Netscape mail files shown as "Winamp Media file" in Explorer

I was going to back up my inbox and sent box in my Netscape Mail program (v4.79) and I noticed that all my mail files are characterized as "Winamp media files" in Explorer. In the past they were always characterized as *.txt files. What has happened? When I try to open them using a right click, I have no option to open unless I hold down the Shift key and choose Wordpad as the opening program. How did this happen? Maybe it explains the bizarre behavior I noticed the other night with my inbox. Can I change the characterization back to *.txt or whatever it should be? Has anyone else had this problem. Was it a virus that did this? Help Ramona!!!!!!!!!

 

Yikes!

You have done a virus scan with NAV, and came up clean, so you should be able to exclude a virus.

Sometimes an incorrect date on a message can cause the mail to go beserk, or a looping of incoming messages.

Have you tried changing your file associations?
This time, when you right click on one of the mentioned files, press the Shift key, select Wordpad/Notepad, and insert a tick in "Always use this program to open this type of file ". That should remove the file association from WinAmp.

As to why this happened, I have no idea, but I'm searching for an answer.

Ramona

 

Hi Ramona,
Thanks for your response. When I rebooted my computer, the winamp association with the mail files disappeared and now it just says "file" with each mail folder.
I could have done what you stated about associating those files with *.txt, but then any winamp files I have on my computer would also have been changed, so I was reluctant to do that when I first discovered this problem. Something in the mail was really ******* up as I mentioned in an earlier post at this site. Somehow it seems to have gotten straightened out, but it remains a mystery.

 

Hi ackerberg,

now it just says "file" with each mail folder

Do your mail files have a .txt extension?

Yes, something definitely went beserk when you dragged the file from folder to folder. Did you look at that particular file for any unique features that would set it apart? That is the key to the puzzle.

Another question, when you originally saved the mail files, what was the extension? I don't use Winamp, so I haven't a clue.

Also, were all text files changed to Winamp files, or only the mail files which you were archiving?

I found this information for you:

The files are being saved with no extension and Winamp has erroneously become associated with files with no extension (a known old bug).

From: The Official Winamp 2x Bug List

Regular known bugs:

Peter's comments:
#6. association with extensionless files (occurs randomly)
Just happened on my second comp and it seriously ticked me off.

Egg's comments:
Yes, this one's cropped up a few times in the past, but was supposed to be fixed.
It's something to do with "Register Files on Winamp start ". The only way to get rid of it is to uncheck that option, then edit the registry under: H_C_R/. (ie. the "full-stop" key for extensionless files, near top of list)
Remove: "Winamp.File" under default string, etc.

From: TSGH -> Useful Links -> File Associations section : Further info = here

* fixed in v2.77

_______________

If Winamp is wrongly associated with .txt files, then the best way to fix it is via Windows Folder Options -> File Types tab.
Scroll down for & select: TXT (Text File)
Advanced button (WinME/2k/XP) / Edit button (Win9x)
Under actions, select "Open" -> Edit
App used: C:\Windows\Notepad.exe
Click "okay "
Back in original Advanced/Edit box, reselect "Open ", click "set default "

In future, make sure when saving the files, the full file name and extension is typed,
e.g. email-1.txt


Ramona

 

Thanks Ramona for tracking this down. My Netscape mail files are now extensionless and I suspect that is what caused the problem. The other text files on my hard drive were not affected.
Seems like I could upgrade to v2.78, I currently have v2.5 lite. I did not quite understand the Registry correction that I would have to make, did you? When you look at your inbox or sent mail files, do they have extensions?

 

Hi ackerberg,

I did not quite understand the Registry correction that I would have to make, did you?

Yes I did. Run Regedit, then highlight HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

In my Registry HKCR, the second folder is the "extensionless" or with only a . (dot).
When you highlight the folder, I assume that Winamp will be listed. Not having Winamp, I have no way of knowing. If it is listed, then you would delete that Default value.
Back up your Registry first.

When you look at your inbox or sent mail files, do they have extensions?

If you mean in my Users\Mail folder, then no, the only files with extensions are the .snm files.

If you mean my archived mail, then yes, as I always save them as individual .txt files. I hope I am understanding your question correctly!

Ramona

 

Hi Ramona,
Thanks again for your help and also Alice has helped me too. I looked in the registry with the (.) but find nothing in there but default. My mail folders now have no extension and the description is simply file when I look at them in explorer. I did notice that for some reason Winamp is located in my user file of Netscape, just below the mail files. Maybe when I dragged some files from one folder to another, something happened to mix up my computer if that makes any sense.
Anyway, I'm going to upgrade Netscape and choose to get the most current Winamp which apparently does not have this problem. Will keep you informed. Thanks again.

