. It has to be unzipped & back to the normal value....MP3 or .wav. or mpeg ... & more