Cannot Open Win98 files on WinXP machine
 

I recently copied some files from my old Win98 PC onto a my new WinXP PC, but
I cannot open any of the files (doc/jpg/txt etc.) it just says 'Invalid file
format' or 'file not recognized'.
I've tried copying via floppy, mem stick, and putting the drive as a slave
in my new pc, but nothing works! (The files are fine when I open them on the
old pc)
I also tried converting the volume to NTFS, but no luck - any ideas anyone?

Cannot Open Win98 files on WinXP machine
 

The file not recognised message indicates that you do not have an
application on the XP machine that understands the file type. I assume you
are just double-clicking the file. Instead, open the application that you
expect to use for that type of file, (eg, WORD) and use the File/Open menu
option to access the files.

When you have confirmed that the files aren't really corrupted you can
associate the filename extension (DOC, JPG etc) with the appropriate
application.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Actual Food" Actual wrote in message
...
I recently copied some files from my old Win98 PC onto a my new WinXP PC,
but
I cannot open any of the files (doc/jpg/txt etc.) it just says 'Invalid
file
format' or 'file not recognized'.
I've tried copying via floppy, mem stick, and putting the drive as a slave
in my new pc, but nothing works! (The files are fine when I open them on
the
old pc)
I also tried converting the volume to NTFS, but no luck - any ideas
anyone?

Cannot Open Win98 files on WinXP machine
 

I dont think this is an extensions problem - if I double-click a file the
right program starts up - it just cant read the file.

"Jeff Richards" wrote:

The file not recognised message indicates that you do not have an
application on the XP machine that understands the file type. I assume you
are just double-clicking the file. Instead, open the application that you
expect to use for that type of file, (eg, WORD) and use the File/Open menu
option to access the files.

When you have confirmed that the files aren't really corrupted you can
associate the filename extension (DOC, JPG etc) with the appropriate
application.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Actual Food" Actual wrote in message
...
I recently copied some files from my old Win98 PC onto a my new WinXP PC,
but
I cannot open any of the files (doc/jpg/txt etc.) it just says 'Invalid
file
format' or 'file not recognized'.
I've tried copying via floppy, mem stick, and putting the drive as a slave
in my new pc, but nothing works! (The files are fine when I open them on
the
old pc)
I also tried converting the volume to NTFS, but no luck - any ideas
anyone?

Cannot Open Win98 files on WinXP machine
 

This suggests some sort of corruption in the file itself since any Windows
file, especially photos and text files, should be read by any Windows
system. Have you ensured the XP PC is free from virus and spyware?

--
Regards


Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo



"Actual Food" wrote in message
...
I dont think this is an extensions problem - if I double-click a file the
right program starts up - it just cant read the file.

"Jeff Richards" wrote:

The file not recognised message indicates that you do not have an
application on the XP machine that understands the file type. I assume
you
are just double-clicking the file. Instead, open the application that
you
expect to use for that type of file, (eg, WORD) and use the File/Open
menu
option to access the files.

When you have confirmed that the files aren't really corrupted you can
associate the filename extension (DOC, JPG etc) with the appropriate
application.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Actual Food" Actual wrote in message
...
I recently copied some files from my old Win98 PC onto a my new WinXP
PC,
but
I cannot open any of the files (doc/jpg/txt etc.) it just says 'Invalid
file
format' or 'file not recognized'.
I've tried copying via floppy, mem stick, and putting the drive as a
slave
in my new pc, but nothing works! (The files are fine when I open them
on
the
old pc)
I also tried converting the volume to NTFS, but no luck - any ideas
anyone?

Cannot Open Win98 files on WinXP machine
 

Yes - i've actually tried it on two machines - a Win2000 and WinXP, both dont
work.
I will check for signs of corruption.
Thanks

"Ron Badour" wrote:

This suggests some sort of corruption in the file itself since any Windows
file, especially photos and text files, should be read by any Windows
system. Have you ensured the XP PC is free from virus and spyware?

--
Regards


Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo



"Actual Food" wrote in message
...
I dont think this is an extensions problem - if I double-click a file the
right program starts up - it just cant read the file.

"Jeff Richards" wrote:

The file not recognised message indicates that you do not have an
application on the XP machine that understands the file type. I assume
you
are just double-clicking the file. Instead, open the application that
you
expect to use for that type of file, (eg, WORD) and use the File/Open
menu
option to access the files.

When you have confirmed that the files aren't really corrupted you can
associate the filename extension (DOC, JPG etc) with the appropriate
application.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Actual Food" Actual wrote in message
...
I recently copied some files from my old Win98 PC onto a my new WinXP
PC,
but
I cannot open any of the files (doc/jpg/txt etc.) it just says 'Invalid
file
format' or 'file not recognized'.
I've tried copying via floppy, mem stick, and putting the drive as a
slave
in my new pc, but nothing works! (The files are fine when I open them
on
the
old pc)
I also tried converting the volume to NTFS, but no luck - any ideas
anyone?

Cannot Open Win98 files on WinXP machine
 

What happens if you open the application first then use the File/Open menu
option to access this file?

Compare the file sizes between the original and the copy - that should give
a clue to whether they are being corrupted.

Inserting the old drive in the new machine will usually work, but it does
introduce additional issues. However floppy and RAM stick should not be
creating any problems. Can you access the files in the old machine from the
floppy or RAM stick (ie, does the corruption occur in the copy, or only when
it gets to the new machine)? Do you have access to another machine (eg,
with W98) to confirm that the file on floppy or RAM stick is not corrupted?
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)
"Actual Food" wrote in message
...
I dont think this is an extensions problem - if I double-click a file the
right program starts up - it just cant read the file.