Resources

I cannot get a WMV file to open. How can I get it to open?

WMV files - also known as Windows Media Video files - are a common file format used to store compressed video content. WMV files, designed by Microsoft, were originally developed for use in online streaming video. Windows Media Video files are most commonly stored in ASF - Advanced Systems Format - using specific Microsoft codecs.

Windows Media Player and WMV Files

Typically, Windows Media Player is used to play WMV files, so if you aren’t already trying to open it that way, it is a good place to start. Download the latest release of the Microsoft player here. You also need to make sure that you choose the right version for your operating system.

There are times when Windows Media Player won’t open WMV files - for example if they are encoded with xvid or dvix - formats not supported by the player. If this is the case, or if you are getting an error message about missing codecs, you have a few other choices.

Download Missing Codecs

You can run a Google search for a codec pack that will support the file. Codecs are small programs that enable communication between data formats and software programs. There are several reputable codec packs available for free download. Just make sure that you get the right one for your operating system. As always, be careful that you download from a well-used site and choose a file with good user feedback - as well as running a virus check to make sure everything is clean before letting it run on your system.

Download VLC

Otherwise, you can download a different media player. The VideoLAN VLC media player is well known for its ability to play anything. Using this player might get you around a lot of the other hassle. Generally, if VLC can’t play a file there is something else going on. Here is the link.

Digital Rights Protection

Proprietary files are sometimes protected with digital rights encryption that prevents them from being opened and played without purchasing the appropriate license. It is possible that you won’t be able to open the file in this case unless you buy or otherwise access permission.

I hope this helps, good luck with your file!!

How do I open and read a DBK file? The file is the back up of phonebook contacts I saved from a Sony Ericsson phone. I need to read the contact information; please help me.

What Are DBK Files?

Files with the DBK extension are created using PC Suite by Sony Ericsson. They are used to back up phone settings and/or data. Typically, this type of file is considered a container file since it holds data. The data in a DBK file is in compressed format, so it needs a special program to open it.

Open DBK File: Use PC Suite

If you still have access to your phone, you can use the PC Suite program to restore these phone files so that you can access them on your phone.

Open DBK File: Unzip the File

The DBK files are saved in formats similar to ZIP files. Therefore, you should be able to open them by unzipping them. Several applications can be used to unzip files including WinZip, WinRAR, and ZigZag. If you don’t have one of these applications installed, search for them online and choose one to install so that you can use it to open the DBK files holding your phonebook contacts.

I advise you to make a backup of the DBK file before attempting to open it this way. Change the file extension from .dbk to .zip on the Sony phone file if it does not automatically open using one of these applications.

How to Change the File Extension from .dbk to .zip

Follow these steps or some variation of them to change the extension of your phone files.

1)   Open Windows Explorer.

2)   Select Tools, Folder Options, and View. In the dialog box that opens, unmark the box in front of “Hide extensions for known file types.”

3)   Select OK.

4)   Right click on the .dbk file and select “Rename.”

5)   Type in the name of the file with the .zip extension and select the enter key.

Open DBK File: Use Open Office

Other types of DBK files are dBase backup files that you should be able to open using the database program in Open Office. If you do not have Open Office installed already, simply install it from the Internet before trying to open this type of DBK file. You will not be able to use open Office to open your phone files, but if you encounter this type of file elsewhere, you’ll know how to open them.

In my “Pictures” folder, I keep getting files with the extension: ZbThumbnail.info. Windows can’t open these. Can I safely delete them? What are they?

Thumbnail Files

If you’ve ever played around with the different views in Windows Explorer, you’ll have seen thumbnail files in action. For example, when looking at your “My Pictures” folder, you can change the view to show just the filename, date, and other details or you can see small “previews” of the photos. These previews are thumbnails. They are thumbnail-sized representations of the larger photo.

ZbThumbnail Files

The ZbThumbnail.info file is related to thumbnail files, though it is more of an index of thumbnail files. This file is generated by Canon’s ZoomBrowser Ex software. When your Canon photos are transferred to a folder on your computer, the ZoomBrowser EX software creates this ZbThumbnail.info file which contains information about the thumbnail images stored within the folder.

Deleting the ZbThumbnail.info File

The ZbThumbnail.info file can be deleted without adversely affecting the photos in the My Pictures folder. However, deleting it isn’t necessary. Plus, ZoomBrowser Ex will create a new ZbThumbnail.info file the next time you use the software.

If seeing this file bothers you, you may be able to hide it from view by changing the Folder Options settings. Do this by going into Windows Explorer and clicking the Organize button followed by Folder and Search Options in Windows Vista and Windows 7. If you have Windows XP, go to Windows Explorer and then click on Tools > Folder Options. Now, click on the View tab and scroll to the Hidden Files and Folders section. Make sure that “Don’t show hidden files, folders, or drives” option is marked.  

The ZbThumbnail.info file is harmless and can be left on your computer. There’s no need to open the file as the file is not meant for general viewing. If you do delete the file, no harm will occur (though you may not see previews of your photos) and the file will be regenerated the next time you use the ZoomBrowser Ex software. This is one of those file types that is best left alone.  

I downloaded PVF files from the US and they are in ‘My Pictures’, but I cannot access them.

