Renaming Files - A Question

[Jericho]

Only recently when I try to rename a file (photo or music) I get the prompt:

If you change a file name extension, the file may become unusable...

I understand that, and I now know to in include the .jpg or whatever in the new title.

But... I never had to do this before and wonder WHAT made my Windows suddenly (1) display the file extension type... I don't think it was there previously and (2) make me retitle it thus.

Was this a new development in a Windows update or something? :confused:

[Sylvander]

"If you change a file name extension, the file may become unusable"
This is just Windows playing safe and warning you just in case you don't know what you are doing.
I sometimes change the extension to a different one knowing that it will work just fine ["txt" to "bat" for example].
So don't worry about that warning if you know what you are doing.

"when I try to rename a file"
Was the extension showing, and did you avoid renaming that part?

"WHAT made my Windows suddenly (1) display the file extension type"
If your file extension is hidden when you rename the file, then you will be renaming the extension without being aware that you're doing it.
Make sure to configure Windows so that all file extensions are unhidden.
I'm wondering if you are renaming a file that has an extension that isn't showing.
e.g
MyImage
with the jpg extension hidden.
Then you change the name to:
MyImage.jpg
with the jpg extension still hidden.
[I believe a period is an allowed character in a filename.]
So if you unhid the extension you would see:
MyImage.jpg.jpg

[123456]

To fix this, go to COntrol Panel.
Go to the "Folder Options."
Click the "View" tab on the top.
Check the box "Hide file extensions for known file types."
http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/5055/folders1mw.jpg
Great. Now hit "Apply" and then "OK."
No more worrying about renaming file extensions.
PS-It is safe to rename a .txt to .INI.

[Sylvander]

How do you manage to display an image as large as that? :confused:

[Jericho]

Thanks very much! Still wonder how that box got unchecked.... oh well, all is well. :)

[jcnoernberg]

How do you manage to display an image as large as that? :confused:

a remotely hosted pic?

http://img379.imageshack.us/img379/5055/folders1mw.jpg

[Sylvander]

Understood :)

So how long will you leave that image on that site?
When you remove it, then it will disappear from this thread.