QuickTime/RealPlayer Problem
 

Have been using LimeWire basic for about a week - it's great! I could launch or preview all my downloads in Quicktime Player format. Yesterday I updated my Quicktime Software. Today I downloaded a couple of songs and they wouldn't launch. Looked into my download folder and discovered that the 2 new downloads were in RealPlayer format. I run a Mac platform (OS 9.4). I deleted the RealPlayer application a couple of years ago. What do I have to do to get my downloads back a to Quicktime Player format.

Do the 2 files have extensions? Or is it just they have real player icons? For OS 9 I think your options are limited. For OSX WireTap can play & convert real player files but I can't remember if they offer an OS 9 version. Since Realplayer formats are patent, not many mac devs are willing to pay the licence fees to provide an app that can play or convert those files. And they didn't seem too keen to pay them before OSX came around. Either get RP again or ignore those files. WMP is "supposed to" be able to play rp files but the mac versions doesn't in my experience.

BTW I would recommend getting a hold of Audion (click on link) as it plays many formats that iTunes is unable to play. (but not rp or wma files!) And it's now free!

They have real player icons. I deleted the real player applications a couple of years ago. But I'm thinking that I should delete any remaining real files (plug-ins, extensions etc). iTunes is able to convert and play the 2 new files. Quicktime was then able to open the 2 mp3 files from my iTunes library. It's just that all my previous downloads were automatically QT and I was able to preview and launch in LimeWire. Now the default application in Limewire is RP and I can't launch or preview the files. At least I can save and play them in iTunes. It's wierd - that just updating my QT software would change things in Limewire. Thanks for your advice.

You can change the default for which program opens particular formats using the pc exchange control panel. Go to your Apple menu>Control panels>File Exchange & select the format (listed alphabetically) & change the default app that opens it. I think from memory it's best if you open the advanced window. So if you want QuickTime to be the default then select the format on the list & choose QT as the program to open it. I can't remember whether this has automatic effect or works after the next time you reboot. BTW if you see RealPlayer listed as a program to play certain formats, then it 'might' be an idea to remove RP from the pc exchange settings. I don't know.

Thanks Lord of the Rings,
How's this for wierd?! This happened before I read your reply.
1. Installed new version of RP (had deleted the program 2 years ago)
2. Disinstalled LimeWire
3. Down loaded and reinstalled LimeWire (hoping it would default to QT again)
4. Downloaded one song - song downloaded in RP document - oh well!
5 Tried to launch and preview in LW - launched in RP
6. 2 days later I downloaded 3 new tunes - hit the launch button in LW expected to launch in RP - are you ready - It open in QuickTime again (on it's own - didn't make any changes to my system). Looked into my sharing folder and their they were in 3 QT files and 1 RP file. Much Strangeness!