Opening Unknown File Formats

There are thousands of file formats - that include different extensions to identify them - that are usually associated with a specific program or family of programs. For example, the ubiquitous DOC extension refers to document files created and saved with the Microsoft Word word processing program. If you were asking me how to open DOC files, I would suggest you use Word. Since I am not sure what your PVF files are and they are not an overly popular format, I can try offering you some generic advice that I hope will help.

PVF Files

There are a few different programs that use the PVF file extension - but they are not very well used - so without knowing what kind of files you are trying to open I can only estimate a solution. However, since the files are stored to your My Pictures folder we can likely assume that they are image files. If you know what program the PVF files are associated with, I suggest using that application to open them. Open the program you want to try - then use the toolbar menu and see if you have an option to open a file.

PVF File Formats and Programs

Assuming your PVF files are images helps to rule out a few other possibilities, such as files related to WinAmp, which is a common user of the PVF extension.

Some programs that are compatible with Adobe formats also use PVF files. If you know the program that should open the files, you can try using or re-installing that software to make sure that it is not corrupted or out of date. If you use programs like Adobe or a ProStitch program - which can both open PVF files, but different kinds - check with the manufacturer for any available updates you might be missing. If you are getting an error message when you try to open your files, please write again and include some details about the error.

Alternate Issues

If this advice doesn’t address your question, please write again and provide some details about where you downloaded the files and what kind of files they are.

I can’t open PDF files even though I should have Acrobat Reader on my PC, what can I do to fix this?

Cannot Open PDF: Checking for the Adobe Reader Application on Your Computer

The first step to take is to make sure that Adobe Reader has been installed on your computer. Follow these simple steps to see if the program has been installed on your computer:

1.    Select Start.

2.    Select Run.

3.    In the box that appears, type in “AcroRD32.exe” and press enter. If Adobe Reader has been properly installed, it should open up now. If it does not open up, then you can safely assume that either it has not been installed or it has not been installed properly. Simply visit the Adobe website and install the program.

Cannot Open PDF: Update Adobe Reader

If you are having difficulty opening PDF files even though you have Adobe Reader installed on your computer, it is possible that you need to update the version that you have. Open the Adobe Reader application. Navigate to Help and select “check for updates now.” You can also visit the Adobe website directly and check for updates there.

Cannot Open PDF: Reinstall Adobe Reader

If you have recently installed Adobe Reader, it is possible that the installation did not complete properly. If this is the case, you need to uninstall the Adobe Reader application and reinstall it.

Cannot Open PDF: Web Browser Issue

If you are trying to open a PDF through your Web browser when you experience this problem, try saving the PDF file to your hard drive before you try to open it. Simply right click on the file and select Save as. Another option you have is to clear your temporary Internet files before trying to open the PDF file.

You can always reconfigure Adobe Reader so that it is not set to open PDF files in the browser. Follow these steps:

1.    Open your Adobe Reader program.

2.    Navigate to and select Edit.

3.    Select Preferences.

4.    Select Options, General, or Internet from the menu. This varies depending on the version you have installed.

5.    Clear the box in front of the option labeled “Open PDF in Browser.”

I am trying to get Windows Media Player to open FLV file with no success. Help.

Many first-time users experience problems opening FLV files. Part of the problem might be due to the audio file that is contained in the FLV file. The audio file is typically an MP3 file so it is dealt with differently than the FLV file. Plus, you could be experiencing a problem because FLV files can exist as FLV1 or FLV4 video streams.

What are FLV Files?

FLV stands for Flash video files. It is one of the most commonly used formats for delivering video clips using Flash. FLV files are embedded easily into Web pages. This type of file is commonly used by Web sites such as MySpace, You Tube, Google Video, and others.

Why Are There Problems When Using Windows Media Player to Open FLV Files

Using Windows Media Player to open FLV files for the first time is a bit complicated since it isn’t actually set up to do so without some tweaking. This is especially true if the FLV file that you are trying to use contains FLV1 video streaming. In order for Windows Media Player to open your FLV files, you need to do two things: install and configure FFDShow and install an FLV splitter. Basically, you need a plug in.

Installing FFDShow

Since this is a free open source download, you should conduct an online search and choose the website that you wish to download FFDShow from.

Follow the directions as provided on the download website as well as the instructions listed here. The instructions provided here are the key facets to enabling FFDShow to open your FLV files. They do not include all of the steps you need to take, but they are essential in getting your FLV files to play on Windows Media Player. Use these directions in conjunction with the prompts given in the download.

1)   Make sure that during this process, you select FLV1 and VP5/VP6 under the option “Decode the following video formats,” and MP3 under “Decode the following audio formats.”

2)   Select the option to use FFDShow for video only and make sure that Windows Media Player is included in the list of software underneath this option.

3)   In the FFDShow video decoder configuration window that pops up, select “codecs.” Now, select FLV1 and libavcodec as well as VP6F and libavcodec. Click apply.

4)   In the FFDShow video encoder configuration window that pops up, select “decoder.” Select codecs. Now, make sure that FLV1 and libavcodec as well as VP6F and libavcodec are selected. Click apply and ok.

Once you are finished, move on and install the FLV splitter.

Installing an FLV Splitter on Windows Media Player

If you want to be able to use your Windows Media Player to open FLV files, you need to install FLV Splitter, an open source application. The splitter is needed to process both the audio and the video streams contained in the FLV file. You need to make sure that the version you select is designed for your operating system. Conduct a search and choose one of the available websites from which to download the FLV Splitter. Follow the instructions or prompts given by the application.