.doc extension appears in Open box

[Ron O'Brien]

This is strange.... switched on the PC today and for some reason when I go
to open a document in Word (Office2003) or Works the document title appears
together with the file extension (i.e. .doc .wps etc).

Although not a big issue, it is nevertheless irritating and I can't see why
it should suddenly start doing this, when I switched off last night I didn't
get the extensions - how do I switch them off again?

Thanks in advance

 

[Graham Mayor]

Whether or not you hide then extensions for known file types, they are still
required and it is probably a good idea to display them; however in this
case it appears that the registry associations for these files may have been
lost.

First see how to re-register Word when problems crop up opening files
http://word.mvps.org/FAQs/AppErrors/ReRegisterWord.htm and if that doesn't
fix it select a document in Windows Explorer, right click and choose Open
with...

From the ensuing dialog select Word (winword.exe) and check the box to
always open with this application.

--
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Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

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[Ron O'Brien]

Graham,

I think you may have misinterpreted my problem (probably me not explaining
it fully).

Normally when I go to open a document I have previously created I would go
to File \ open and the open dialogue box appears with just the file names in
for example: Document01. Now however, when that dialogue box appears that
file is shown as: Document01.doc It is the same with MS Works, only files
appear with the .wps visible

Ron

 

[Graham Mayor]

If you have Windows set to hide the extensions of known file types (the
default setting) then normally Word documents being a known type would have
their extensions hidden. If the registry association for Word documents has
been lost, then the file types would no longer be 'known' file types and so
the extensions would be displayed. My advice was to re-register Word so that
the file type is again known to Windows.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

 

[Terry Farrell]

That is absolutely normal unless you enable the Hide File Extensions for
Known File Types in Explorer. However, this is a security risk as it opens
the door for a virus infection. You should not use that option and MS should
remove it.

 

[Ron O'Brien]

That is what has happened, somehow between switching my PC off last night
and turning it on again this morning the 'Hide File Extensions for Known
File Types' became unticked!!!

Sorry, are you saying that if I do hide file extensions, (i.e. tick that
option) that creates a security issue? As I would have thought that hiding
the extension would make it more difficult for a virus infection

Ron

 

[Jay Freedman]

Viruses, like other programs, have no trouble dealing with files whose
extensions are hidden from view. It's people who have trouble with them. A
virus can write a file named "ClickMe.doc.exe" on your disk and force it to
display a document icon. If all you see is "ClickMe.doc" because you have
the (real) extensions hidden, you're more likely to assume it's safe to
double-click it, expecting a document to open. In that instant, whatever
damage the virus writer intended is done.

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

 

[Ron O'Brien]

Thanks for the explanation Jay.

One really strange thing is this morning the thing happened again! All the
file extensions are visible and the tick has gone from the 'Hide File
Extensions for Known File Types' option.
I've run a virus check and spyware/malware check no problems - just weird
why all of a sudden this is happening

Ron

 

[Terry Farrell]

Far more likely a Windows Update removed.

Terry

Thanks for the explanation Jay.

One really strange thing is this morning the thing happened again! All the
file extensions are visible and the tick has gone from the 'Hide File
Extensions for Known File Types' option.
I've run a virus check and spyware/malware check no problems - just weird
why all of a sudden this is happening

Ron

 

[Ron O'Brien]

Hmm I've not removed any Windows up-dates and I'm the only user of this PC.
It just suddenly started happening Monday, I've not removed or installed
anything.

I've just re-booted the PC to see if the "Hide file extensions..." option
becomes un-ticked again, but it hasn't so we'll have to see what happens
again tomorrow morning - I like a bit of intrigue...ever since I started
using Windows!!!

Ron

 

[Terry Farrell]

I didn't suggest that anything was removed as such but that an automatic
Windows Update changed the setting. It is still a security risk hiding the
extensions.

Terry