Forums > Help! > Computer help
Login/Join to Participateold hand
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
Posted:
Sometimes when people send me stuff and I try to download it, it just all appears in squares and symbols. I know it's a security thing but how do I change it?
Sometimes when people send me stuff and I try to download it, it just all appears in squares and symbols. I know it's a security thing but how do I change it?
Ask a question and be a fool for a minute...don't ask and be a fool your whole life.
GOLD Member
Self-Flagellation Expert
3,414 posts
Location: Bogged at CG, Australia
Self-Flagellation Expert
3,414 posts
Location: Bogged at CG, Australia
Posted:
If they're giving you a link, and it's opening in a web page, then your browser isn't reading the file format properly. It's like trying to read a book in another language - you'll get something out, but not what you're meant to.
Is that what's happening, or have i missed the mark a bit?
If they're giving you a link, and it's opening in a web page, then your browser isn't reading the file format properly. It's like trying to read a book in another language - you'll get something out, but not what you're meant to.
Is that what's happening, or have i missed the mark a bit?
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SILVER Member
veteran
1,228 posts
Location: on the wrong planet, United Kingdom
veteran
1,228 posts
Location: on the wrong planet, United Kingdom
Posted:
You need to check the last three characters of the filename, which could be something like .zip .rar (archives) .jpg .gif (images) or any one of hundreds of others. if it's .exe or .com don't open it until you've done a virus check on the file (same for archives or windows media files, they can all contain viruses).
If you doo a google search for a file extension, say:
"file extension" .ppt
you should have more information on the file type, and what program you need to open it.
You need to check the last three characters of the filename, which could be something like .zip .rar (archives) .jpg .gif (images) or any one of hundreds of others. if it's .exe or .com don't open it until you've done a virus check on the file (same for archives or windows media files, they can all contain viruses).
If you doo a google search for a file extension, say:
"file extension" .ppt
you should have more information on the file type, and what program you need to open it.
You aren't thinking or really existing unless you're willing to risk even your own sanity in the judgment of your existence.
Green peppers, lime pickle and whole-grain mustard = best sandwich filling.
old hand
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
Posted:
Que?
Polarity: Sounds a bit complicated. Sorry, I'm a complete goof here.
I get an e-mail, there's a link or an attachment, could even be in Word. I click, it goes to page that says "Download" or "Cancel" and "No viruses found" so I click on "Download". Then box opens "Open" or "Save" or "whatever". I click "Open" and then something unreadable appears.
Why?
And not always.
Que?
Polarity: Sounds a bit complicated. Sorry, I'm a complete goof here.
I get an e-mail, there's a link or an attachment, could even be in Word. I click, it goes to page that says "Download" or "Cancel" and "No viruses found" so I click on "Download". Then box opens "Open" or "Save" or "whatever". I click "Open" and then something unreadable appears.
Why?
And not always.
Ask a question and be a fool for a minute...don't ask and be a fool your whole life.
SILVER Member
15,417 posts
Location: South Wales
15,417 posts
Location: South Wales
Posted:
Hello there miss "I have the same birthday as you".
Hows the kiddywinky?
I was going to answer this, but Polarity beat me to it.
Any idea what sort of file the one you are trying to open is?
Is it a picture?
Is it a text document?
Is it an Adobe Acrobat file?
What you should do for us is:
Go to windows explorer.
Along the top, click on "tools"
Then click on "Folder Options"
Then along the top of the window that has just popped up, click on "view"
In that bit, click on the check box that says "Hide extensions for known file types" (its about half way down)- You want the box to NOT have a tick in it.
Then go back to the email and save the file you are trying to view to your desktop.
When that is done, look at the file you just saved.
What are the 3 or 4 letters at the end of it after the full stop mark?
If its "JPEG" then use Microsoft Paint (or the equivalent picture view that you use to view pictures)
If its "DOC" then use Microsoft word (or equivalent)
If its "PDF" then you will need to download Adobe Acrobat (from https://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/
)
(or you can just tell us what the 3 or 4 letters are and we can tell you what to view it with)
Hello there miss "I have the same birthday as you".
