Wrong FileExt (.mpeg) when downloading MP3s!

My machine has started changing the .mp3 file extension to .mpeg. on downloads! Altho they play whether or not I change back the extension, it's very annoying since I use different players for each. Anyone have any idea on how to fix this glitch (in the registry or elsewhere)??
Thanx
(using XPsp2)

 

Run these commands from a command session and see if you get the results listed in red:

C:\>assoc.mpg (enter)
.mpg=mpegfile

C:\>assoc.mpeg (enter)
.mpeg=mpegfile

 

Thanx for the prompt response.
Sorry for my ignorance, but I'm unfamiliar w/command sessions. I assume that they're initiated w/the Command Prompt, but mine starts out w/ "C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>" &, any way I try to enter "C:\>assoc.__ ", the command is not recognized. If, however, I just enter "assoc.__ ", it works(?). I have no idea if these results are relevant:
- "assoc.mpg" brings up my WMP(!) w/out any result in the Command Prompt;
- "assoc.mpeg" results in ".mpeg=Winamp.File" (I changed the association from WMP to Winamp so that I didn't have to keep changing FileExts);
- "assoc.mp3" has the result ".mp3=Winamp.File ".
Please tell me what (if anything) I'm doing wrong. I have no idea what to make of the results, & any further help would be appreciated.

 

Your doing fine. Go back to the command prompt again and type:

assoc.mpg=mpegfile (enter)

assoc.mpeg=mpegfile (enter)

Now retry the steps I outlined in my first post and see if the results agree with what I listed.

If that doesn't cure the problem it will be due to some program having stolen the association for these files. That's sometime hard to reverse but what I have found to be the easiest way is to assign those extensions to Irfanview temporarily. If you don't have Irfanview, you can get it with a Google search. Then open it and go to Options > Set File Associations to make the change.

 

-User-

Another simpler way to correct extentions is to call up windows explorer and use the tools > folder options > file types tab and scroll down to the extention in question and use the change button.

 

surferdude2:
Thanx for the tips - my main problem's solved! The Command Prompt didn't do it, & changing the file associations to IrfanView (I love Irfanview!) actually made matters worse! But I ran w/the idea (never thot of it myself) &, after a lot of screwing around, found that temporarily assigning both mpeg & mp3 to WMP solved the offending glitch. I've now associated both w/Winamp, having found that it plays MPEGs better than WMP on my sys.
My results in the command session were ".mpeg=mpegfile" until I associated it w/Winamp. It's now ".mpeg=Winamp.File" (& ".mp3=Winamp.File "). I know I must still have a problem since, no matter what I do, "assoc.mpg" just brings up a player (whether it's WMP, IrfanView, Winamp, or Real), but at least I don't have to change the FileType every time I DL an mp3.
You're probably right about a program screwing w/my file associations - I first noticed the problem after installing QuickTime. Unistalling it was one of the initial steps I took to try to rectify things. The upside is that, after uninstalling but leaving those parts not recommended to uninstall, both IrfanView & Real both still play MOVs (with, hopefully, no more of that persistent "qttask" to annoy me anymore - I hate QuickTime)!
Thanx again for the advice (assigning extensions to different players was a winning idea which eventually worked, & I really needed some education on using the Command Prompt - so far, hacking the registry & messing w/settings have been my main troubleshooting methods but clearing up some of my confusion re the Command Prompt should open up some new doors. Guess I can go back & delete the useless reg keys I created while trying to resolve things!). Altho I'm pretty happy with things functionally now, any further comments or suggestions re the "assoc.mpg" results would sure be welcomed.

sparrow:
Thanx for the response but "Folder Options" was one of the first things I tried & it provided no indication of a problem. Thanx anyway.

 

I'm happy that you were able to work around the problem successfully.

Association problems can often be frustrating.

I must clarify something about the command assoc. It has some limitations but is still a useful tool. It can only change the default or user chosen assignments it seems. It lacks the power to override assignments that are strongly coded into many programs. It is best at reassigning associations that are in limbo and incorrect. That's why I suggested that you use Irfanview since it can exercise greater power and it has a friendlier interface than anything else I could think of at the moment.

You can get some further info on the assoc command capabilities by typing assoc /? in a command line.

If you're interested in XP command line usage, create a new Desktop Shortcut and paste the following line in the target field:

%windir%\hh.exe ms-its:C:\WINDOWS\Help\ntcmds.chm::/ntcmds.htm

Name it Command Line Help and that will give you a handy reference to all the XP command line commands and syntax.

 

Obviously, I've got an awful lot more to learn, and "Command Line Help" looks like an excellent way to get at it. Thanx again.