How to change file extensions

[tweedledee]

Can anyone assist please. All my audio and video files have the file type as "PDVD" which I suppose started when I installed Power DVD. I have since uninstalled that program and want to change the file types back to MP3 etc. as I'm in trouble with some programs not recognizing them. How do I do that? I am running XP.

[Soopafresh]

Steps

[redwudz]

Are you sure PDVD is the extension or the just the name of the default program to open them? I assume you have unchecked 'Hide extensions for known file types' in folder options.

But for batch renaming of extensions, I have used 'Better File Rename': http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/File-Management/Better-File-Rename.shtml

Or a command line way:

Rename All Files From One Extension to Another
SUMMARY: Quickly change the extension of all files in a directory.

(Note that this may not work on early versions of DOS, so experiment.)

If you ever need to rename all files in a directory from one extension to another, for example, *.new to *.old, you can use wildcards with the rename command. In this example, the command would be:

rename *.new *.old

[tweedledee]

Thanks Guys, the problems fixed. Give yourself a pat on the back.

[antero]

I have almost the exact problem here, but affecting my video files all my vob are now pdvd, ahhhh i can't burn my dvd folders and nothing after the pdvd change the file name, i unistalled the PDVD from my computer but the problem persist, and after i got some video files using decrypter, i encounter the vts folder full of pdvd files and repeated.

i did the steps above, but no good results, the file still named pdvd file, and i did a search for vob files with explorer and all are recognizable but with pdvd files, so the good thing is that the vob files weren't deleted, now i don't know what to do, i have in my HD like 30 dvds to burn and this issue is blocking me to do the burning.

I hate PDVD!

Can someone help me? please...

[BJ_M]

I assume you have unchecked 'Hide extensions for known file types' in folder options - first ?

they might just not be named the way you think they are -- see instructions above

[antero]

I assume you have unchecked 'Hide extensions for known file types' in folder options - first ?

they might just not be named the way you think they are -- see instructions above

I think i did it, but i will comfirm later, now i'm away, but i will do it again.

Thanks so much BJ_M

[antero]

I'm sorry to say the problem persist!
i did all the steps above but the files still has the pdvd file , and is regognizable by the explorer like vob file, i don't understand!

what i can do? i remove all the PDVD files in windows.

[Dragonsf]

Try to search with regedit in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT for PDVD. You may find all the extensions, which will open the PDVD program.

[mats.hogberg]

The "PDVD" is just the description of the file - no file extension or association or anything. See this, from my computer:

Here, it says "Visual Basic Designer Module" where it in your system says "PDVD".
Couldn't find any way to change the file description, but to remove the file type, then add it back again.
But I really don't see what the problem is - the file description in no way affects how your computer works. It's for your convenience (or inconvenience in this case! ) only.
/Mats

[Nelson37]

A little explanation of the issue.

When you see a file listed in Windows Explorer, the "type" you are seeing is simply Windows best guess as to what tool or program is associated with that file. There are typically many types of programs which could be associated with a particular file. When you click on a file, you are requesting Windows to use whatever program it has chosen to open that file type. You are allowing an Idiot to make this decision for you.

The problem is easily avoided by a simple change in procedure. YOU, the USER, the one with a BRAIN, choose the program with which you would like to operate on some file. Then, YOU, the USER, the one with a BRAIN, tell the particular program which you prefer to open the file you wish to work on.

Don't "open" the file. Open the program, THEN open the file.

Next will be "But this file is not IN 'insert Program Name Here'. The file is IN My Documents!"

[antero]

Thanks for all the replys.

The problem i have is when i want to join a video ts folder into vegas for editing, because the PDVD file name Vegas doesn't want to add them, i worked with some vob that passed into vegas , but without the others files, also after PDVD were removed from mt system i have the mpg rendered file from vegas with a architect file type, and now is a slf file that i can't make it open with architect........still wondering..............Dragon sf: what exactly can i remove searching those h key?

Now i think the richmodule file (partially removed) and the catsrv file that were installed in my computer thanks to PDVD are the origin of this mess......possible hijack...because i found now that a new dvd drive (g) is installed in my computer when this one doesn't exist.

any ideas? thanks guys you sincerely Rocks!!!!!!!

[BJ_M]

sfl fils are temp files

[mats.hogberg]

i want to join a video ts folder into vegas for editing, because the PDVD file name Vegas doesn't want to add them,

The reason for your problems is not that the file description (not file name or extension) for the VOB file types has been changed to PDVD. Something else has happened.

