In the computer world, every data is saved as a file in a format of the file name and its extension. File extensions or file types are the suffixes found at the end of every filename that indicates or tells the computer what kind of file it is. For instance, the computer can tell that the file is a photo when it is saved as kitten.jpg and it is a text document if it is saved as filemane.txt and will launch a program that can open this kind of file like Adobe Photoshop for the photo and Notepad for the text file if the file is double-clicked. Knowing file extensions or file types can be helpful. However, there are certain file types that are now obsolete and cannot be opened by the newer versions of Windows operating systems. The old file extensions are no longer supported by the operating system rendering the file invalid or unsupported and cannot be opened.
Old file types, those that usually came from saved files from old computers, oftentimes would not open in newer computers due to the fact that their extensions are already outdated and unsupported and the programs that may open them are no longer available or that they do not exist anymore. Due to the wide variety of file types available and supported by the computer, some file types may be rendered obsolete. Because of this, the files that which are carrying extensions that are no longer supported may not be opened anymore.
The best way to open these types of files is to search the internet for programs and websites that still supports and may open the files. Some programs support not only one file type but plenty so there is still chance that old files may open even if they are saved under file extensions that is already old. If a file that you’re trying to open is an important file, it is wise to save a backup copy and try searching the internet for the right kind of program to open the file. When you have found the right program, just right click the file, click “Open with” and select the name of the program that you have just installed from the internet to automatically open the old file you want to see.
Also, it is advisable to just convert the file into another file type so that it may open properly in a similar program that supports the converted file. Since file types are so many and available, many programs support different kinds of file types according to their similarity. For example, both MS Paint and MS Photo and Fax viewer can open files like .jpg, .jpeg and .gif as these file extensions are photo extensions. So, in converting a file, always convert it into a type that is similar to the file type that it originally is so that it will not be corrupted or damaged and may be viewed in different programs that support the new file extension it was saved into.
