Changing a file extension in Windows XP is a fairly simple operation that will only take you a couple of minutes. What is the file extension? How do I make it visible and then change it?
What is file extension
The file extension in any operating system is the last few characters following the period in the file name, for example: filename.txt (text file) or filename.zip (archive). They are designed so that the programs installed on your computer can recognize how to work with the file. If the extension is changed incompetently, for example, from.txt to.avi, the computer will not be able to open the file correctly. But sometimes it is necessary to change the extension, for example, for programmers working with HTML. The original code is written in a text file created by Notepad, saved, and then the extension is manually changed to.html. This file now opens as a web page using a browser by default.
How to see the file extension
By default, Windows XP does not allow the user to see file extensions. To access them, you should open any folder, click "service" in the top panel, select the item "folder properties". In the menu that opens, go to the “view” tab, scroll down the list and uncheck the box “hide extensions for registered file types”. After that click "apply" and close the menu. Now, in all folders on the computer, each file will have not only the name part, but also the extension following the period. An important clarification: the extension is the characters following the last period in the file name. For example, the file.exe.doc will not be interpreted by the computer as an executable.exe file, but as a Microsoft Word document. It is very important to always see the file extension. There is still a virus on the Internet disguised as a harmless text file. An inexperienced user who has hidden extensions sees the name like this: "Read me.doc", but in fact the full name of the file is "Read me.doc.bat". This file can harm the system if it contains a "virus" code. Always be careful when opening files you don't know where they came from.
File extension change
This is an extremely simple operation. In order to change the file extension, right-click on it and select "rename". Select the part of the file name that follows the period (usually three characters) and enter the required extension in English letters. Then click anywhere else on the screen to deselect. A dialog box will appear warning you that after changing the extension, the file may be unreadable. If you are sure that the new extension you entered is correct, click "Yes".
