I downloaded the newer version of Limewire and although the file on the music chart says it is an mp3 file, it will not launch when the download is complete. When I check the file, it is there but it looks like a data file. My MacLink Plus can't open it. It won't play. What should I do?

Thanks.

Hello KZ
OSX or OS9? Either way, you need to change the type/creator code. In OSX, click on the file in the Finder, GetInfo, and you'll see an option to "Open with..."
In OS 8-9, I vaguely remember setting this in a control panel, or rebuilding the desktop database file. Please post the solution that worked for others to see. Isn't there also a "fix creator codes" option in MacLink?

Hi Stief,

I have an OS 8.6. What file do I open to change the type/creator code?
The Mac Link "Fix" button does not darken to use it with these files. The Mac Link basically doesn't have a clue (and neither do I). Also, sometimes the music appears as a data file and sometimes it plays just fine.

Thank you for your help -- I really appreciate it.
KZ

It's been a long time since I used Limewire on OS 8.6, so sorry if the next suggestions don't help. (BTW, what program do you normally use to play your .mp3's?)
-Does your Limewire options have a checkbox to use quicktime, or something like that? That would be the easiest fix.
-You can just drag the mp3's from the folder on the hard disk to the Quicktime MoviePlayer. This might work too if the files are differrent audio formats (some get renamed--try deleting the extension)
--To set the doubleclick for mp3's, go to the Control Panel "File Exchange," scroll down the list to select ".mp3," then hit the "change" button to choose the app you want.
Well, hope these guesses help. Let me know what works.

Hi Stief,
I think you fixed it!! I went to the Control Panel,"File Exchange",scrolled down to ".mp3", hit the "change" , went to QuickTimePlayer to Mp3, hit "change". I also changed some mpeg. The files I changed looked like AppleWorks (you know, the page with the dog ear) with ???? after it.
Anyway, I haven't had any trouble since.

Thanks again -- I never knew what File Exchange was!

Ah good--glad it worked for you. I dug up an old laptop that still had 8.6, and found the solution there, because I couldn't find the right search terms in the Apple Tech Support Library. Thanks for letting all of us know what worked.

BTW, the grey dog-eared icon is the generic one for all unallocated files. Appleworks docs are colored icons. Sounds like you might need to rebuild your desktop file to match all the docs to the right app.
Just hold down the command and option keys on startup (you can wait until just before the hard-disk icon is about to load). You'll see a dialog asking if you want to rebuild the desktop file--say yes.

Thanks for the tip on rebuilding my desktop files -- I printed it out so that I won't forget.

Thanks again for all your help.

Glad it worked. If you want to print a record, here's the link to the Apple document on how to do this properly:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=10182