Vista - Changing File Type

I've got a 2GB video file that has the wrong file type extension. How do I
change this file type? I can't do it from its Properties, or by Renaming, or
from its Folder, and of course it won't open with Notepad etc. I don't have
any compatible video editor.

JM

What file type is this video file and what file type extension do you wish
to convert it to? The Movie Maker program that is included in Vista may be
able to do the conversion.

--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User


"JM" <JM@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:022C3E3A-5D9E-45F4-9965-CE9A7FB01AA1@microsoft.com...
> I've got a 2GB video file that has the wrong file type extension. How do I
> change this file type? I can't do it from its Properties, or by Renaming,
> or
> from its Folder, and of course it won't open with Notepad etc. I don't
> have
> any compatible video editor.

JM wrote:
> I've got a 2GB video file that has the wrong file type extension. How
> do I change this file type? I can't do it from its Properties, or by
> Renaming, or from its Folder, and of course it won't open with
> Notepad etc. I don't have any compatible video editor.

Have you shown file extensions in Explorer and changed it that way? I've
changed file extensions with no problems in Vista.

I'm not sure if just changing the extension will allow the file to open but
open Explorer, go Tools / Folder Options / View / <uncheck Hide Extensions
....>. You should then be able to change the extension.

If you want to convert the file to another type completely try
www.videohelp.com/convert for some tutorials and tools.

Thanks for your help. I have tried to change the file extension inside
Explorer, but it doesn't let me do that (I've got XP). Do I have to click
something to do that?

Windows Movie Maker doesn't work, because the file extension is .avi, yet it
is really a .daa file. So of course it returns that it cannot read it. But my
question is really about how to change the file extension in general; I
usually do it by opening in Notepad and resaving, but I cannot do that with a
large video file.

JM

"Neil Harley" wrote:

> JM wrote:
> > I've got a 2GB video file that has the wrong file type extension. How
> > do I change this file type? I can't do it from its Properties, or by
> > Renaming, or from its Folder, and of course it won't open with
> > Notepad etc. I don't have any compatible video editor.
>
> Have you shown file extensions in Explorer and changed it that way? I've
> changed file extensions with no problems in Vista.
>
> I'm not sure if just changing the extension will allow the file to open but
> open Explorer, go Tools / Folder Options / View / <uncheck Hide Extensions
> ....>. You should then be able to change the extension.
>
> If you want to convert the file to another type completely try
> www.videohelp.com/convert for some tutorials and tools.
>
>
>

I just found the answer: hidden somewhere in my Folder options, I had a box
"Hide file extension of known type" ticked, so it didn't appear in the file
name.

"JM" wrote:

> Thanks for your help. I have tried to change the file extension inside
> Explorer, but it doesn't let me do that (I've got XP). Do I have to click
> something to do that?
>
> Windows Movie Maker doesn't work, because the file extension is .avi, yet it
> is really a .daa file. So of course it returns that it cannot read it. But my
> question is really about how to change the file extension in general; I
> usually do it by opening in Notepad and resaving, but I cannot do that with a
> large video file.
>
> JM
>
> "Neil Harley" wrote:
>
> > JM wrote:
> > > I've got a 2GB video file that has the wrong file type extension. How
> > > do I change this file type? I can't do it from its Properties, or by
> > > Renaming, or from its Folder, and of course it won't open with
> > > Notepad etc. I don't have any compatible video editor.
> >
> > Have you shown file extensions in Explorer and changed it that way? I've
> > changed file extensions with no problems in Vista.
> >
> > I'm not sure if just changing the extension will allow the file to open but
> > open Explorer, go Tools / Folder Options / View / <uncheck Hide Extensions
> > ....>. You should then be able to change the extension.
> >
> > If you want to convert the file to another type completely try
> > www.videohelp.com/convert for some tutorials and tools.
> >
> >
> >

JM wrote:
> I just found the answer: hidden somewhere in my Folder options, I had
> a box "Hide file extension of known type" ticked, so it didn't appear
> in the file name.

as per the instructions in my post ;-)

please you sorted it