Fixing file extension errors

You see them all the time - .doc, .docx, .jpg, .pdf – but what exactly are file extensions? They are the little bits of text, usually about three letters, following the period after your file name. The extensions help tell your Windows operating system which type the file is and which kinds of software to associate with it.

For example, when Windows comes across a .doc file, it knows it is a Microsoft Word file and that it can also be opened by some other word processing programs. In most cases, you do not need to worry about file extensions, but sometimes there can be file extension errors.

At times the extension is just missing or has been mistyped. In these cases, you might need to do some sleuthing to figure out which program the file needs. In other cases, file extension errors will occur because of registry errors.

You could try to manually edit the Windows Registry, a complex database keeping track of a wide range of information necessary for your computer to operate. However, this is not recommended. One false move here could cause serious problems. It is better to use a registry cleaner. These can scan for and fix a variety of errors automatically.

Common file extensions:

• .doc – Word processing document
• .docx – Latest version of Microsoft Word document
• .pdf – Portable document format – requires Acrobat Reader or similar software
• .ppt – Microsoft PowerPoint file.
• .pptx – Latest version of Microsoft PowerPoint file
• .txt – text file
• .pps – Most often a PowerPoint slideshow file
• .dll – Dynamic Link Library file
• .bin – Used for a wide variety of files types on PCs, Macs and Linux
• .dmg – Abbreviation for disk image. Used primarily by Macs