[OT computers] Why MPGA?

[Darklance]

I have a friend with a problem. Every time he downloads an MP3 (and I know it an MP3 because when it downloads on my computer it is an MP3) it shows up as an MPEGA file type. In this format he can't ge them into some programs to edit as it only accepts .MP3s and .Wav. The program he uses to play his files is Real Media which I have no experience in.

I'm thinking it it converting it because of some file association problem. Anyone know why it keeps getting converted? Thanks.

 

[Neowolf]

My suggestion is a bit harsh: he needs to uninstall any Real Media programs (Realplayer, Real Jukebox, etc.) and not put them back on. He could use Winamp to play MP3s, and there's also a beta version available that plays video files (.mpg, .avi, etc.). I'm not sure why Real Media is converting his MP3s into MPGs, but it doesn't surprise me that they're messing with his files.

 

[Saracen]

It sounds like files with the .mp3 extension have been associated with an application other than what the one he wants to use. Assuming that your friend is using on of the Windows 9x OS's and not an Apple OS do the following to change the associated file type:

In My Computer or Windows Explorer, on the View menu, click Folder Options.

Click the File Types tab.

In the list of file types, click the one you want to change.
Click Edit.

In Actions, click Open.
Click Edit.

In Application used to perform action, enter the program you want to use to open files that have this extension, and then click OK.

 

[pensiv]

well, mp3s are mpeg files, but that's a different story. Are you saying that as soon as he downloads a file, it renames to mpga? What is he using to download the file? Or does the file get renamed when he opens it in another program?

If you want to change them back to mp3, you can just rename the file, but I don't understand how the file extension could be spontaneously changed like that.

 

[Psionicist]

Uninstall all "Real" programs as fast as possible. Realplayer and similiar programs must be one the most bloated programs ever next to Gator, ICQ and Win XP ( ).

 

[madriel]

Realplayer tries to take over your computer and make it really hard to use any other media program to play files. I hate not being able to keep it on my computer because two websites I like to visit only offer files in Realplayer format, but Realplayer can mess up your computer.

 

[Psionicist]

Under Win9x/ME
Save this as SOMETHING.REG and run it. It will prompt you to add somethin to the registery, click Ok.

REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\MIME\Database\Content Type\audio/mpeg]
"Extension"=".mp3"

Under Win2000/NT/XP
Save this as SOMETHING.REG and run it. It will prompt you to add somethin to the registery, click Ok.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\MIME\Database\Content Type\audio/mpeg]
"Extension"=".mp3"