Hows the kiddywinky?I was going to answer this, but Polarity beat me to it.
Any idea what sort of file the one you are trying to open is?
Is it a picture?
Is it a text document?
Is it an Adobe Acrobat file?
What you should do for us is:
Go to windows explorer.
Along the top, click on "tools"
Then click on "Folder Options"
Then along the top of the window that has just popped up, click on "view"
In that bit, click on the check box that says "Hide extensions for known file types" (its about half way down)- You want the box to NOT have a tick in it.
Then go back to the email and save the file you are trying to view to your desktop.
When that is done, look at the file you just saved.
What are the 3 or 4 letters at the end of it after the full stop mark?
If its "JPEG" then use Microsoft Paint (or the equivalent picture view that you use to view pictures)
If its "DOC" then use Microsoft word (or equivalent)
If its "PDF" then you will need to download Adobe Acrobat (from https://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/
)
(or you can just tell us what the 3 or 4 letters are and we can tell you what to view it with)
BRONZE Member
Geek-enviro-hippy priest
1,858 posts
Location: Diss, Norfolk, United Kingdom
Geek-enviro-hippy priest
1,858 posts
Location: Diss, Norfolk, United Kingdom
Posted:
Or put the last 3 or 4 letters (the ones after the late dot) in to the search on https://filext.com/
Once you've found the software that opens the file, see if you have it (by looking though the start menu I guess) and open the file you want from the program (IE, save the file to a folder like 'my documents' and inside the program go to file > open and find the file that way.
EDITED_BY: Sym (1161082723)
Or put the last 3 or 4 letters (the ones after the late dot) in to the search on https://filext.com/
Once you've found the software that opens the file, see if you have it (by looking though the start menu I guess) and open the file you want from the program (IE, save the file to a folder like 'my documents' and inside the program go to file > open and find the file that way.
EDITED_BY: Sym (1161082723)
There's too many home fires burning and not enough trees
old hand
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
Posted:
It's not just one file. It's just that it happens often. I don't have any now as I deleted them but next time, I'll come here and try to follow your tips.
It's not just one file. It's just that it happens often. I don't have any now as I deleted them but next time, I'll come here and try to follow your tips.
Ask a question and be a fool for a minute...don't ask and be a fool your whole life.
old hand
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
Posted:
Got one. It's a .pps
Got one. It's a .pps
Ask a question and be a fool for a minute...don't ask and be a fool your whole life.
old hand
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
Posted:
Uhm, Ucof, I don't have "Folder Options" when I click on "tools".
Uhm, Ucof, I don't have "Folder Options" when I click on "tools".
Ask a question and be a fool for a minute...don't ask and be a fool your whole life.
BRONZE Member
hello!
1,034 posts
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
hello!
1,034 posts
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Posted:
o.k., first thing: Its Power Point that you need.
Do you have that? (look on your desktop, in the start-menu, ...).
Other possibility: just save the file (after you checked it for viruses) and then click on it in the windows explorer. If you've got Power Point, the file should open then.
o.k., first thing: Its Power Point that you need.
Do you have that? (look on your desktop, in the start-menu, ...).
Other possibility: just save the file (after you checked it for viruses) and then click on it in the windows explorer. If you've got Power Point, the file should open then.
a swapped test-playboy, set free by NOn, idolizing the tea fairy; Dragosani spiritual freedom agreement reached 18th Sept 2006
SILVER Member
15,417 posts
Location: South Wales
15,417 posts
Location: South Wales
Posted:
Yep, as Aurinko says, you need power point.
If you dont have it, you can use this handy tool to look at the file.
My dearest,
, you will have "folder options", but it may be under "view" if its not under tools. It may also just be called "options".
Which version of windows are you using?
Yep, as Aurinko says, you need power point.
If you dont have it, you can use this handy tool to look at the file.
My dearest,
, you will have "folder options", but it may be under "view" if its not under tools. It may also just be called "options".Which version of windows are you using?
old hand
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
Posted:
Windows 98 and I wasn't able to download your handy tool.
Windows 98 and I wasn't able to download your handy tool.
