Music software installation problems

Hi there,
I'm rather new to computing so I hope that you don't all laugh too much at my questions. The problems that I have been experiencing are as follows. When attempting to install certain programs I receive the following message - 'Caution' You are attempting to open a file of type 'Application extension' (.dll).
This is followed by - Windows cannot open this file - To open this file windows needs to know what program created it. Windows can go online to look it up automatically, or you can manually select it from a list of programs on your computer. Both of which I have tried but to no avail. I'm sure this is common problem with an easy solution, but due to my inexperience I,m lost to know what to do. These problems occur with both downloaded and CD-ROM based software, but only certain sofware. If anyone out there could help me out I would be eternally grateful.
Thanks for your help.
All the best, Paul.

 

You appear to be clicking on a DLL file to try and install . When installing there is usually an *.exe file with a name such as setup.exe or install.exe which you should run to install the program.


HumBug

 

Paul - everyone on here was a beginner at some point so if anyone laughs or makes rude remarks, they are simply showing themselves to be rude idiots.

To further HumBug's (correct) explanation, the only files that your PC can "run" are programs. They will have an ending of .exe (all the newer ones) or .com or .bat.

A .dll file is a "dynamic link library" and contains information the program will need to perform tasks. However, it is for sure not a program and cannot be "run ".

The reason some files other than the program files I mentioned above will appear to run when clicked on is that the PC keeps a list of file associations which basically tell it "if the operator clicks on a file ending in .xxx, start xxx.exe and load this file into it ".

Common examples are files ending in .doc (document) which will open your primary word processor and then have it open the document, files ending in .jpg (a type of picture) which will open your primary picture program and then load the picture.

 

Newt

Always remember when i was learning back in DOS days using the command deltree/y .........only wanted to delete a folder except I had it in the root directory C:\ ..........cleaned my hard drive off very quickly-good as a format nearly

Am still just as capable of doing similar things when I am in a hurry and do not take a second look to make sure I am doing what I think I am


HumBug