Question
 

Im not sure if i can ask this here, but here it goes: When i download some programs off kazaa like games, the files are usually zip, self zip, or EXE files. My problem is that when i get a EXE file it tells me that this application is not a Win32 application. Is there a program that will read these or are they bogus files?

As I recall, in the Kazaa config box, there's an option that says something like "warn about bogus files." I'm not sure whether that implies that the software includes spyware or not, but if you're not worried, unchecking that box might allow you to try to use those files.

Im talking about after i download them. They usually have no icon, just the basic empty window icon. When i click on them, a error pops up telling me that they are not a valid Win32 application. Im just wondering if there is a way to open them?

Hmmm...What version of Windows are you running?

If the files are .zip files, then just download the evaluation version of winzip at www.winzip.com

If they're .EXE files, I'm not sure what's wrong with your computer. I assume you've been able to install other .exe files from a CD, right?

Usually, they are CDROM image files. Some people rename them to ".exe" for some odd reason. Try renaming to ".iso" and burning to disc (as an image, not as a file).

If the file is 500MB or larger, I can almost guarantee you that it's a renamed iso.

How do i rename them to .iso? .exe isn't in the name, its just what my computer says the file is.

go to a console window (Start -> Run -> "cmd.exe"), navigate to the directory with the file in it, then type "rename <filename>.exe <filename>.iso".

Again, I think it might be helpful to know what OS you have.

Okay, so what's your computer say it is? If your computer doesn't list an extension, then there's probably some setting somewhere that says "hide known file extensions" or something like that.

I don't have cmd.exe. I went to start, run, and typed it in but it couldn't find it.

I have Win98 SE. And the file is clearly an exe, as the left bar says it is, but exe isn't in the file name.

Open Windows Explorer -> in the menubar, click "Tools" -> "Folder Options" -> "View" tab -> uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types" -> Browse to where the files are -> change the last four characters of the filename from ".exe" to ".iso" -> check "Hide extensions for known file types" in "Folder Options" to set things back as they were

Burn to ISO image to a CD. Be sure to burn as an image, and not as a file.

Hmmm...Does this happen for all the files you've downloaded like that? If it's just one file, I'd be reluctant to rename it to .exe. Will it let you rename (by right-clicking the file)?

Sorry for that last post of mine. Hestermofet beat me to it...I was just getting there :hang:

Okay so its now an .iso file, i will burn it and see what happens. And no, this is only for some exe files i get off kazaa. If i download a file that is supposed to be an EXE file its fine, but im not sure these files are supposed to be exe, rather .iso , like Hestermofet suggested.

Hm...I'm not sure what the command is on 98SE anymore, but I think it might be "console." If not, then doing a search for "Prompt" will generally find the appropriate thing...you want the icon called "MS-DOS Prompt" or "Command Prompt," which should be located in the \windows\system directory...placing a shortcut to this file on your desktop is exceedingly useful.