Hey Grace,



Regardless of what you're downloading, (program, document, picture, etc.) you're actually downloading a file. It's the file extention (*.exe, *.doc, *.jpg) that determines what program will open or execute the file.



Download files to a directory on your hard drive. Once saved on your hard drive, double-click the file. If you have the program that associates with the file, then it will automatically open. If not, you should get a list of programs asking you which one to use to open the file. Normally, getting that list automatically means that you don't have the right program.



If you often have wordpad opening files, then you may have accidentally set it as the default to open most downloads. There is a way to reset that, but unfortunately I completely forgot how. Maybe somebody else here will have the answer, so check back periodically.



Scuzzy



 

Hi Grace and welcome to the forum.



Like Scuzzy I have forgotten the procedure to set the extention but I am certain that one of our resident experts will be along before too long to help you straighten this out. It is a simple check to a file association ext. but I can't remember where you go to do it.



Hurry back,



Joanie

Grace,



I'm certainly no expert, but this may be what you're looking for.  If not I hope others jump in here and set you/me straight...



Open "My Computer", click on the "View" menu, click on "Folder Options"



Click the "File Types" tab.



Then find the type of file you want to want to open. Select it.



Click "Edit"



In "Actions" click "Open"



Click "Edit"



In the "Application used to perform Action" window select the program you want to open that type of file..



Click "OK"



Close out and you may have to reboot but, if you've done it right, when you click on the icon of the file type you messed with, the program you selected should open that file.



Hope that helps you out cause that's all I know...







Don G

Yea!! that's it.



You did good Don G.



Joanie



 

Someone please help me!  I am so computer illiterate.  Sometimes when I download something, be it a document or a photograph, it downloads in WordPad and all I get are symbols and hieroglyphics. I've thought maybe it had something to do with the fact that it might have originally been on a zip drive or that I didn't have the particular program the sender was using.  However, it happens so often that I am now believing it is something I am doing or not doing correctly and it can be rectified.  I don't really know enough about different formats to even have an intelligent conversation about my problem...If anyone has some insight, I beg you, don't laugh at my stupidity, just share the info.  Thanks so much.