Hi, I'm new at this so I hope this isn't a dumb question. I downloaded an 18MB program. I wasn't sure if it would come thru as a ZIP or an .exe file. When I clicked to open it, it brought up the WinAmp program. That's when I realized that it was an MP3 file. Is this a normal way to transfer files (converting them to MP3's)? Anyway, my dilemma now is HOW do I convert this file from an MP3 to an extension that will enable the program to open?
Thanks in advance for any help.

Can't you just rename it so it has an .exe or .zip extension?

I had tried that, but it came out to be xxx.exe.mp3 (STILL an MP3 file). When I right click on it and get Properties, it says it is an MP3 file and I can't seem to change that. It seems to me that quite a while ago I heard something about sharing files (on Napster) other than MP3 by "calling" the program (or whatever) an MP3. But I don't recall any details about how to get it to be the original program file once it has been downloaded. Someone on this board must know what this is all about. Hope to get to the bottom of it. Thanks for your input.

Open the file in Windows Media Player and see what happens.

Tried it, "Unable To Initialize File" came up.
A couple of thoughts come up. Why would anyone have an 18MB Program File stored on their computer as an MP3? I figure it must have something to do with making the file transferable over Napster etc.
I'm surprised no one else has read this and recognizes the "symptons" and has come to our aid. Thanks again for your suggestions. Any idea where else may I go to get this question answered?

Try using a program called wrapster. It is used to send programs across napster as mp3.

You have to rename it under a DOS prompt. If you rename a file in windows and windows has already associated it with a program, it will usually try to retain the extension for the file type. Thus, joe.mp3 renamed to joe.exe acutally becomes joe.exe.mp3. If you rename it through DOS, it will change to the joe.exe that you wanted. Hope this helped.

Turn off the Windows Explorer option that hides "extensions for registered file types". That way a rename is a rename. Best wishes.

THis is a sure fix:

Hold down shift and right click the invalid "mp3" file, and select, open with.

Scroll down to notpad and double click it.
When notepad opens and a bunch of jargon comes up, click file and then "save as"
Rename the file as either *.exe or *.zip, whichever one you suspect it is. You MUST put quotation marks around it, so it should look something like "thisfile.exe" or "thisfile.zip" Click save, and open the file you just created. Enjoy