Every time l download something, weather it be a plane here on AVSIM or something else, the files open up as notepad. It is not a file like it should be. Could anybody please help. I have Windows Vista.

Some anti-virus programs do this automatically and associate all your file extensions to open with Notepad (for safety reasons). Perhaps disabling the anti-virus program (or turning off this feature) will fix the problem. Otherwise you'll have to go and click on the Start icon and double-click 'Computer' in the menu and select your main directory. Once open, click on Tools in the menu, then folder options, then click on the 'Reset Folders' button.Best regards,Jim

Some anti-virus programs do this automatically and associate all your file extensions to open with Notepad (for safety reasons). Perhaps disabling the anti-virus program (or turning off this feature) will fix the problem. Otherwise you'll have to go and click on the Start icon and double-click 'Computer' in the menu and select your main directory. Once open, click on Tools in the menu, then folder options, then click on the 'Reset Folders' button.Best regards,Jim

I get what your trying to say...but l cannot find "tools" in what l think to be my main directory. I will open up my computer, click on OS(C:) (where my FSX files are) and I can't find tools.This all started when I accidentally clicked "open with Notepad". Now all my files are notepad. Thanks!

Vista is exactly the same as Windows 7. You want to open Windows Explorer which opens up your directory of folders. Double-clicking on the Computer menu in the Start menu will do the same thing. You'll see folders on the left side of the screen with C: and all your other drives. In the area at the top of the directories is the menu. Look for Tools at the top. If that doesn't work for you, click on the Start icon and, in the Search bar at the bottom, type in Folder Options or just Folder and look up in the menu and you should see Folder Options. Click on this menu item. Once open, click on the View tab and then select reset folders. Hope this helps.Best regards,Jim

Vista is exactly the same as Windows 7. You want to open Windows Explorer which opens up your directory of folders. Double-clicking on the Computer menu in the Start menu will do the same thing. You'll see folders on the left side of the screen with C: and all your other drives. In the area at the top of the directories is the menu. Look for Tools at the top. If that doesn't work for you, click on the Start icon and, in the Search bar at the bottom, type in Folder Options or just Folder and look up in the menu and you should see Folder Options. Click on this menu item. Once open, click on the View tab and then select reset folders. Hope this helps.Best regards,Jim

...sigh... For some reason It didn't work. But thanks so much for your help.Guess I'll just give up on it. Thanks!

You can also try uninstalling your anti-virus program (which was the original cause of your problem) and installing the freeone offered by Microsoft (Microsoft Essentials).Best regards,Jim

You can also try uninstalling your anti-virus program (which was the original cause of your problem) and installing the freeone offered by Microsoft (Microsoft Essentials).Best regards,Jim

But this all started when I accidentally clicked "open with notepad". Now all my files open as notepad.

So your file associations in Windows are messed up. Not sure where in Windows you change those anymore.

Right mouseclick on the file, Open With, Choose Default Program, set whatever is right, and check "Always use...". That's W7. Not sure about Vista though.

But this all started when I accidentally clicked "open with notepad". Now all my files open as notepad.

But I told you above that your anti-virus program changed all of your file associations to have everything open up in Notepad. You have the option to uninstall/reinstall Vista too but I'm trying to come up with possible solutions to prevent that.Jim

But I told you above that your anti-virus program changed all of your file associations to have everything open up in Notepad. You have the option to uninstall/reinstall Vista too but I'm trying to come up with possible solutions to prevent that.Jim

I THINK I fixed the problem. I was just browsing around the programs for the file to open with and then I found Windows Explorer.

I THINK I fixed the problem. I was just browsing around the programs for the file to open with and then I found Windows Explorer.

Great! If you ever have problems finding something in Vista (or Windows 7), just click on the Start button in the lower left corner of the screen, then click on Help and Support and type in the Search Bar something like, "cannot find Windows Explorer" or "folder options" and you'll get several answers to your inquiry with a direct link to what you were asking - like Windows Explorer or Folders or Folder Options. Let me know if you need more assistance.Best regards,Jim

Great! If you ever have problems finding something in Vista (or Windows 7), just click on the Start button in the lower left corner of the screen, then click on Help and Support and type in the Search Bar something like, "cannot find Windows Explorer" or "folder options" and you'll get several answers to your inquiry with a direct link to what you were asking - like Windows Explorer or Folders or Folder Options. Let me know if you need more assistance.Best regards,Jim

Thanks for all your help!!!