Downloading File Help

[Finn]

I've been trying to download some files. But it keeps sending to the adobe reader, which won't recognize the file which is understandable since it is not something to be read as a PDF file. How do I change the settings for downloading files? Thank you.

The OS is Windows 7 by the way.

 

[ALF]

I don't have windows 7... but what format are the files in? Are they jpgs, avis?

 

[Finn]

It's a .dat file in a zip file.

 

[sojourner]

If you are selecting a link on a webpage to download the file and you don't want it to open automatically, then select the link by rightclicking and choosing "save link as". This will download the file to a location and allow you to open it afterward with your program of choice.

If you are trying to access files in a .zip that you have already downloaded, double click the .zip to open it. Then you should be able to select the .dat file inside by right clicking, select the "open with" option and choose what program to open it with.

 

[Marc]

It's a .dat file in a zip file.

That's your problem right there.

Windows keeps a list of file type associated with an application e.g if a file is called trekbbs.pdf it knows to open the file with Acrobat or a pdf reader.

It works solely on the extension - it doesn't look into the file to determin the relevant application.

Somehow .dat has become an file associated with Acrobat.

Under Windows 7, go into Control Panel then to Default Files. There's an option in there called "set associations" while will allow to you break the association between .dat files and Acrobat.

 

[Finn]

Okay. .dat isn't on the longgg list. Also, what do I change it to? (I'm trying to download some files for Sim City 4).

Okay, I have been playing around with my laptop and my fiancee's (which has Windows 7 too). It appears her laptop can recognize compressed zip files while mine cannot. I saved a sim city file on my USB. On her laptop, it appears as a zip compressed file but if I try to open it on my laptop, it get directed to abode reader.

 

[sojourner]

So your problem is with .zip files, not .dat files. Go do the association thing again but this time look for .zip.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Your browser might have it's associations set wrong too. Firefox has a list similar to Windows as far as file extensions and what app to use for opening it.

Not sure where this is in IE8, since I never use it and it's different enough from IE6 at work.

 

[ALF]

You can't open SimCity 4 and load the file directly?

 

[Iasius]

You can't open SimCity 4 and load the file directly?

Sim City 4 plugin files are .dat and you have to place them manually in the plugins folder.