2-parter:
Where can I find a web site/page which explains the meaning/nature of various type files and how to identify them by their file extension. I have numerous files about which I haven't a clue, and if I try to open them, with ME I often get a window either telling me I might cause damage by opening them or asking me which application I want to open it with - asking me to choose from a long list of applications. If I know nothing about the file, how the heck am I supposed to choose the right application with which to open the file???

Are there certain file types/extensions that one can search their computer for, which might be typical of those that may have been planted there by hackers or eavesdroppers, etc.

thanks!!

This list has an explanation of most of the extentions found on the Computer/Net
www.seniormag.com/compcorner/definitions

However If you are not certain about a type (and occasionally there are new types appearing)then Post back here, and we'll try to find you an answer

Excellent link Bedstor!
And Scarlett, as for searching for files that hackers might use I suggest downloading Ad-Aware 6.0 and/or Spybot Search and Destroy. Both will search your hard-drive for spyware programs and delete them. Most of these spyware files will be located in your user folder, specifically in the cookies section.

Free Ad-Aware download can be found at lavasoftusa.com and free Spybot can be found at pcworld.com

Good answers here already, but I thought I would add this...

File extensions tell Windows what program to open when you "double click" on a file. For instance, if you double click on a filename.doc file, Windows will open the MS Office program "Word" to view the .doc file. This is often confusing because the "default" setting in Windows is to not show the file extension for "Known" file extensions. That means that if you have MS Office installed, you won't see the .doc extension portion of the file. You only see extensions for file types that your system doesn't have a program associated with. You can set Windows to show all file extensions if you wish. Let me know if you want to change your setup and I'll give you the directions to do that.

There are many different file types available. This is a link to a site where you can look up the file type and see what program is necessary to see to open various files types: http://www.file-ext.com/a.html

You can often download free viewer programs to view specific files. For instance, Microsoft makes a "Word" viewer, an "Excel" and "PowerPoint" viewer available via free download. Click Here. Also, viewers like the "Pagis Viewer" for files like .xif files are available by "Clicking here".

For graphic files, there is a really great free program available called IrfanView. It can open a multitude of image and audio file types. It is available here http://www.irfanview.com/ I have a tutorial explaining how to download and install this program available at http://dwightblackburn.com


Finally, the "Open With" window is used to set file associations. Once you have determined what program to use, you can "set" that file type to open in a specific program in the future. Set file associations. And, you can open files in the reverse process. Open a program, then in that program, click File/Open. In the "Open" windows, go to the bottom of the Window and click the "Files of Type" option box. Look in the file types list for the file extension that you're attempting to open. If you find it, select it, then select the file to open it.

I hope this helps!

Dwight