[TUT] How to enable file extensions

[Chickenultra]

How to enable file extensions

You may be thinking, WTF is he talking about, but this guide will help you. File extensions are usually three letters preceded by a period in a file, for example, I'm type this up in HTEFE.txt. The txt part tells your operating system what kind of file this is. Txt stands for text so the computer knows to open it with Notepad.



Enabling file extensions helps you protect yourself from viruses. Viruses are usually exe, vbs, etc. Never download a file with an exe from an untrusted site!

Ok let's begin, open up any folder.

My Documents folder

Next go to the top and click Options->Folder Options


Now a popup like this should be on the screen


Click on the View tab


You should now see something like this:


Look near the bottom


Click on show file extensions


And if you want you can also click on show hidden files and see what's taking up space on your computer


Tada! :doh:

Some potentially harmful extensions
.ade Access Project Extension (Microsoft)
.adp Access Project (Microsoft)
.app Executable Application
.asp Active Server Page
.bas BASIC Source Code
.bat Batch Processing
.cer Internet Security Certificate File
.chm Compiled HTML Help
.cmd DOS CP/M Command File, Command File for Windows NT
.com Command
.cpl Windows Control Panel Extension (Microsoft)
.crt Certificate File
.csh csh Script
.exe Executable File
.fxp FoxPro Compiled Source (Microsoft)
.hlp Windows Help File
.hta Hypertext Application
.inf Information or Setup File
.ins IIS Internet Communications Settings (Microsoft)
.isp IIS Internet Service Provider Settings (Microsoft)
.its Internet Document Set, Internation Translation
.js JavaScript Source Code
.jse JScript Encoded Script File
.ksh UNIX Shell Script
.lnk Windows Shortcut File
.mad Access Module Shortcut (Microsoft)
.maf Access (Microsoft)
.mag Access Diagram Shortcut (Microsoft)
.mam Access Macro Shortcut (Microsoft)
.maq Access Query Shortcut (Microsoft)
.mar Access Report Shortcut (Microsoft)
.mas Access Stored Procedures (Microsoft)
.mat Access Table Shortcut (Microsoft)
.mau Media Attachment Unit
.mav Access View Shortcut (Microsoft)
.maw Access Data Access Page (Microsoft)
.mda Access Add-in (Microsoft), MDA Access 2 Workgroup (Microsoft)
.mdb Access Application (Microsoft), MDB Access Database (Microsoft)
.mde Access MDE Database File (Microsoft)
.mdt Access Add-in Data (Microsoft)
.mdw Access Workgroup Information (Microsoft)
.mdz Access Wizard Template (Microsoft)
.msc Microsoft Management Console Snap-in Control File (Microsoft)
.msi Windows Installer File (Microsoft)
.msp Windows Installer Patch
.mst Windows SDK Setup Transform Script
.ops Office Profile Settings File
.pcd Visual Test (Microsoft)
.pif Windows Program Information File (Microsoft)
.prf Windows System File
.prg Program File
.pst MS Exchange Address Book File, Outlook Personal Folder File (Microsoft)
.reg Registration Information/Key for W95/98, Registry Data File
.scf Windows Explorer Command
.scr Windows Screen Saver
.sct Windows Script Component, Foxpro Screen (Microsoft)
.shb Windows Shortcut into a Document
.shs Shell Scrap Object File
.tmp Temporary File/Folder
.url Internet Location
.vb VBScript File or Any VisualBasic Source
.vbe VBScript Encoded Script File
.vbs VBScript Script File, Visual Basic for Applications Script
.vsmacros Visual Studio .NET Binary-based Macro Project (Microsoft)
.vss Visio Stencil (Microsoft)
.vst Visio Template (Microsoft)
.vsw Visio Workspace File (Microsoft)
.ws Windows Script File
.wsc Windows Script Component
.wsf Windows Script File
.wsh Windows Script Host Settings File

[Zypur]

Very nice guide! This is getting you one step closer to guide writter rank.

[Chickenultra]

Thanks, I'm trying to maintain my levels of quality when making these

Nice guide. Keep up the good work and you will be sure t get the Guide Writers Rank.

hey chicken you said that you have done 7 guides although, at this stage not many of them count towards your writter guide because they need to be rated "3+ stars"

Anyways nice guide here though, starred.

[Chickenultra]

Meh, I'll ask them to rate them after I have 12

[Richard]

Thanks! I use this often.

+rep for effort - thanks.

Great guide! If you felt like it, you could post every file extension, and what it stands for :ninja: :P :P

3.5/5 <--- Rating

+Rep, thanks for yet another guide

[Chickenultra]

Added harmful ones, if I list all, it would take me several hours, to do a fraction because there's no limit to how many :doh:

[Amit]

Nice guide, I always have the extensions enabled.

Are you running Vista :O, Or just skinned?