prrcomm: Another OS8/9 user. I hope the bin file you dwnlded is a mac file! On the windows platform, bin can mean a gerat many things such as a cd image file, belong to a particular game, etc. If you've dragged & dropped the file onto Expander & it doesn't uncompress, then perhaps there's something wrong with it; ie: as stated, a windows file or is corrupt.

It helps to know exactly what type of file it is 1st & what apps 'can' open it before dedicating an app to open it in File Exchange CP. Once you know, then you can dedicate an app to it.

That issue about dwnld files losing their identity is something that never was quite overcome & a few ways to try to fix it. As mentioned, in the mac sections you'll find threads talking about this. I think Stief or somebody eelse came up with another utility alterntive to use. I believe the culprit was Java that causes it.