Ask a question and be a fool for a minute...don't ask and be a fool your whole life.
old hand
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
Posted:
Oh yes, I found the folder options and unclicked the hide extensions thingy but I still can't read the stuff.
Oh yes, I found the folder options and unclicked the hide extensions thingy but I still can't read the stuff.
Ask a question and be a fool for a minute...don't ask and be a fool your whole life.
SILVER Member
veteran
1,237 posts
Location: Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
veteran
1,237 posts
Location: Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Posted:
the free PowerPoint viewer UmbiliciformCraterOnFace linked to from MS should run on win98, hopefully it's not 100 serious that it HAS to be '98 second edition'.
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...;displaylang=en
if you can't download it and install it could you let us know what happens?
alterntaively you need an actual copy of 'PowerPoint' from MS office (expensive)
or you could use OpenOffice Open Office that is Open Source Software, and free.
the free PowerPoint viewer UmbiliciformCraterOnFace linked to from MS should run on win98, hopefully it's not 100 serious that it HAS to be '98 second edition'.
https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/detai...;displaylang=en
if you can't download it and install it could you let us know what happens?
alterntaively you need an actual copy of 'PowerPoint' from MS office (expensive)
or you could use OpenOffice Open Office that is Open Source Software, and free.
Blinded by Hyperlights, please donate generously 
old hand
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
Posted:
Yeay, it worked now and I can see the files.
Thans for your help guys.
Yeay, it worked now and I can see the files.
Thans for your help guys.
Ask a question and be a fool for a minute...don't ask and be a fool your whole life.
old hand
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
Posted:
New problem: Now, when I sometimes try to open a link, my computer makes a stupid sound and a message says: "A pop-up window was blocked." It's been doing that a few days now.
Help.
New problem: Now, when I sometimes try to open a link, my computer makes a stupid sound and a message says: "A pop-up window was blocked." It's been doing that a few days now.
Help.
Ask a question and be a fool for a minute...don't ask and be a fool your whole life.
GOLD Member
member
131 posts
Location: leicester, uk
member
131 posts
Location: leicester, uk
Posted:
when you click on a link that will bring up a pop up window hold down Ctrl, if you want the window to come up.
otherwise its just an ad thats likey to contain viruses.
hope that helps
when you click on a link that will bring up a pop up window hold down Ctrl, if you want the window to come up.
otherwise its just an ad thats likey to contain viruses.
hope that helps
What to do in case of fire??? LET IT BURN!
old hand
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
Posted:
Nope, doesn't work and it's nothing to do with viruses. It happens on websites I use all the time like my banking for example. I didn't have that problem until last week and now I can hardly open anything!
Nope, doesn't work and it's nothing to do with viruses. It happens on websites I use all the time like my banking for example. I didn't have that problem until last week and now I can hardly open anything!
Ask a question and be a fool for a minute...don't ask and be a fool your whole life.
GOLD Member
member
131 posts
Location: leicester, uk
member
131 posts
Location: leicester, uk
Posted:
kk, try holding Ctrl down when you click on the licks when the pop-ups usally get blocked
if that doesnt work try going into the setting of the pop up blocker
kk, try holding Ctrl down when you click on the licks when the pop-ups usally get blocked
if that doesnt work try going into the setting of the pop up blocker
What to do in case of fire??? LET IT BURN!
SILVER Member
Hitman
985 posts
Location: Gloucester England
Hitman
985 posts
Location: Gloucester England
Posted:
try going in to tools and internet options and looking in there for you pop up blocker its differant for every broweser/blocker
try going in to tools and internet options and looking in there for you pop up blocker its differant for every broweser/blocker
he he i am mike the amazing gloscircus person who is mike.
Officaly an exception to the Poi Boys are Girls Thing
old hand
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
Posted:
Oh, never mind now. My computer died last night so ... I bought a new one today.
Oh, never mind now. My computer died last night so ... I bought a new one today
. Ask a question and be a fool for a minute...don't ask and be a fool your whole life.
old hand
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
Posted:
New problem: Someone is sending me a file but my computer says: Unable to load graphics conversion filter.
What do I do?
New problem: Someone is sending me a file but my computer says: Unable to load graphics conversion filter.
