I'm brand new at this limewire thing and I'm having some trouble. I read the stickies and a bunch of posts regarding this problem but the answers seem to be geared towards folks who are computer programmers. Limewire downloads files to my computer with no problem. They get saved as a "document" which my mac does not recognize. All it seays under file type is "doument" I can't open it in itunes or convert it to mp3. I tried downloading file buddy, which freezes my computer after running for about 2 mins. I tried downloading an applescript from this forum but again, my computer doesn't seem to know what it is and it gets saved as an IE document. I've only had one file save as an mp3, and it was a Quicktime file, which was no problem for me to deal with. What am I doing wrong? can anyone help me in beginner's language?

Also one other idiot question: when downloading programs from Limewire how do I tell if they are Mac compatible, Other than a (mac) next to it?

Thanks,

Ted

Seriously, mac programs are more often than not .sit files. Then you have .img and .dmg files. And sometimes .bin and .hqx and of course the .zip file (just to confuse us mac users). Here we go, sit are stuffit files. img and dmg open with disk copy or cd burning software like toast,(dmg are os10, img are classic and os9 or lower). bin and hqx open with suffit also. And the .zip mostly for windows unless they say mac don't bother. They open with stuffit also. As for the other part of the question, document files? Like .doc files or are you trying to download something like mp3's and they so up on your computer as generic document files. And include the os you use if you can. It all helps...

Ok here goes... First of all, thanks for your help. I wasn't sure about .exe files. I had a feeling they wouldn't work. As for my computer, I am using a beige G3 with 9.2.1 and I was trying to download .mp3 files. they download fine but I can't open them. Under file type it sometimes says "document" but mostly it says "????" and I get the window that tells me it couldn't find a program with appropriate yada yada yada. I tried six different .mp3 downloads and only one actually saved as .mp3. This is my problem. I also have a different Mactella problem which I will post later in the appropriate forum.

Sing along: "All I want for Christmas is acoustic Tool!... acoustic Tool!...

Thanks,

Ted

Well I have not used os9 for some time now, but as I rember it something like that has happened. Hopefully you are using itunes, it's the only one I know how to make it work with easy. Open itunes, go to the preferences and find the panel for internet playback. Check it you should be good to go. Even if you don't really use itunes for playback at least they will show up as mp3's. The hard way invovles setting a control panel called file exchange. I cant remember the settings off hand but try the itunes thing. If that doesn't work I can boot to 9 and check them.It's a little more advanced but you can probably handle it.

hi ted,

i think the easiest way to fix those files is to rename the files. simply click on the filename and rename it so that the last four characters are '.mp3' -- and your mac should immediately recognize it as an mp3 music file.

for instance, if a file downloaded as a document and was named 'tool -- acoustic', you would rename it to 'tool -- acoustic.mp3' to play it.

and you don't necessarily have to keep the file name the same or even close. as long as you add the '.mp3' to the end, it should immediately pop up as an itunes or quicktime document with the appropriate icon.

best of luck...

-b

I didn't think that was going to work, and it didn't. Not only that, Those files don't even show up in my Limewire music library. I have to actually go into the shared folder to access them. they are also not listed as shared items, even though they are in that folder. The only shared item is the one actual .mp3 I sucessfully downloaded. Also, iTunes has always been set as my default player. I kind of had a feeling this Gnutella thing was a little too good to be true.

Ted

Files with the .mp3 extension turn into QuickTime documents when "Enable QuickTime Exchange" is checked in the QuickTime Settings control panel. It should be on by default but it is worth checking.

I checked the control panel and it is already on.

Got something else you could try, rebuild the desktop for starters. Also open file exchange control panel. Check the setting for mp3 extention. It should be set to open with itunes or quickime. I don't think that's really the problem as you have successfully downloaded an mp3. But it's worth looking at. Lastly it is possible you have received a few bad files. Download one you know to be a good file. Like maybe the one you already got that was good. First move the other one out of your shared file so it doesn't get overwritten just in case.