 

ackerberg,

My mail folders now have no extension and the description is simply file when I look at them in explorer.

That is correct. When opening the Mail folder in Explorer your file type for Inbox would be "File ", but the file type for Inbox.snm would be "SNM File ". However, when you highlight and save/archive your email to the HD, you would then save it as a .txt file. Are we on the same page here?

I did notice that for some reason Winamp is located in my user file of Netscape, just below the mail files. Maybe when I dragged some files from one folder to another, something happened to mix up my computer if that makes any sense.

That is indeed strange, and it shouldn't be located there. Is it a Winamp folder?

I also wonder, when you were dragging files from your unsent mail folder to the draft folder, were there by chance music files in any of the emails?

Here's hoping the newer version of Winamp and of Netscape will get you up and running, problem free! Keep us posted.

Ramona

P.S. Would you care to share the information from Alice with us?

 

Hi Ramona,
Thanks again for all your help. I thought when Winamp was first installed it came as a plugin. It is currently located here:
C\ProgramFiles\Netscape\Communicator\Winamp\Winamp.exe
Now when I checked the Netscape software update, it indicated that my winamp(v2.5Lite) was installed and when I checked to install it again, thinking I might get a newer version, it would give me v2.75 when I need v2.77+ to avoid the problem with extensionless folders. So I also went to the Winamp site and downloaded the latest version which is v2.78 and started the install thinking it would go to the folder with the current Winamp but it did not. It wanted to make a folder in
C\Program Files.
At this point I would like to dump the Netscape plugin Winamp but do not know how to do it, since Winamp does not appear as an uninstall option in the Control Panel/Add-Remove programs. If I could do this I would then simply install the newest version, but not as a plugin.
Do you know how to uninstall a plugin? I looked in a Netscape book but there is no mention of it at all nor any mention in Help.

 

Hi ackerberg,

To remove a plugin:

With Communicator open, click on "Help" About Plugins. Scroll down to the Winamp plugin. Copy the name of the plugin, eg.: winamp.dll

Close Communicator
Scroll to \Netscape\Communicator\Program\Plugins
Delete, or rename the Winamp plugin file/files

After you have deleted the Program with the Add/Remove applet, and before installing the updated version:

I would then do a "Find" for Winamp and delete anything that comes up.

Only if you are comfortable in the Registry...... and back up first:

I would run RegEdit
Do a "Find" for Winamp and Nullsoft and delete anything keys associated with Winamp, that come up

Let me know if you have more questions!

Cheers!

Ramona

 

Hi ackerberg,

I just wanted to add, on renaming or deleting the winamp plugin:

Renaming a plugin will result in Netscape using either another "enabled" plugin for the content, such as LiveAudio for certain audio files, or whatever program is currently associated with the content type in Preferences Navigator Applications, for example, Windows Media Player or Real Player for other audio files.

If you still have the WinAmp program installed, renaming or removing the plugin will not remove the program or the file associations to it. You have to uninstall the program for that. It still might be a good idea to disable a plugin by renaming or deleting if you prefer not to use the plugin, for whatever reason.

If you used SmartUpdate to install WinAmp you could try UNinstalling from Edit Preferences Advanced SmartUpdate. Otherwise, try your downloaded WinAmp 2.78 install again and this time look for an option to install to another folder, such as a "browse" button, then install to the same folder (C:\Program Files\Netscape\Communicator\WinAmp\ is what you mentiuoned). That way you should get a regular Add/Remove Entry.

 

Many thanks Ramona and Alice! I really appreciated your help.
This is what I did.
A couple of days ago I downloaded the newest version of Winamp v2.78 and this morning I loaded it into the directory of the previous Winamp, which was: Program Files/Netscape/Communicator/ Winamp.
Everything went easily after I did a custom install to make sure I did not get programs I did not want, and to make sure that Winamp didn't take over my computer by opening every file in sight.
The advantage of this install is that I now have the option to uninstall in the Control Panel-> Add/Remove Programs which did not exist before. So all seems well and if the bug which made Winamp take over my extensionless mail files has been fixed, then I shouldn't have that problem again.
Once again, many thanks!!!!!

 

ackerberg,

Bravo!

I hope that in the future your Winamp problems will be nonexistent.

Ramona

 

ackerberg,

Glad you got Winamp under control. Shame on Netscape for not giving an uninstall entry.

I guess the lesson here is to avoid downloading the "complete" version of Communicator since the only difference is that the base install doesn't include RealPlayer and WinAmp (found that on Ramona's Solutions page). Those are better gotten by separate download and install.