very complicated file

[UkGamer]

VERY VERY VERY HARD PROBLEM

i have tried for a while and posted two threads but to no avail so here is my problem in full detail for some of you very smart people to solve...

ok , i downloaded a program 160mb in size in mp3 format and i cant open it heres what i tried

1. Renaming the file to exe , didnt work the file is write protected or in use , unticked read only, no effect

2. in use ?:confused:? i thought , virus check finds nothing but while it is checking it the extension is iso ??

3. downloaded Daemon tools , open file, says please wait for a while then just gives up and goes back to normal

other strange stuff is when i right click to go to its properties it takes about 1min to load (probably its size though)

please help this is really annoying me now and probably you too :mad:

[Paul Komski]

Do you want to rip or burn this file?

Sounds like its an iso and just needs burning to a CD.

Why would you want to change the file extension?

Are you maybe hiding file extensions for known programs - if so unhide them etc etc - see http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2002092715262339 for details

PS
What burning software do you have?

Using some virtual drives requires a CD to begin with - others can utilise an iso or other image file of a CD.

[UkGamer]

i dont want to burn it i just want to open and use the program

i wanted to change the extension because instead of it installing or running the program it opened in winamp , and that couldnt do anything with it

i have nero express 5.5 i think

[Paul Komski]

We realise you want to use the program - or at least to use the downloaded file(s) inside the image with an appropriate program.

It is not 100% clear what this file's file-extension is. Is it .mp3, .mpg or .iso or .... ??? If, as you have indicated, it is .iso then this file is a CD "image file". It is not a CD but a representation of a CD and must either be converted to a real or to a virtual CD before the file or files (the ones you want to access) inside it can be used by you.

You have Nero, so get a blank CDR and stick it in your burner. Open Nero Burning ROM and close any supplementary windows and wizards till you are left with just its main window. From the file menu choose burn image - then browse to your iso file and open it in Nero. You should be presented now with a Write CD Window. Hit the Write button, follow any prompts and sit back until the image has been burned, the CD drawer has opened and closed and the burn verified.

Now see what is on your new CD. If it is an audio cd get ready for "the sound of music".

[UkGamer]

ok it was a .mp3 (extension, file not actually music ) but when i put it on cd it says creating iso names and then i get a file that windows dosent recongnise that has no extension .

file type in properties says , File type = file

winzip doesnt work ,is there an application for installing things?? any better ideas

thanks for help so far

[pave_spectre]

If it isn't audio, why did it have mp3 as the extension?

Doesn't sound very legitimate, and until you know what the file actually is you can't do a lot with it.

[Paleo Pete]

Doesn't sound legit to me either, a program file should have .exe or .bat [usually] as the extension, not .mp3, which is an audio file.

The question has already been asked, are you hiding known filename extensions? Check the post above and the link posted, and be sure you are seeing the actual extension and not a fake one. Your comment that the virus scan sees an ISO extension also makes me suspicious, if what you SEE is .MP3...Annoyances.org (http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article01-401) also has clear instructions for showing filename extensions.

And where was it downloaded from? Reputable website? Kazaa? IRC?

[UkGamer]

the only other thing i can find in the discs properties says type iso/joliet and that it takes ages to virus scan it (it is
not finished yet) compared to folders that are even larger

[david eaton]

From your description, it sounds as if this an ISO image file.
The only thing that can be done with it is to use Nero to burn it to a CD, as described above by Paul Komski. . Then the file(s) will be readable with the appropriate application.

[UkGamer]

now all i need to do is find the appropriate application for a file that has no extesion and no type...

[Paul Komski]

Assuming the file has no extension (and not just a hidden extension) then you cannot associate such a file extension since there is nothing to associate it with. Files that truly have no extension are rare and nearly always sytem files (eg ntldr), a "flat file" database or certain hex images. Basically what I am saying is that if this downloaded file (purporting to be music of one sort or another) has no file extension it is intrinsically suspicious or was the result of a bad or incomplete download.

If you really want to do some detective work and to get to grips with what it really is then you need to examine its underying code with a "hexadecimal file or disk editor". TinyHexer from http://www.mirkes.de/en/freeware/tinyhex.php would do this for you. You would need to use it to open your file, read the first few lines of hex code, then copy and post them here for interpretation. The first few bytes of such code should quickly indicate whether this was a windows executable or not. If the first two bytes are 4d and 5a (representing the text MZ) then that is much the most likely diagnosis - and if it were on my PC I would be dumping it sooner than later.

[UkGamer]

MZ�

yep, this is what i got (above) when i pasted the first 2 lines of code. so what does this mean ???

[Paul Komski]

That makes it an executable. Where did you get it from (do you have a link?) and have you scanned it with an antivirus. I would be very suspicious of any unknown executable.

More info under the paragrphp "File format history" at http://www.attryde.com/clarion/cw_dbgsym.htm

[UkGamer]

it doesnt really matter anymore , i dont think i'll ever find out how to open it but your help was much apperciated anyway

thanks all