FOUND OLD FILES-Can't open them

Jake'sGran

With the help of "live help" supplied by AOL I managed to follow the instructions to find some old files I had lost on my computer. It seems to have happened when I was using AOL9 and after reporting a problem to them I got a new disc for AOL9 VR. Now I have found these files I cannot open them.

I thought I had kept a copy of the conversation I had with their helper in India but apparently not. Seem to remember he said I would need to open them "off line". Can anyone tell me how to open the individual documents. The one I'm after is my Christmas address list. When I click on it or others I just get the little searching box.

superscaper

What's the file format, i.e. what program did you use to make the files?

(Using any AOL software is probably a mistake, just because you're with a certain ISP don't let them believe you have to install their carp software as well).

Jake'sGran

superscaper wrote: »

What's the file format, i.e. what program did you use to make the files?

(Using any AOL software is probably a mistake, just because you're with a certain ISP don't let them believe you have to install their carp software as well).

There were all sorts of things. It was a "My Documents" folder that I lost and other things that I don't think were essential. The one I really want to open is the list of LABELS for Christmas so I imagine the blank list came from Windows Word documents - one of the drop down menus. I just don't want to start all over again, typing addresses. It was so much easier just sticking the labels on the envelopes. If you are a man maybe you have never had to do this time consuming job, i.e. writing out addresses.

So I hope it does not turn out that no one can tell me how to open this document.

superscaper

If you don't have a copy of office then I suggest you download and install openoffice which can open Microsoft file formats.

Yes luckily I'm a man which means "Christmas card: write person's name, who I am, name + address on envelope, repeat max. of five times, job done"

isofa

You can also get free Word viewers from Microsoft, on this link:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/downloads/CD010225841033.aspx

(viewers for other views can be found by searching the above site)

As someone who has to send over 70 cards, I well appreciate my own Christmas labelling database Ugh!

isofa

PS the Excel 2003 viewer is here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=C8378BF4-996C-4569-B547-75EDBD03AAF0&displaylang=en

An once again searching MS will give viewers for older versions and other office software.

Whatever the file extension is (the .xxx) at the end of the filename will show you what file type it is.

Blacksheep1979

if its a my documents folder you may have to take ownership of it to access the files - right click -> properties or something like that off the top of my head.

scheming_gypsy

if you've lost your 'my documents' folder and found it again it sounds as though your computer has created another profile for you. If it can't find the package to open the documents then it may not be fully installed to all profiles and therefore can't run it..

ormus

usually the file name will tell which program you need to open it. right click and choose OPEN WITH, then select the correct program.
if you havent got the correct prog, then download/install it or the equivalent prog as been suggested.

Jake'sGran

superscaper wrote: »

If you don't have a copy of office then I suggest you download and install openoffice which can open Microsoft file formats.

Yes luckily I'm a man which means "Christmas card: write person's name, who I am, name + address on envelope, repeat max. of five times, job done"

It's a coincidence but I downloaded OpenOffice this week and had not got around to finding out what it can do for me. You can see that I am a bit of a novice. I was even thinking of dumping it because my computer has started going slow since then.

Jake'sGran

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

if you've lost your 'my documents' folder and found it again it sounds as though your computer has created another profile for you. If it can't find the package to open the documents then it may not be fully installed to all profiles and therefore can't run it..

Yes, it was a My Documents folder and my Email address book that were lost when I got a new version of AOL. As I mentioned in my post AOL said I need to open any recovered documents I need offline - don't know why. I am going to try everything suggested here.