mpg files renamed to wmv

[Mr. T]

My computer has changed the extension from mpg to wmv on many of my files,
resulting in no thumbnail view for those files. I did a system restore but
that did not correct the problem. They work fine if I manually rename them
back to mpg. If I could change the extension on several of them at a time
that would be alright.

Windows XP home edition.

 

[he]

My computer has changed the extension from mpg to wmv on many of my
files, resulting in no thumbnail view for those files. I did a system
restore but that did not correct the problem. They work fine if I
manually rename them back to mpg. If I could change the extension on
several of them at a time that would be alright.

Windows XP home edition.

What program do you use to view these files? This is likely what is
changing them (Windows should not do this on its own). Are they perhaps
actually wmv format files, and the program is trying to "correct" the
extension?

Do you have explorer set to show you the actual file extensions?
(tools/folder options/view - uncheck "Hide extensions for known
filetypes")
If you have these hidden, you may actually be renaming something like
file.wmv.xxx to file.mpg.xxx (where you are not seeing the .xxx part) -
but this should not change how Windows handles the file for thumbnail
purposes.

You could open a cmd window and rename *.wmv to *.mpg to do multiple
renames, or try something like BRU available at:
http://www.bulkrenameutility.co.uk

 

[Mr. T]

I was able to easily change the extensions in a cmd window, thanks for the
ideas. I think my problem is that Windows Explorer quit showing thumbnails
of wmv while still showing thumbnails of mpg.

Thanks,