Cannot Open a File Without an Extension by Double-Clicking (33766)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2.03
  • Microsoft Windows 2.1
  • Microsoft Windows 2.11
  • Microsoft Windows 3.0
  • Microsoft Windows 3.0a
This article was previously published under Q33766

SUMMARY

You cannot open a file that does not have an extension by double-clicking it in the MS-DOS Executive. The extension list in the WIN.INI file will not recognize an empty extension.

MORE INFORMATION

To open a file without an extension, do the following:
  1. Determine which application created the file.
  2. Open that application by either double clicking the EXE file in the Windows MS-DOS executive with a mouse, or highlight the file in the MS-DOS executive and press ENTER. If the file was created by an MS-DOS application, then either double-click the PIF file with the mouse, or highlight the PIF file and press ENTER.
  3. After the application is open, open the file using the commands specific to that particular application.
Another alternative is to rename the file without the extension so that it has an extension. To rename the file, do the following:
  1. Highlight the file without the extension.
  2. From the File menu, choose Rename.
  3. A dialog box will appear, showing the name of the file to be renamed and requesting the new name. Type the new filename WITH the extension and press ENTER.
NOTE: This information applies to Microsoft Windows versions 2.03, 2.1, 2.11, 3.0, and 3.1. It does not apply to later versions of Windows.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/7/2005
Keywords:KB33766
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