What do I do?
Ask a question and be a fool for a minute...don't ask and be a fool your whole life.
SILVER Member
psychadelic pyro
570 posts
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
psychadelic pyro
570 posts
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Posted:
What is the file extension?
You could try installing a different viewer like irfanview, it's free.
What is the file extension?
You could try installing a different viewer like irfanview, it's free.
Normality is the playground of the unimaginative
old hand
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
Posted:
.doc
It's very important, it's an application form for a job! Oh, I hate computers!
.doc
It's very important, it's an application form for a job! Oh, I hate computers!
Ask a question and be a fool for a minute...don't ask and be a fool your whole life.
SILVER Member
veteran
1,237 posts
Location: Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
veteran
1,237 posts
Location: Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Posted:
.doc is microsoft word document. Do you have this installed? if you do then it may just need the install disks, and changing a setup option, to install a missing graphics filter.
(stupid people looking to hire if you ask me, if they're using weird image formats for a simple application form!)
if you don't have word, if you only need to read the file, nothing else then you can get the word viewer, similar to the powerpoint viewer you needed before.
or. try openoffice, its' a free open source office suite. it should open most ms office things reasonably well, and let you edit them too.
.doc is microsoft word document. Do you have this installed? if you do then it may just need the install disks, and changing a setup option, to install a missing graphics filter.
(stupid people looking to hire if you ask me, if they're using weird image formats for a simple application form!)
if you don't have word, if you only need to read the file, nothing else then you can get the word viewer, similar to the powerpoint viewer you needed before.
or. try openoffice, its' a free open source office suite. it should open most ms office things reasonably well, and let you edit them too.
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old hand
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
898 posts
Location: Binstead, Isle of Wight
Posted:
Word viewer did the trick. Thank you!
Word viewer did the trick. Thank you!
Ask a question and be a fool for a minute...don't ask and be a fool your whole life.
BRONZE Member
veteran
1,247 posts
Location: lost, Canada
veteran
1,247 posts
Location: lost, Canada
Posted:
help!
I have a mac book pro. It runs both windows, and Osx. I use only OSx most of the time, just the windows for a certain program I need, never the internet. What I want to know is does having the windows program on my computer make it susceptible to all the windows viruses?
What kind of precautions do I need to take? I have been slack cause everyone said viruses are hardly ever written for macs, but...
Please advise!
TX
Andrea
help!
I have a mac book pro. It runs both windows, and Osx. I use only OSx most of the time, just the windows for a certain program I need, never the internet. What I want to know is does having the windows program on my computer make it susceptible to all the windows viruses?
What kind of precautions do I need to take? I have been slack cause everyone said viruses are hardly ever written for macs, but...
Please advise!
TX
Andrea
"God *was* my co-pilot, but then we crashed, and I had to eat him..."
BRONZE Member
Hehe, you said 'Member'
105 posts
Location: Lydiate, nr Liverpool, United Kingdom
Hehe, you said 'Member'
105 posts
Location: Lydiate, nr Liverpool, United Kingdom
Posted:
Hmm... I assume you're either dual-booting, where you choose at start up whether to load windows or OsX, or you're running an emulator like WINE (does that run on macs? I dunno?!)
You need a virus scanner for your windows system - I use a free version of AVG, although I dunno if it's any good..
Viruses can only get on to your system usually if you download and run them, so anything you DO download in Windows, run a virus scan on it (and be sure to keep your virus scanner up to date!)
As far as I know, Windows viruses can't affect OsX just by having Windows installed, as they simply can't do anything to the MacOs. To be honest I'm not that familiar with Macs, so I can't say for certain.
Hmm... I assume you're either dual-booting, where you choose at start up whether to load windows or OsX, or you're running an emulator like WINE (does that run on macs? I dunno?!)
You need a virus scanner for your windows system - I use a free version of AVG, although I dunno if it's any good..
Viruses can only get on to your system usually if you download and run them, so anything you DO download in Windows, run a virus scan on it (and be sure to keep your virus scanner up to date!)
As far as I know, Windows viruses can't affect OsX just by having Windows installed, as they simply can't do anything to the MacOs. To be honest I'm not that familiar with Macs, so I can't say for certain.