/Mats

[deckard8]

A nice handy free tool for handling file associations.

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/downloads/index.cfm?categoryID=1502&itemID=8150

Description:

Association Manager 1.3a By Alexander Peckover

Current features:
- Store and restore sets of file associations.
- Create new and edit existing associations.
- Associate files with already existing associations.
- Delete associations.
- Header sorting has now been implemented.
- New: The default icon for any file type can now be changed.
- New: A list of associations can be exported in HTML format.
- New: Improved User Interface with context menus, better dialogues etc.

[xxZEUSxx]

I feel your pain........i also have uninstalled power dvd,yet every dvd i insert has PDVD file......And as a result i am unable to use my dvd to avi program because of it.This seems absolutely absurd because the PDVD is not an extension of the file.But its the only thing i can think of,,,and i have removed every file that had to do with power dvd,including everything in all my hidden folders,but yet every ifo vob bup file has PDVD attatched to it.........Very angry about this.If anyone can help please please please........just want that bullsh*t off my pc forever.And aside from that...power dvd didnt read half of the HD videos i have.What a ripoff of a program.

edit:i have VLC player set as my default program to open almost every diff video file.

[mats.hogberg]

PDVD is the file description. Installing Power DVD changes the file description for some DVD associated file types (like VOB, BUP and IFO). Uninstalling Power DVD doesn't revert the file description to what it was before.
But it's just the description - what you can and can't do with these files is in no way altered.

/Mats

[xxZEUSxx]

my issue is that any NEW files added are labled as PDVD...and honestly yes it is causing my files to be misread,,,i completely understand what you are saying.....its the same as it being a nero file or a roxio file etc,,,,but for some reason it is altering my programs....you can tell me a million times that it isn't,,,,but it is my friend...i just want to know how to rid it so it doesnt happen again.......not to mentionwhen i tick the box that says always use this program to open this type of file,,,it gives me a VLC icon but it still says Power dvd.i kno the extension hasnt been changed but there is some issue with it,,,,,the power dvd program is brand new so i really am lost.

[mats.hogberg]

my issue is that any NEW files added are labled as PDVD.

Of course they are. The description is keyed to the file extension, so every file with let's say .vob extension (new or old) will get the file description PDVD.
Again, the description as such does not affect how a file is treated (at least no sane application should even consider looking at the file description) - it's purely for your (in)convenience. Your problem is something else.

/Mats

[TimA-C]

Mats is absolutely right - the name of the default program that Windows will use to open a file with a particular extension should not make a blind bit of difference to authoring/conversion programs!

Having said that, do you people who are apparently having problems, actually see what the file extensions are or are they hidden (I don't know why MS thought this was a good idea?). Another thought is have you re-booted windows since associating a different program with the file extension? Windows often needs a re-boot to refresh settings from the registry.

[xxZEUSxx]

ok well yes some of the file extensions are hidden,,,,but can someone tell me how to get rid of the pdvd....even after i have selected the option to open those files with vlc player always,,,,they still come up as pdvd...thats all i wud like is for sum1 to tell me how to get rid of that,,,,,and make it say vlc player file or wmp file,,,anything but pdvd,,since i have compltely deleted everything i can find that had to do with pdvd,,,i must be missing something,,,maybe in the registry...can sum1 please help...thanks

[mats.hogberg]

Why? What you got against the file description being "PDVD"? Would "Windows Media File" be so much better? I must be missing something here...

/Mats

[xxZEUSxx]

ok call me anal,but i'd just prefer to not have file descriptions associated with programs that are no longer on my computer,,and every time i get a new ifo vob bup file,,it says PDVD file...

To See All File Extensions
1. On the Tools menu in My Computer or Windows Explorer, click Folder Options.
2. Click the View tab.
3. Clear the Hide extensions for known file types check box.

To change file associations
1. Right-click a file with the extension whose association you want to change, and then click Open With.
2. In the Open With dialog box, click the program where you want the file to open, or click Browse to locate the program that you want.
3. Select the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file check box.



in the list of file extensions..it shows ifo and bup and vob represented by VLC player....but in the video ts folders which contain the actual movies...they are called PDVD files...it just doesn't make sense...i can live with it,but thought maybe someone had an answer to the question.thanks anyways

[jagabo]

ok well yes some of the file extensions are hidden,,,,but can someone tell me how to get rid of the pdvd....

Right click on "Type" at the top of the column. Click on the "Type" field in the drop down menu. Useless Type field gone.