Explorer no longer shows extensions in Music folder

rtoledo2002 · 18 May 2013

First excuse me , as I'm not sure what the correct forum is for Windows Explorer.

I'm working with music files, and in the process of re-loading my Ipods with my mp3 files that are in 320k to a 128AAC format, and noticed that when I clicked on TYPE on the explorer to separate all the FLACs to a separate folder that it just say Winamps media file, instead of the usual .mp3 , .wav . flac I'm used to seeing.

I must say I miss the old days when I controlled the OS and APPS and not them Me.

anyways if you know of a way to get Explorer to display the simple extension name and not who is set up to play that extension , I would greatly be in your debt.

Sincerely Roman

bobafetthotmail · 18 May 2013

try opening Folder Options (write "folder options" in the Start search box) and then in the View tab, untick the "Hide extensions for known filetypes" click Ok.

rtoledo2002 · 18 May 2013

Darn, I meant to put that in the info, yes I always have all 3 settings in the explorer set to show hidden, show extensions, show path, show OS files.

no that's why I'm stumped with this problem, and I'll bet it has something to do with one of the many MP3 prgrams I have. Mainly Itunes (HATE IT, but Apple has left us little choice for the Ipod and Iphones) or Winamp or Monkeymedia(Uninstalled)

I wonder if I un-install Winamp , what the Explorer will show next ?

I wonder if there's another program (beside the one built into W7 to set extensions to a program) that will set it back to default like when windows was just freshly installed.

One of these days I will do like my buddy Jesse and just have a default image to load, when it all goes sour

rtoledo2002 · 18 May 2013

Well I just answered you and myself, I ran the " Default Programs " from the start button, and it did not fix it, so next I right clicked on a mp3 file in the Explorer and proceeded to "choose Default program" the only program that restored it back to the "normal" name like .mp3 or .wav was Itunes, I hate saying anything nice about this program.

Something as UNintuitive as Itunes not letting you create a playlist from what is ALREADY inside a Ipod , is plain STUPID. but oh well I digress.

I guess I figured out a way out of my problem, BUT I still like playing my mp3's in Winamp not WMP or Itunes. if only WMP would pay attention to my wishes to NOT download picture JUNK files into my 100 gigabyte worth of music it would be my default, but with every update done by Windows it just seems to loose my direction NOT to download picture files, I wish i had the talent to disable internet access completely, but I'm a burn out

bobafetthotmail · 19 May 2013

Ok, then while the Type remains less-useful than it was, if you click on it to sort the files by type the files will still be grouped by type. You will just have to look at the file name and its extension to see where the bunch of files of the same kind ends.

While this seems to be a Windows limitation, some programs manage to sidestep it somehow.
For example I use VLC and in the Type field I see "VLC media file (.mp3)" for mp3 files for example.
And the same is for images, some programs display the file type in the type column, and some don't.
Back to shameless advertising, VLC does not erase the options you set when it updates, so if it's set to not download crap, it won't.
I think it does popup that choice at first installation so you don't have to go through its plethora of options to find that one out.
Being wholly self-contained you won't have to download codecs to play anything, video or audio.
Although its looks are a bit retro if you don't install a custom skin.

Now, as far as Itunes alternatives, I've heard good words about Wondershare althought it's not free (it has a free trial), and also good words about CopyTransfer manager which is free.
But not having any Apple hardware myself, I cannot really say anything about either.

rtoledo2002 · 19 May 2013

EDIT: i had a look at VLC for music, and you may be right, will set all my mp3's to it

I do use VLC exclusively for videos, but I must admit , I fall under the category of OLD dogs don't like to learn new tricks, guess I will have to consider dumping Winamp, but I must admit I like the display of info it has about a song and the fact it does not go behind my back and download hundreds of useless jpgs of the albums like Media Player. I have the same constant battle with WMC , every update windows does it goes GOOFY on me.

I own all my collection and ripp it myself, so i know what the album looks like,and do not need it in my 4 Ipod 2gb nano's, just music, change my selection by switching to another ipod, by then the battery is almost dead anyways.

I bought a couple of those Ipod programs 3 or more years ago, but then I discovered their only worth was to those that purchase music from Aplle, something I won't do, with the exception of one song from a Cuban artist I could not find at the time, but since found a cd in Puerto Rico and had it shipped over. I learned a valuable lesson with Rhapsody, NEVER again.