Eww, Liza Minelli...
The communists gave my mother a job, teaching sculpture to limbless children.
SILVER Member
veteran
1,228 posts
Location: on the wrong planet, United Kingdom
veteran
1,228 posts
Location: on the wrong planet, United Kingdom
Posted:
My MacBook uses BootCamp to run windows, so it's completely separate from OSX. I do nearly all my network stuff in OSX, and just play games in windows. If I get a windows virus it doesn't bother me, as there isn't anything vital it can affect. There isn't any new software installed or downloaded into windows, so there's not much chance of viruses getting onto the system. I don't bother running anti virus all the time. I just share the whole drive and scan it from another windows computer every few weeks.
If you're not using any programs that access a network from within windows you can disable all the network adapters to make it more secure. If you don't need internet, but use a home network then you just need to switch from DHCP/automatically assigned entries and/or remove the entries for gateway/default router and dns servers from the TCP/IP section of the network adapter settings. Without them the computer has no way to talk to anything outside the home network.
MacDrive will let windows use the OSX disks, but I doubt there are many viruses that go to the trouble of downloading and installing it, as it's big, needs a serial number to run, and would make it noticable that something is going on, by your sudden ability to see the OSX drives from within windows. Of course if you've installed it yourself then viruses can try to mess with the OSX part of the disk, but hey won't find any .exe files to infect.
My MacBook uses BootCamp to run windows, so it's completely separate from OSX. I do nearly all my network stuff in OSX, and just play games in windows. If I get a windows virus it doesn't bother me, as there isn't anything vital it can affect. There isn't any new software installed or downloaded into windows, so there's not much chance of viruses getting onto the system. I don't bother running anti virus all the time. I just share the whole drive and scan it from another windows computer every few weeks.
If you're not using any programs that access a network from within windows you can disable all the network adapters to make it more secure. If you don't need internet, but use a home network then you just need to switch from DHCP/automatically assigned entries and/or remove the entries for gateway/default router and dns servers from the TCP/IP section of the network adapter settings. Without them the computer has no way to talk to anything outside the home network.
MacDrive will let windows use the OSX disks, but I doubt there are many viruses that go to the trouble of downloading and installing it, as it's big, needs a serial number to run, and would make it noticable that something is going on, by your sudden ability to see the OSX drives from within windows. Of course if you've installed it yourself then viruses can try to mess with the OSX part of the disk, but hey won't find any .exe files to infect.
You aren't thinking or really existing unless you're willing to risk even your own sanity in the judgment of your existence.
Green peppers, lime pickle and whole-grain mustard = best sandwich filling.
SILVER Member
veteran
1,228 posts
Location: on the wrong planet, United Kingdom
veteran
1,228 posts
Location: on the wrong planet, United Kingdom
Posted:
If you can find and get used to using replacements for windows programs then you can get rid of windows completely. If you can get the hang of using the Unix side of OSX, then there are a lot of programs from Linux/Open Source that can be used too.
If you can find and get used to using replacements for windows programs then you can get rid of windows completely. If you can get the hang of using the Unix side of OSX, then there are a lot of programs from Linux/Open Source that can be used too.
You aren't thinking or really existing unless you're willing to risk even your own sanity in the judgment of your existence.
Green peppers, lime pickle and whole-grain mustard = best sandwich filling.
BRONZE Member
veteran
1,247 posts
Location: lost, Canada
veteran
1,247 posts
Location: lost, Canada
Posted:
I only use windows for one thing, a program that only runs on it, and learning a new system would killme! I am still well behind on understanding this one!
But I thin, if I understand the gist of it, you are saying a virus can not likely effect my mac programs if I never use the windows on the internet to download anything. Right?
thanks!
smiles
a
I only use windows for one thing, a program that only runs on it, and learning a new system would killme! I am still well behind on understanding this one!
But I thin, if I understand the gist of it, you are saying a virus can not likely effect my mac programs if I never use the windows on the internet to download anything. Right?
thanks!
smiles
a
"God *was* my co-pilot, but then we crashed, and I had to eat him..."
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