Difficulties with Software in Windows XP

Windows XP comes with a number of tools, utilities, and accessories to meet your needs. However, most of us are going to install and use additional software. For example, I use Microsoft Office in order to write books and manage documents. Office is not included with Windows XP, so I have to purchase and install it separately. The same is true for all kinds of additional software, from games to antivirus programs, to spreadsheets, to photo editors you name it and you can probably find it in the software market. If you are thinking about buying software, which can range from about $20–$800, depending on what you want, there are two main things you need to consider before you ever buy the software:

• Compatibility: 

 The software should say “compatible with Windows XP” on the box. If it does not, Windows XP still may be able to run the software, but you are likely to have more problems.

• System requirements: 

Some software, especially graphics programs, require a lot of memory and system resources. Read the outside of the software box and check the system requirements, and then make sure your computer meets those minimum requirements. You can usually see how much RAM your computer has and how fast the processor is by opening Control Panel |System Properties and reading the information on the General tab

Prevention: 

Some programs cannot be installed by a limited user, but require administrative control. If you are having any problems with software, always log on with an administrator account first before trying to fix the problem.

wrong program opens a file

What are file extensions?

File extensions identify the type of file. For example, let’s say that you create a document with Microsoft Word. That document name has a .doc extension. This extension allows
Windows XP and other programs to know what kind of file it is. Using the extension, Windows XP can then try to determine what program should be used to open the file. All files have some kind of extension that identifies them.

Windows XP is able to understand file extensions, and therefore take a guess at the program you might want to use in order to work with the file. For example, Windows XP knowsthat mypic.jpeg is a picture file, and Windows XP uses Windows Picture and Fax
Viewer to open the file. The problem is that Windows XP’s guesses may be wrong and you may want a different program to open a particular file.

To solve the file/program problem, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the file that is giving you problems--> click Open With--> Choose Program. If the Open With option does not appear--> click Open.

2. In the Open With window--> choose the program to use. If you always want Windows to open the same kind of file with the same program--> select the "Always Use the Selected Program to Open This Kind of File check box". If the program you want to use is not listed--> click the Browse button to locate it. Click OK when you are done.

3. You can also configure the same option using the Folder Options icon in Control Panel. Open the icon and click the File Types tab.

4. In the File Types window--> locate the file type.

Note
If you want to change a file/program association, you can make the change in either of the two ways previously described—you don’t have to do both in order to make the change.